In civilian life, Risner tried a succession of jobs, training as an auto mechanic, operating a gas station, and managing a service garage. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship and aggressiveness, Colonel Risner reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. "The Art of Reviewing By Innuendo". I did not ask God to take me out of it. 16 of those carried AGM-12 Bullpup missiles, while another 30 carried eight 750-pound bombs each, half of which were designated for the railroad and highway bridge. In February 2012 the Academy received a $3.5 million gift from The Perot Foundation to endow the General James R. Risner Senior Military Scholar at the center, who "will conduct research to advance the understanding, study and practice of the profession of arms, advise senior Academy leadership on the subject, and lead seminars, curriculum development, and classroom activities at the Academy. At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. . He subsequently received training in the F-80 Shooting Star at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Risner flew 108 missions in Korea and was credited with the destruction of eight MiG-15s, his final victory occurring January 21, 1953. Subsequently, he served as commander of the 34th Fighter-Day Squadron, also at George Air Force Base. [3] Risner worked numerous part-time jobs in his youth to help the family, including newspaper delivery, errand boy and soda jerk for a drug store,[1] for the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce at age 16, as a welder, and for his father polishing cars. In a brief dogfight, Risner shot down one to score his first aerial victory. He flew nearly every weekend, and on one occasion, became lost in the fringes of a hurricane on a flight to Brownsville, Texas. Rob was born about 1948 and died January 25, 1975 in Oklahoma City, victim of a chronic lung condition. On one occasion, Risner became lost in the fringes of a hurricane on a flight to Brownsville, Texas. Colonel Risner's actions not only deprived the communist force of its vital supply route and much needed equipment but further served to emphasize the high degree of U.S. determination in Southeast Asia. Encyclopedia of Arkansas He received an unofficial rebuke from the American embassy for flying an armed fighter into the sovereign territory of a foreign nation, but for diplomatic reasons the flight was officially ignored.[5]. 100 Rock Street It was automatic, almost subconscious. Obituary from the. The first recipient of the Risner Award was Capt. The day after his arrival, he returned to Korea when he learned that MiGs were operational. In 2006, Risner appeared on an episode of the History Channel series Dogfights. (1925 - 2013) (RIP) James Rob. It was according to him, the most gratifying period of his life. Correll, John T. Nine Feet Tall. Air Force Magazine, February 2012, pp. Risner was able to re-establish contact and guide the powerless plane out over the sea until fluids threatened to stall his own engine. Only one Bullpup could be guided at a time, and on his second pass, Risner's aircraft took a hit just as the missile struck the bridge. . Forces in Southeast Asia. In June, when the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also at Kimpo, sought experienced pilots, he arranged a transfer to 4th Fighter Wing through the intervention of a former OKANG associate. James R. Risner. In his words: To make it, I prayed by the hour. He was the first living recipient of the medal.[1]. Returned to Hoa Loa Prison as punishment for disseminating behavior guidelines to the POWs under his nominal command, Risner was severely tortured for 32 days, culminating in his coerced signing of an apologetic confession for war crimes.[24][27]. Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. The couple raised their combined six children together. His father was originally a sharecropper, then during the Great Depression became a day laborer for the Works Progress Administration. The 30th FS was based on a primitive airstrip without permanent facilities at Aguadulce, on the Gulf of Panama. It was never threatening, always gentle and optimistic, like a loving father giving guidance to his son. [19] After the last strike had been delivered, Risner and the two surviving members of his flight remained in the area, directing the search and rescue mission for Baird until their fuel ran low. B/G Robinson Risner was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He flew his badly damaged aircraft over heavily fortified hostile territory before successfully landing at a friendly airfield. Tags: 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Air Force Cross, Arlington National Cemetery, Army Air Forces, Bible College, Brigadier General, Bronze Star Medals., Bugs Bunny, Charles G. Boyd, Code of Conduct for American Fighting Men, Dean Rusk, Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Dorothy Miller Williams, East China Sea, F-105s, F-86E-10 Sabrejet, God Bless America, Gulf of Tonkin, H. Ross Perot, Hanoi, James Robinson Risner, Kimpo Air Base, Korean War, Lyndon Johnson, Mammoth Springs, Medal of Honor, MiG-15s, Oklahoma Air National Guard., Operation Rolling Thunder, P-51 Mustang, Panama Canal, Prisoner of War in North Vietnam, Robert McNamara, Robinson Risner, Silver Stars, Southeast Asia, the Korean War, The Passing of the Night: Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, The Star-Spangled Banner, Time Magazine, U.S. Air Force