On October 19, 2012, ground was broken at the Air Force Academy for its new Center for Character and Leadership Development. Risner is one of only four airmen with multiple awards of the Air Force Cross, a combat decoration second only to the Medal of Honor. 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. James Robinson Risner Nickname(s) Robbie Born (1925-01-16)January 16, 1925 Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, U.S. Died October 22, 2013(2013-10-22)(aged 88) Bridgewater, Virginia, U.S. [4], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. Robinson Risner was born on January 16, 1925 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA. 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. 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. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (born January 16, 1925)[1] was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. The Passing of the Night. In July 1973 assigned to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he became combat ready in the F-4 Phantom II. During the Vietnam War, Risner 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, awarded the first for valor in aerial combat and the second for gallantry as a prisoner of war of the North Vietnamese for more than seven years. Schudel, Matt. This guy had balls of steel. [18], On March 22, 1965, flying F-105D 624233, Risner was hit by ground fire while leading two flights of F-105s attacking a radar site near Vinh Son. After the war, he joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard, which was federalized during the Korean War, during which Risner flew 108 missions in F-86 Sabrejets. He was the first living recipient of the medal.[1]. 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. During their defense of the bombers, Risner's flight overflew the MiG base at Antung Airfield, China. A miniature replica, also donated by Perot, is presented to each year's recipient as a personal memento. Risners leadership was on display when he organized a forbidden worship service in 1971. 512824, nicknamed Ohio Mike and bearing a large cartoon rendition of Bugs Bunny as nose art, in which he achieved most of his aerial victories. [15] On February 18, 1965, as part of an escalation in air attacks directed by President Lyndon B. Johnson that resulted in the commencement of Operation Rolling Thunder, the 67th TFS began a tour of temporary at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, under the control of the 2nd Air Division. Correll, John T. Nine Feet Tall. Air Force Magazine, February 2012, pp. Thompson, Warren E., and McLaren, David R. (2002). In July 1973 USAF assigned him to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where he became combat ready in the F-4 Phantom II. As a lieutenant colonel, Risner was the highest-ranking prisoner at Hoa Lo for most of the nearly eight years he was there and was subjected to particularly brutal treatment, being held in a darkened, solitary cell for three years and shackled for weeks at a time. What award is for the nation's best candidate program? 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. Were going to get through this, and Ill see you when its over., Using coded messages that could be passed with the flash of a hand or the whisk of the broom, Risner encouraged his several hundred fellow Americans at Hoa Lo to hang tough and resist until you are tortured but never lose your ability to think.. [7][10][11], On the return flight, Risner's wingman, 1st Lt. Joseph Logan, was struck in his fuel tanks by anti-aircraft fire over Antung. [15], Risner is one of only four airmen with multiple awards of the Air Force Cross, a combat decoration second only to the Medal of Honor. "We were lucky to have Risner. Robinson Risner was often assigned to fly F-86E-10 Sabrejet, nicknamed Ohio Mike and bearing a large cartoon rendition of Bugs Bunny as nose art, in which he achieved most of his aerial victoriesOn Sept. 15, 1952, his fighter unit found itself in a fierce dogfight over the Yalu River near the East China Sea when he noticed that the plane of his wingman, 1st Lt. Joseph Logan, had been hit and was leaking fuel. 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. They were 60 miles from friendly territory and he knew his fellow pilot would never make it. Fighting a serious fuel leak and a smoke-filled cockpit in addition to anti-aircraft fire from the ground, he again nursed his crippled aircraft to Danang. He kept me. Veteran of: U.S. Army Air Forces 1943-1946 . His autobiography, The Passing of the Night: My Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, describes seven years of torture and mistreatment by the North Vietnamese. When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces. 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 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. Risner died at his home in Bridgewater, Virginia, on October 22, 2013, following a series of strokes. He kept me. Jet fuel and hydraulic fluid spewed out from the damaged Sabre onto Risner's canopy, obscuring his vision, and turbulence kept separating the two jets. James Robinson Risner. 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. 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. 