Bud Day - FU Hero
George “Bud” Day was born in Sioux City, Iowa in February, 1925. He dropped out of high school at 17 to join the Marines in 1942 and spend almost three years in the Pacific until the end of World War II. Bud returned home to attend college and obtained a law degree. In 1950 he joined the Air National Guard and when activated a year later he entered pilot training. Bud would fly two tours in the F-84 Thunderjet during the Korean War.
Having become a career officer in the Air Force, Major Day, volunteered for an assignment to Vietnam and in June 1967 he was given command of Det 1, 416th TFS at Phu Cat Air Base. Bud was flying a two-seat version of the F-100 Super Sabre in the Misty FAC role; forward air controllers on missions over Laos and North Vietnam.
On 26 August 1967 Bud was in the back seat of the F-100, giving “Kip” Kippenham a check ride and directing a strike against a SAM site north of the Demilitarized Zone in North Vietnam. When their jet was disabled by 37mm fire Bud and Kip had to eject. Bud broke his arm in three places during the ejection. Kip would be rescued but Bud was unable to contact the rescue helicopter and was immediately captured by North Vietnamese militia. His captors stripped off his flight suit and boots, performed a mock execution and hung him by his legs from the rafters of a hut. On the fifth day of captivity Bud was able to untie himself and escape.Evading south, Bud crossed the DMZ, becoming the only American prisoner to do so. He survived on frogs and berries. At one point, he was nearly struck by a bomb or rocket explosion that left him bleeding from the ears and nose and embedded shrapnel in his leg. Losing track of time, on day 12-15 after his escape, Bud heard helicopters, an evacuation of a U.S. Marine unit. He reached the landing zone too late to be rescued. The next morning he stumbled into a North Vietnamese patrol. As he tried to drag himself away he was shot in the hand and leg. Bud was taken back to the camp where he was originally held and tortured.
Eventually he would be moved to the “Hanoi Hilton.” There suffering from malnutrition his injuries remained untreated and infected. Through his personal fortitude and the help of fellow prisoners Bud was able to recover to the point where he was able to assist other prisoners in worse condition than himself.
Bud would endure five years, seven months of North Vietnamese torture until he was released 14 March 1973. Because of his personal courage, honor and extraordinary willingness to support his fellow captives, Bud received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1976.
Bud was promoted to Colonel while in captivity. With the help of few waivers, he returned to flying status and became the vice wing commander of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing. Colonel Day retired from the Air Force in 1977 to live and practice law in Florida. Colonel Day still has nerve and pain issues as a result of his tortuous ordeals but is still very active, especially concerning issues pertaining to veteran’s care and benefits. He is the most highly decorated service member since World War II with seventy decorations, most pertaining to combat operations. It is our honor to tell Colonel Bud Day's story on our site and declare him a true FU Hero.
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