Academy, Vinh Son, World War II, Yalu River. The object of the maneuver was to push Logan's aircraft to the island of Cho Do off the North Korean coast, where the Air Force maintained a helicopter rescue detachment. He kept me. alternatives . Local man to be inducted into the Arkansas Military H.O.F. [16], In July 1956, he was transferred to George Air Force Base, California as operations officer of the 413th Fighter Wing. a brigadier general in 1976. [32] Risner made no rebuttal at the time, but when interviewed 20 years later, termed it "character assassination", a charge supported by several of McCarthy's liberal peers. Your email address will not be published. [29][n 9], "We were lucky to have Risner. Tags: Topics: Question 47 . In June, when the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also at Kimpo, sought experienced pilots, he arranged a transfer to 4th Fighter Wing. He also became a P-51 Mustang pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Flying came easily to the gifted trainee, which led to a coveted assignment flying fighters after graduation. Thank you for pointing this out. Risner is a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. Special thanks to the Department of Arkansas Heritage. [22], On the morning of September 16, 1965, on an Iron Hand mission, Risner flew F-105D 61-0217 as the "hunter" element of a Hunter-Killer Team searching for a SAM site in the vicinity of Tuong Loc, 80 miles south of Hanoi and 10 miles northeast of the Thanh Hoa Bridge. [1] By the time Risner entered high school, his father was self-employed, selling used cars. The trophy is permanently displayed at the United States Air Force Academy, with each winner's name inscribed. His wingman Capt. Other awards include the Bronze Star with V device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Command Medal, and Purple Heart with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Additional support provided by the Arkansas General Assembly. Wingman Joe Logan bailed out over water and became entangled in his parachute cords, however, drowning before rescuers could reach him. Following the war, Risner raised quarter horses in Texas and became executive director of the Texans War Against Drugs. James Robinson Risner 'Robbie' Engagements: Korean War (1950 - 1953) Vietnam War (1960 - 1973) Biography: James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.. Risner was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to . The meeting, described as "stilted",[30] resulted in an unflattering portrait of McCarthy in Risner's book, primarily because she failed to note scars and other evidence of torture he had made plain to her. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. For the next 7 and a half years Robbie absorbed levels of torture and abuse those three could likely never have grasped, let alone endured. Gen. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was part of that legendary . What award is for the nation's best candidate program? [28][31], Risner spent more than three years in solitary confinement. His aerial skill and heroic actions set an example for the others to follow. On 1 August 1975, he became Vice Commander of the USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and retired from the Air Force on 1 August 1976.[16]. He was forced to eject when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. Tragically, Joe Logan didn't make it; he became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned. The 67th TFS ended its first deployment to Korat on April 26 but returned from Okinawa on August 16 for a second tour of combat duty over North Vietnam. It was a reminder of the generals strong leadership among the POWs. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council. Forced to land on a dry lakebed, he found that he was in Mexico and encountered bandits, but successfully flew his Mustang to Brownsville after the storm had passed. On September 21, 1952, he shot down his fifth MiG. An identical casting, measuring four feet and weighing 300 pounds, was installed in the foyer of the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in October 1984. The trophy is permanently displayed at the United States Air Force Academy, with each winner's name inscribed. Employed at low altitudes, the "hunters" located the missiles and attacked their radar control vans with canisters of napalm, both to knock out the SAM's missile guidance and to mark the target for the "killers", which followed up the initial attack using 750-pound bombs to destroy the site. Martin, Douglas. The statue was made nine feet tall in memory of Risner's statement, commenting on his comrades singing The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America, that "I felt like I was nine feet tall and could go bear hunting with a switch. Schudel, Matt. An identical casting, measuring four feet and weighing 300 pounds, was installed in the foyer of the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in October 1984. [3] In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[1]. A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. James Robinson Risner was a man of humble origins, son of an Arkansas sharecropper, educated at secondary school level, not particularly ambitious, a common man save for two things: He could fly the hell out of an airplane; and, under terribly difficult circumstances as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam, he rose to a level of heroic leadership