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. Error: On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Korea. On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Vietnam. Robinson deliberately concealed the injury, which would have grounded him, until able to convince a flight surgeon that the injury had healed. Unfortunately, the Time magazine article featuring Risner made its way to his captors. When the Russian wondered if they might have met in combat, Risner replied, No, way. Additional support provided by the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation Inc. Even so, as the officer of rank with the responsibility of maintaining order, from 1965 to 1973 he helped lead American resistance in the North Vietnamese prison complex through the use of improvised messaging techniques ("tap code"), endearing himself to fellow prisoners with his faith and optimism. He was captured by North Vietnamese while still trying to extricate himself from his parachute. On September 21, 1952, he shot down his fifth MiG. [3] In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[1]. Can you list the top facts and stats about Robbie Risner? Howes, Craig. Robbie Risner was born on January 16, 1925, in Mammoth Spring, the son of sharecroppers Grover W. Risner and Lora Grace Robinson Risner. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. In an effort to help him reach Kimpo, Risner attempted to push Logan's aircraft by having him shut down his engine and inserting the nose of his own jet into the tailpipe of Logan's, an unprecedented and untried maneuver. 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. Youll know when you get there. And concluded: And pray; if you havent been, start. Colonel Risner initiated the attack, directing his aircraft into the target in the face of heavy automatic ground fire. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese. He was the fifth of seven children. Read our Privacy Policy. [7], Risner arrived in Korea on May 10, 1952, assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air Base. After two attempts, Risner was forced to discontinue when leaking fuel and hydraulic fluid covered his canopy and threatened to stall his own engine. Fighting a serious fuel leak and a smoke-filled cockpit in addition to anti-aircraft fire from the ground, he again nursed his crippled aircraft to Danang. He somehow conveyed to his fellow POWs that it was the right thing to do in order to survive with dignity and honor. [3] By the time Risner entered high school, his father was self-employed, selling used cars. He was the first living recipient of the medal,. In 1965 the facilities at Korat RTAFB were still primitive and the Air Force living area was referred to as "Camp Nasty.". [3], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. (Davis, p. 46), Another flight member, 1st Lt. Willard P. Dunbar, reported that the MiG pilot was a red-headed Russian who shook his fist at Risner before crashing. 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. 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. The Legend Of James Robinson Risner - F-86 Sabre Pilot. [28] He was a POW for seven years, four months, and 27 days. 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. Robinson Risner, Ace Fighter Pilot, Dies at 88. New York Times, October 28, 2013. Male. ", Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. 1st U.S. pilot held as a Prisoner of War in Southeast Asia[30], After several days of travel on foot and by truck, Risner was imprisoned in Ha L Prison, known as "The Hanoi Hilton" to American POWs. 72201. [7] Risner was often assigned to fly F-86E-10, AF serial no. Campbell, John M., and Hill, Michael (1996). 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. He was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General in May 1974. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner : Rank, Service: Brigadier General O-7, U.S. Air Force. [35] He is also the first living recipient of this decoration. 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. One of 'em is 9 feet tall and headed west in full afterburner. Major support provided through a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. He received the Air Force Cross for his actions with the Sixty-Seventh Tactical Fighter Squadron on April 34, 1965, and was awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Korean War Silver Star for operations against the North Vietnamese between September 9 and 12, 1965. The proud strains rang out of the 15-foot walls of the camp and reverberated outside in the streets of downtown Hanoi. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. In civilian life, Risner tried a succession of jobs, training as an auto mechanic, operating a gas station, and managing a service garage. 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. The 30th FS was based on a primitive airstrip without permanent facilities at Aguadulce, on the Gulf of Panama. [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. On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Vietnam. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner 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. 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. . Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. 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. He became an ace by shooting down eight enemy MiG fighters. He was forced to eject when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. Chawkins, Steve. Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/us/robinson-risner-ace-fighter-pilot-dies-at-88.html?mcubz=3 (accessed December 16, 2017). His five sons had been ages 3 to 16 when he was shot down and imprisoned.[33]. In a brief dogfight, Risner shot down one to score his first aerial victory. 