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 MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- He had to go back, the
decision was made. The rescue helicopter was more than 30 minutes
away and Myers could be injured or in danger of being taken
prisoner.
He was going back.
Retired Col. Bernard
Fisher, who risked his life landing his A-1E Skyraider to rescue a
fellow pilot while North Vietnamese troops unleashed a storm of
bullets toward him, died Saturday Aug. 16, 2014, at age 87.
Then-Maj. Fisher was presented the Medal of Honor for his heroics in
rescuing Maj. Dafford Myers on March 10, 1966, in the A Shau Valley
along South Vietnam's western border with Laos.
Myers ran to the jet and climbed onto the wing as Fisher
dragged him head-first into the cockpit before taking off
under extreme enemy fire.
"He landed under fire, he
taxied under fire, he took off under fire," said Tammy
Fisher, a Kuna, Idaho, resident married to Fisher's son,
Steven.
When Fisher landed back at base in Pleiku,
the ground crew found 19 bullet holes in his plane.
President Lyndon B. Johnson praised Fisher during a ceremony
in the East Room of the White House Jan. 19, 1967, after
presenting him with the prestigious medal.
Fisher
became the first living Air Force Medal of Honor recipient
that day.
"We pause to remember the life and legacy
of an American Hero," said Col. David Iverson, 366th Fighter
Wing commander. "Bernie's life is an inspiration to those
who met him and to all Airmen who will continue to hear his
story. The men and women of Mountain Home Air Force Base
were blessed to have a special relationship with Col.
Fisher. He visited and mentored Airmen on numerous
occasions, sharing his philosophy and leadership advice. We
are truly honored to have had him as part of the Gunfighter
family and our heritage. Our deepest sympathy goes out to
the Fisher family during this time."
Fisher, who was
born in San Bernardino, Calif., Jan. 11, 1927, grew up in
Clearfield, Utah, and first called Kuna, Idaho, home after
his discharge from the U.S. Navy V-6 program in 1946. He
attended Boise Junior College from 1947 to 1949 and then
transferred to the University of Utah where he participated
in the Reserve Officer Training Corps and received his
commission.
Fisher's biography and
official medal
citation detail his heroism and uncommon gallantry.
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Patriot Guard members honor the late Col. Bernard Fisher,
retired, a Medal of Honor recipient at Idaho State Veterans Cemetery
Aug. 25, 2014, at Boise, Idaho. Fisher, who was born in San
Bernardino, Calif., Jan. 11, 1927, grew up in Clearfield, Utah, and
first called Kuna, Idaho, home after his discharge from the U.S.
Navy V-6 program in 1946. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Samuel
Morse)
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During the battle, a Special Forces camp at A Shau was under
attack by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars. Enemy troops
positioned themselves between the airstrip and the camp.
The tops of the 1,500-foot hills which surrounded the
camp where the Special Forces members were operating out of
was obscured by an 800-foot ceiling, limiting aircraft
maneuverability. This forced the pilots to operate within
range of hostile gun positions, which often were able to
fire down on the attacking aircraft.
Fisher observed
a fellow Airman (Myers) crash land on the battle-torn
airstrip. In the belief that Myers was seriously injured and
in imminent danger of capture, Fisher announced his
intention to land on the airstrip to a rescue his fellow
Airman.
Directing his own air cover, he landed his
aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway,
which was littered with battle debris and parts of the
exploded aircraft.
While effecting a successful
rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed
however, in the face of the withering ground fire, Fisher
applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the
overrun of the airstrip.
Ultimately, Fisher saved
Myers and the Special Forces team on the ground that day.
His courage and dedication to "never leave an Airman behind"
is a source of great pride for members of the United States
Air Force.
Despite death and destruction all around
him, Fisher went back .... and saved his fellow Airman.
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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