Five USAF aircraft, including three of Risner's F-105s, were shot down on the Xom Biang strike, but all of the 67th TFS pilots including Baird were rescued. The force had clear conditions but encountered a severe glare in the target area that made the bridge difficult to acquire for attacks with the Bullpups. Risners first marriage ended in divorce. Portrait of General James Robinson Risner. A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. However, after two weeks he was moved to Cu Loc Prison, known as "The Zoo", where he was confronted during interrogations with his Time Magazine cover and told that his capture had been highly coveted by the North Vietnamese. Risner was severely tortured for 32 days, resulting in him being coerced into confessing war crimes. Risner became an ace in the Korean War and commanded a squadron of F-105 Thunderchiefs in the first missions of Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965. For Risner, this moment came on Sept. 16, 1965, during a raid over North Vietnam when his F-105 Thunderchief was hit by ground fire. Online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/robinson-risner-air-force-ace-and-pow-dies-at-88/2013/10/29/ec759f3e-40ae-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_story.html (accessed December 16, 2017). answer explanation . McCarthy, Mary (March 7, 1974). [3] By the time Risner entered high school, his father was self-employed, selling used cars. Returned to Ha L Prison as punishment for disseminating behavior guidelines to the POWs under his nominal command, Risner was severely tortured for 32 days, culminating in his coerced signing of an apologetic confession for war crimes. When he passed the tough entrance exam for pilot training by one point, his future aloft was set. Risner enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet in April 1943 and attended flight training at Williams Field, Arizona, where he was awarded his pilot wings and a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in May 1944. The use of Bullpups against the bridge had been completely ineffectual, resulting in the scheduling of a second mission the next day with 48 F-105s attacking the bridge without destroying it. The Risner Award is a six and one-half foot trophy consisting of a sculpture of Risner in flight suit and helmet on a marble base, weighing approximately four tons. In a brief dogfight Risner shot down one to score his first "kill", on August 5, 1952. When the Korean War began, he wangled his way out of the Oklahoma Air National Guard and arrived in Korea on May 10, 1952, where he was assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air Base. [37] After publication of the book, McCarthy strenuously attacked both Risner (deeming him "unlikeable" and alleging that he had "become a Vietnamese toady") and Risner's credibility in a review. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. He flew his badly damaged aircraft over heavily fortified hostile territory before successfully landing at a friendly airfield. New York: Random House, 1973. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. answer . It was largely thanks to the leadership of Risner and his Navy counterpart, Commander (later Vice Admiral) James Stockdale, that the POWs organized themselves to present maximum resistance. Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War, California State University, San Bernardino, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Names and Citations of Recipients of the Air Force Cross, Shaw fighter pilot named best in the Air Force, "Eagle Biography Robinson 'Robbie' Risner", Logan Memorial at Korean War casualty Database, "Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale: Vietnam War Hero and Indomitable Spirit at the Hanoi Hilton". In the course of the operation, Colonel Risner's unit encountered the first MIG force committed in aerial combat against the U.S. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Cross to Lieutenant Colonel James Robinson Risner, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 31 October 1965 to 15 December 1965. Risner exercised as much as he could and prayed by the hour, he wrote in his 1973 memoir, The Passing of the Night: Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese. In the book he wrote, I did not ask God to take me out of it, I prayed He would give me the strength to endure it.. Risner's family life during and following his imprisonment was marked by several personal tragedies. The 67th TFS ended its first duty at Korat on April 26 but returned from Okinawa on August 16 for a second tour of combat duty over North Vietnam. (Thompson and McLaren, p. 67). He received his FIRST Air Force Cross when he was shot down and rescued, becoming the FIRST LIVING recipient of the new award. Early in the air war over North Vietnam, Robinson Risner led the first flight of Operation Rolling Thunder, a high-intensity aerial bombing of North Vietnam. The idea was to push the plane to reach the United Nations rescue base of Cho Do. Later on, as the POW organization grew, and prisoners were taken to other prisons throughout the country, Risners guidance would expand and continue to spread. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. On August 5, 1952, A flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. Risner was recalled to active duty in February 1951 while assigned to the 185th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the OKANG at Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He became an ace by shooting down eight enemy MiG fighters. 