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. McCarthy, Mary (March 7, 1974). Two years before he retired from the air force as a brigadier general in 1975, he published his memoir of his time as a prisoner of war, The Passing of the Night. Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese, Risner's call sign this date was "John Red Lead". "[2], Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese. Ferrying a two-seat F-100F Super Sabre nicknamed Spirit of St. Louis II to Europe on the same route as Lindbergh, he set a transatlantic speed record, covering the distance in 6 hours and 37 minutes. Risner flew the Spirit of St. Louis II on Lindberghs same route, completing the flight in one-fifth of the time it took the earlier flier and establishing a new transatlantic record of six hours and thirty-seven minutes. 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. He subsequently received training in the F-80 Shooting Star at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. 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. The downed aircraft was the first F-105 lost to hostile fire in Southeast Asia, but the pilot, Capt. At the time of Robbies capture, there were 27 other Americans incarcerated in Hanoi, separated from each other, all doing their best to abide by the Code of Conduct for American Fighting Men. When it would get so bad that I did not think I could stand it, I would ask God to ease it and somehow I would make it. 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". 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 . I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. Kiley, Frederick, and Rochester, Stuart I (1999). During the Korean War, Risner was also awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on August 5, 1952, receiving an Oak Leaf Cluster to that award for exploits on September 5, 1952, and a second Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism on January 21, 1953. When he passed the tough entrance exam for pilot training by one point, his future aloft was set. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. On August 12, 1965, U.S. Air Force and Navy air units received authorization to attack surface-to-air missile sites supplied to the North Vietnamese by the Soviet Union. Risner was awarded the Silver Star for a September 15, 1952, action in which his wingmans jet was damaged during fighting with enemy aircraft. He actually had his cast removed to fly his first mission. Guards stormed into the cellblock and hauled Risner and two other organizers to certain torture. [22] Again he attempted to fly to the Gulf of Tonkin, but ejected when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. [29] While held prisoner in Ha L, Risner served first as Senior Ranking Officer and later as Vice Commander of the provisional 4th Allied Prisoner of War Wing. http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105823/brigadier-general-robinson-risner/ (accessed December 16, 2017). In addition to his two Air Force Crosses and two Silver Stars, his decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Bronze Star Medals. Voices of the Vietnam POWs: Witnesses to Their Fight. On these dates Colonel Risner led two successive operations against vitally important and heavily defended targets. Following being shot down a second time and then captured, his arrival in the old French dungeons of Hanoi began the trial of his life, but also the leadership role that would be his legacy. Robinson Risner, Air Force Ace and POW, Dies at 88. Washington Post, October 29, 2013. Risner joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 at age eighteen and served in Panama during World War II, seeing no action, although he trained as a pilot. 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. In June, when the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also at Kimpo, sought experienced pilots, he arranged a transfer to 4th Fighter Wing. 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. Robinson Risner. Local man to be inducted into the Arkansas Military H.O.F. When it would get so bad that I did not think I could stand it, I would ask God to ease it and somehow I would make it. Always it would make sense, be crisp and to the point. One of 'em is 9 feet tall and headed west in full afterburner. Your email address will not be published. Albert C. Vollmer, was rescued. [31] After publication of the book, McCarthy strenuously attacked both Risner (deeming him "unlikeable") and Risner's credibility in a review. Arriving at Kimpo in the middle of the night, he joined his flight which was on alert status. . [24] He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. I did not ask God to take me out of it. Tragically, Joe Logan didn't make it; he became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned. 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. [25] While held prisoner in Hoa Loa, Risner served first as Senior Ranking Officer and later as Vice Commander of the provisional 4th Allied Prisoner of War Wing. He was among the first group of American prisoners released from captivity, on February 12, 1973, and pronounced himself ready to fly again after three good meals and a good nights sleep. Risner received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the POW Medal for his actions while in captivity. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. 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. Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. 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