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. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Archives (1985). Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. The flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. His father was originally a sharecropper, then during the Great Depression became a day laborer for the Works Progress Administration. In October, Robinson Risner was promoted to Major and named Operations Officer of the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He next served on the joint staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) in Hawaii.[15]. ", 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. 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. Correll, John T. Nine Feet Tall. Air Force Magazine, February 2012, pp. 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). 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. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was born in 1925 in Arkansas, to a sharecropping family struggling to make ends meet. [16] The following January he led a detachment of seven aircraft to Da Nang Air Base to fly combat strikes which included a mission in Laos on January 13 where he and his pilots were later on decorated for destroying a bridge, but Risner was also verbally reprimanded for losing an aircraft while bombing a second bridge not authorized by his orders. The CALS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. He said he would be ready to return to duty after three good meals and a good nights rest.. The award is presented annually to the outstanding graduate of the USAF Weapons School, with the first recipient being Capt. Risner was severely tortured for 32 days, resulting in him being coerced into confessing war crimes. 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. Forces in Southeast Asia. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. In addition to replicating the Risner Award, the statue commemorates Risner and other POWs who were punished for holding religious services in their room at the Hanoi Hilton on February 7, 1971,[28] in defiance of North Vietnamese authorities. 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. The two had met, apparently at McCarthy's request,[36] when McCarthy visited Hanoi in April 1968. Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. Major support provided through a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. His aerial skill and heroic actions set an example for the others to follow. Person. When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. Wingman Joe Logan bailed out over water and became entangled in his parachute cords, however, drowning before rescuers could reach him. 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. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (born January 16, 1925) was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Vietnam. His many decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star with V for valor, two Silver Stars, eight Air Medals, and three Purple Hearts. 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. He actually had his cast removed to fly his first mission. Gender. 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. I did not ask God to take me out of it. Little Rock, AR. [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. "On Colonel Risner". The award is presented annually to the outstanding graduate of the USAF Weapons School. Subsequently, he served as commander of the 34th Fighter-Day Squadron, also at George Air Force Base. Other articles related to "legacy ": X86 . Thompson, Warren E., and McLaren, David R. (2002). In June 1975, Risner was divorced from his wife Kathleen after 29 years of marriage. In 1946, Risner was involved in an off-duty motorcycle accident. H&S's and Risner's accounts "differ radically". [28] He was a POW for seven years, four months, and 27 days. program[21] and raised quarter horses, and later in San Antonio. 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 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]. Schudel, Matt. It was automatic, almost subconscious. [10] [3] In addition to a love of sports, Risner's interests were primarily in riding horses and motorcycles.[1]. [12] Risner shut down his own engine in an attempt to save fuel, but eventually his engine flamed out and he glided to a deadstick landing at Kimpo. [17], From August 1960 to July 1961, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. 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]. ", After several days of travel on foot and by truck, Risner was imprisoned in Hoa Lo Prison, known as the Hanoi Hilton to American POWs. The President of the United States, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Robinson Risner, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force on 3 and 4 April 1965. In his book, Risner attributes faith in God and prayer as being instrumental to his surviving the Hanoi prison experience. In 1976, he met his second wife, Dorothy Marie ("Dot") Williams, widow of a fighter pilot missing-in-action in 1967, and subsequently married her after her missing husband was declared dead. Awards: Air Force Cross (2) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star (3 . Required fields are marked *. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Following the war, Risner raised quarter horses in Texas and became executive director of the Texans War Against Drugs. 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]. The day after his arrival, he returned to Korea when he learned that MiGs were operational. 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 . In October 1952 Risner was promoted to major and named operations officer of the 336th FIS. He also became a P-51 Mustang pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Robinson Risner, Self: Return with Honor. 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. Morrocco, John, and Manning, Robert (1984). He subsequently received training in the F-80 Shooting Star at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. [20][n 6], On March 22, 1965, while leading two flights of F-105s attacking a radar site near Vinh, North Vietnam, Risner was hit by ground fire when he circled back over the target. It was according to him, the most gratifying period of his life. But there is no doubt in that every last one of the POWs stood taller in Risners shadow, tougher in their own resistance, and come home better men as a result. Brigadier Robinson Risner. U.S. Air Force. He somehow conveyed to his fellow POWs that it was the right thing to do in order to survive with dignity and honor. Risners leadership was on display when he organized a forbidden worship service in 1971. Born in Mammoth Springs, Arkansas on Jan. 16, 1925 and raised in a religious family, Robinson Risner made his first critical life choice between attending Bible College or joining the Army Air Forces during World War II. 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 received two Silver Stars for his heroics and was one of only four airmen in history to receive more than one Air Force Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor for wartime heroism. 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. 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. Thompson, Warren E., and McLaren, David R. (2002). It was automatic, almost subconscious. [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. Read our Privacy Policy. 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. [34], An interview with Risner appears in the 1968 4-chapter East German series Piloten im Pyjama by Walter Heynowski and Gerhard Scheumann. The 30th FS was based on a primitive airstrip without permanent facilities at Aguadulce, on the Gulf of Panama. 