60 seconds . The flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. Yet all he did, remained in a military framework, based on the core principle that each were fighting men with a code of honor that must be upheld. He wrestled for Tulsa Central High School, where he graduated in 1942. Celebs. He was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General in May 1974. When the squadron was relocated to Howard Field in the Panama Canal Zone in January 1945 to transition to P-38 Lightning fighters, its pilots were soon banned from the Officers Club for rowdiness and vandalism.[5]. Risner was awarded the Silver Star for a September 15, 1952, action in which his wingmans jet was damaged during fighting with enemy aircraft. Robert V. "Boris" Baird was shot down on the opening pass and the mission was in danger of collapsing when Risner took charge. He said he would be ready to return to duty after three good meals and a good nights rest.. James Robinson Risner was a man of humble origins, son of an Arkansas sharecropper, educated at secondary school level, not particularly ambitious, a common man save for two things: He could fly the hell out of an airplane; and, under terribly difficult circumstances as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam, he rose to a level of heroic leadership matched by few men in American military history. Male. After two attempts, Risner was forced to discontinue when leaking fuel and hydraulic fluid covered his canopy and threatened to stall his own engine. [n 5], Risner's squadron led the first Rolling Thunder strike on March 2, bombing an ammunition dump at Xom Biang approximately 10 miles (16km) north of the Demilitarized Zone. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Required fields are marked *. Risner's determination to be assigned to a combat unit was nearly ended when on his last day before going overseas he broke his hand and wrist falling from a horse. [19], On April 3 and 4, 1965, Risner acted as mission commander on two large missions attacking the Thanh Hoa Bridge in North Vietnam. Courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum. . James R. Risner. Risner, the highest-ranking American POW during most of his seven years, four months and 27 days behind bars, died in his sleep October 22, 2013, at his home in Bridgewater, Virginia three days after suffering a severe stroke. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner : Rank, Service: Brigadier General O-7, U.S. Air Force. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. He was a close friend of the billionaire businessman and onetime presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, who commissioned a statue of Robinson Risner, which was installed at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, on November 16, 2001. [36], A nine-foot bronze statue of Risner, sculpted by Lawrence Ludtke and mounted on a five-foot pedestal of black granite, was commissioned by Perot and dedicated in the Air Gardens at the Air Force Academy on November 16, 2001. "[2], Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese. He somehow conveyed to his fellow POWs that it was the right thing to do in order to survive with dignity and honor. When the squadron was relocated to Howard Field in the Panama Canal Zone in January 1945 to transition to P-38 Lightning fighters, its pilots were soon banned from the Officers Club for rowdiness and vandalism.[4]. Logan bailed out over water but became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned before he could be rescued. He was the first living recipient of the medal,[2] awarded the first for valor in aerial combat during the Vietnam War, and the second for gallantry as a prisoner of war of the North Vietnamese for more than seven years. He maneuvered his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected a mile offshore, and was rescued after fifteen minutes in the water. But Robbies repeated requests for combat duty were ignored by the Armys personnel system, and he spent the rest of the war defending the Panama Canal. Risner noted to a biographer that his tour under these conditions amounted to as much flying as he desired but a distinct lack of discipline on the ground. Risner . In the early days he was generally held in that small cell block mentioned earlier, and since most new prisoners were held there temporarily, after initial interrogation and torture sessions, Risner used brief moments of guard absence to induct new men into his POW command. Has been corrected. Risner's aircraft was at very low altitude flying at approximately 600mph,[23] approaching a site that was likely a decoy luring aircraft into a concentration of AAA. All, however, held him in awe. Risner encouraged resistance among his fellow American captives, urging them to withstand their jailers torture but not to the point of suffering permanent physical or mental disability. Ann Blodzinski, Frisbee, "Valor: When Push Came to Shove", Grumbach, "The Art of Reviewing By Innuendo", "1957 Spirit of St. Louis II Sets Atlantic Record" (newsreel), "Dogfights: F-86 Sabres Battle at Extreme Speeds in the Korean War", U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War, U.S. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Buried Arlington National Cemetery Allegiance United States Service/branch United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force Years of service 1943-1946 1951-1976 Rank The meeting, described as "stilted",[36] resulted in an unflattering portrait of McCarthy in Risner's book, primarily because she failed to note scars and other evidence of torture he wrote that he had made plain to her. On October 19, 2012, ground was broken at the Air Force Academy for its new Center for Character and Leadership Development. His five sons had been ages 3 to 16 when he was shot down and imprisoned.[33]. He directed his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected, and was rescued. Because of the Time cover story, he would become one of the highest-profile U.S. prisoners of the Vietnam War. You wouldnt be here.. The President of the United States, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Air Force Cross to James Robinson Risner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 31 October to 15 December 1965. In August 1964, Lieutenant Colonel Risner took command of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, an F-105D Thunderchief fighter-bomber unit based at Kadena AB, Okinawa, as part of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 2023 NAACP Image Awards also honored Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, recipients of the President's Award. On September 16, 1965, Risner was leading an attack on a North Vietnamese missile base when his jet was disabled, forcing him to bail out. awards the Air Force Cross to Brigadier General Robinson Risner for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 31 October 1965 to 15 . Summarize this article for a 10 years old. The two had met, apparently at McCarthy's request,[36] when McCarthy visited Hanoi in April 1968. He subsequently received training in the F-80 Shooting Star at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. During that period the Vietnamese intercepted a series of prisoner messages which clearly indicated the danger of General Risner's leadership to their exploitation methods. He was captured by North Vietnamese while still trying to extricate himself from his parachute. Through turbulence and with leaking oil splattering his cockpit canopy,he pushed Logans powerless plane until they were beyond enemy territory and within reach of U.S. troops. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. [25], - 1st U.S. pilot held as a Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia[26] Campbell, John M., and Hill, Michael (1996). While undergoing hospital treatment in the Army, he met his future wife Catherine Shaw (Kathleen Shaw), she was a nurse from Ware Shoals, South Carolina, Risner and Shaw got engaged on a ship and were discharged and married the next month. About; Blog; Contact Us; . He was promoted to brigadier general in May 1974. [2], The Risner Award, created September 24, 1976, was donated by H. Ross Perot as a tribute to Risner and all Vietnam era Prisoners of War, and is administered by the Tactical Air Command (now by Air Combat Command). The 30th FS was based on a primitive airstrip without permanent facilities at Aguadulce, on the Gulf of Panama. But first, he must earn the respect and commitment of his subordinates by demonstrating a personal willingness to assume any risk, physical or moral, that he might later ask of his followers. On these dates Colonel Risner led two successive operations against vitally important and heavily defended targets. Other articles related to "legacy ": X86 . [10][13], On September 21, he shot down his fifth MiG, becoming the 20th jet ace. He was the fifth of seven children. At his passing, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. [38], General Risner received the following awards and decorations:[15][39]. On March 22, 1965, while leading two flights of F-105s attacking a radar site near Vinh Son, North Vietnam, Risner was hit by ground fire when he circled back over the target. He would pay a terrible price for that leadership when the guards would catch him communicating, but they couldnt stop him. Robinson Risner . Person. Robinson Risner was born on January 16, 1925 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA. [56], General Risner received the following awards and decorations:[16][57]. Risner was later transferred to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico in February 1974 to command the 832d Air Division, in which he flew the F-111 Aardvark fighter-bomber. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (January 16, 1925 - October 22, 2013) was a Brigadier General, fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War . He was a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, the second highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. Colonel Risner initiated the attack, directing his aircraft into the target in the face of heavy automatic ground fire. Risners leadership was on display when he organized a forbidden worship service in 1971. The one time she was way off was about the prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Robinson Risner. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Through his extraordinary heroism and willpower, in the face of the enemy, Lieutenant Colonel Risner reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. Subsequent to that said he received his first Air Force Cross in April 1965 for leading air strikes against a strategicbridge in North Vietnam. To survive with dignity and honor aerial skill and heroic actions set example... 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