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. 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.. At his passing, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. answer . As a leader of the POWs, Risner set up committees, assigned tasks and helped set up communication systems through tapping, scraping walls and even coughing. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner : Rank, Service: Brigadier General O-7, U.S. Air Force. He maneuvered his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected a mile offshore and was rescued after fifteen minutes in the water. 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. [18][n 4] 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 duty at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, under the control of the 2d Air Division. Tragically, Joe Logan didn't make it; he became tangled in his parachute lines and drowned. In Vietnam, Risner was struck by enemy fire on four out of five consecutive missions, and he was shot down over the Gulf of Tonkin in March 1965. 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. James R. Risner. Risner was born in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, but moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1931. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council. [3], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. Albert C. Vollmer, was rescued. On the initial attack, while exposing himself to heavy ground fire, with complete disregard for his personal safety, Colonel Risner's aircraft sustained a direct hit in the left forward bomb-bay area, filling the cockpit with smoke and fumes. He was forced to eject when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. He radioed Joe to shut down his engine. 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. In June, when the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also at Kimpo, sought experienced pilots, he arranged a transfer to 4th Fighter Wing. 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. Risner stayed in radio contact with the rescue helicopter. Chawkins, Steve. Flying came easily to the gifted trainee, which led to a coveted assignment flying fighters after graduation. 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. 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 . His second Air Force Cross wasnt pinned to his chest until after he returned from the prison camp when it was awarded for his leadership as a POW. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. On August 5, 1952, A flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. Shot down again on September 16, 1965, he was captured and held as a. 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. [42][43] After retirement he lived in Austin, Texas, where he worked with the D.A.R.E. He had been beaten up and starved, thrown for months into a dark cell crawling with rats, held immobile with his legs pinned in stocks, and strapped with ropes so tightly that his right arm was torn from its socket. Race & Ethnicity. On these dates Colonel Risner led two successive operations against vitally important and heavily defended targets. Some prisoners reconstructed an abbreviated version of the Bible from memory. "[37], Perot helped Risner later become the Executive Director of the Texans' War on Drugs, and Risner was consequently appointed by President Ronald Reagan as a United States Delegate to the fortieth session of the United Nations General Assembly. At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. Robinson Risner was born on January 16, 1925 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA. [18] He was part of the first group of prisoners released in Operation Homecoming on 12 February 1973 and returned to the United States. About; Blog; Contact Us; . This page was last edited on 25 December 2022, at 21:40. 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. Robinson Risner, Air Force Ace and POW, Dies at 88. Washington Post, October 29, 2013. 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. [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. This guy had balls of steel. 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. 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. His five sons had been ages 3 to 16 when he was shot down and imprisoned.[33]. 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. Youve just been tortured, and thats not the end of it; resist to the limits of your sanity, or to permanent physical damage. On 4 April, he again led an attacking force of fighter aircraft on a restrike against the same target. Rate and review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them. "[47], Perot helped Risner to later become the Executive Director of the Texans' War on Drugs, and Risner was subsequently appointed by President Ronald Reagan as a United States Delegate to the fortieth session of the United Nations General Assembly. 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. 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. Sometimes in history, a man emerges whom no one saw coming, one who rises to the awful challenge of crisis leadership when others are faltering and provides exactly the right strength of character, calming influence, and credible guidance out of the morass. [17] 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 that rescued his wingman. Baird, W. David, and Goble, Danney (1994). He was the fifth of seven children. On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Vietnam. In addition to replicating the Risner Award, the statue commemorates Risner and other POWs who were punished for holding religious services in their room at the Hanoi Hilton on February 7, 1971,[32] in defiance of North Vietnamese authorities. 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 At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. "[2], Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese. 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 . However, he refused to be diverted from his primary mission of completing the destruction of the assigned targets. 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. He flew nearly every weekend, and on one occasion, became lost in the fringes of a hurricane on a flight to Brownsville, Texas. The two had met, apparently at McCarthy's request,[30] when McCarthy visited Hanoi in April 1968. [16], During his tour of duty at George Air Force Base, Risner was selected to fly the Charles A. Lindbergh Commemoration Flight from New York to Paris. 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. Risners first marriage ended in divorce. White. 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. [16], In July 1956, he was transferred to George Air Force Base, California as operations officer of the 413th Fighter Wing. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. Voices of the Vietnam POWs: Witnesses to Their Fight. Performing in the role of air coordinator, Colonel Risner arrived over the target area before the main strike force, evaluated the effectiveness of each strike, redirected subsequent strikes, and provided flak suppression against defenses that would hinder delivery aircraft in the performance of their mission. Error: On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Korea. 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. All, however, held him in awe. Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese, Risner's call sign this date was "John Red Lead". 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. 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