Once Risner determined that he was the senior ranking officer, he began to put structure and guidance into the POWs lives, a sense of order and community, the very thing their captors were trying desperately to prevent. In his words he describes how he survived a torture session in July 1967, handcuffed and in stocks after destroying two pictures of his family to prevent them from being used as propaganda by an East German film crew: To make it, I prayed by the hour. Risner's family life during and following his imprisonment was marked by several personal tragedies. At his passing, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. [1][n 11], The USAF Weapons School Robbie 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 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. He wrestled for Tulsa Central High School, where he graduated in 1942. 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. ", 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. He flew nearly every weekend, and on one occasion, became lost in the fringes of a hurricane on a flight to Brownsville, Texas. 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. Joe, a strong swimmer, landed close to shore, and the chopper tried to blow him in with the rotors. She went out of her way to attack him." 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. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. Risner stayed in radio contact with the rescue helicopter. He kept me. It was a reminder of the generals strong leadership among the POWs. 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. The first time you log in to our catalog you will need to create an account. James Robinson (Robbie) Risner, a native of Mammoth Spring (Fulton County), was a much-decorated fighter pilot famed for his resistance to his North Vietnamese captors as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. One of 'em is 9 feet tall and headed west in full afterburner. [9][n 2] Scoring numerous hits on the MiG, shooting off its canopy, and setting it on fire, Risner chased it between hangars of the Communist airbase, where he shot it down into parked fighters. 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. 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. 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. Little Rock, AR. His father was originally a sharecropper, then during the Great Depression became a day laborer for the Works Progress Administration. 60 seconds . About; Blog; Contact Us; . Copyright 2003-2021. 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 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. However, he refused to be diverted from his primary mission of completing the destruction of the assigned targets. James R. Risner. 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. 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 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. Others were tortured and never seen again. Robinson Risner was born on January 16, 1925 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA. Heavy ground fire struck Risner's F-105 in its air intakes when he popped up over a hill to make his attack. Brigadier Robinson Risner. U.S. Air Force. 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. In October 1952 Risner was promoted to major and named operations officer of the 336th FIS. At his death, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III observed: "Brig. Robinson Risner, Self: Return with Honor. In 1946, Risner was involved in an off-duty motorcycle accident. He was the fifth of seven children. They remained married until the end of his life, with the two younger of his four surviving sons choosing to live with him and Risner adopting her three youngest children. In 2006, Risner appeared on an episode of the History Channel series Dogfights. 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. He was captured by North Vietnamese while still trying to extricate himself from his parachute. His story of being imprisoned drew wide acclaim after that war's end. On October 19, 2012, ground was broken at the Air Force Academy for its new Center for Character and Leadership Development. Error: On Feb. 12, 1973, he was among the first group of prisoners to be released from North Korea. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (born January 16, 1925) was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Because of the Time cover story, he would become one of the highest-profile U.S. prisoners of the Vietnam War. 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. part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American . [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. 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 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. However, he refused to be diverted from his primary mission of completing the destruction of the assigned targets. 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. Double ACE and prisoner of war in Vietnam. 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. Near Cho Do, Logan bailed out after calling to Risner, "I'll see you at the base tonight." Risner, in a battle damaged aircraft, diverted to Da Nang Air Base for landing. Thank you for pointing this out. In June 1975, Risner was divorced from his wife Kathleen after 29 years of marriage. Risner was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on January 23, 2014, with fellow former POWs and current members of the 336th Fighter Squadron among those in attendance. 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. Also in attendance was retired Gen. Charles G. Boyd, his fellow POW. Give a donation in someones name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. "It is said among the flying community that the Risner Award in combat aviation is like the Heisman Trophy in college football, said Vargas." [34], An interview with Risner appears in the 1968 4-chapter East German series Piloten im Pyjama by Walter Heynowski and Gerhard Scheumann. Risner was flying F-105D 62-4233 on March 22, 1965. Through his extraordinary heroism, leadership, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, General Risner reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. "[2], Risner was born in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, in 1925,[3] but moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1931. He was forced to eject when the aircraft, on fire, pitched up out of control. He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. In 1965 the facilities at Korat RTAFB were still primitive and the Air Force living area was referred to as "Camp Nasty.". 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. While undergoing hospital treatment in the Army, he met his first wife, Kathleen Shaw, a nurse from Ware Shoals, South Carolina. James Robinson Risner Jr. was the oldest son of Brigadier General James Robinson Robbie Risner, a fighter pilot, veteran of three wars, and a POW held in Hanoi, North Vietnam for 7 1/2 years. The two had met, apparently at McCarthy's request,[36] when McCarthy visited Hanoi in April 1968. H&S's and Risner's accounts "differ radically". He also had his right arm ripped from its socket. In June, when the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also at Kimpo, sought experienced pilots, he arranged a transfer to 4th Fighter Wing. 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. 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 became the inspiration for all of the confused and scared young men in a very hostile environment. [28] He was on his 55th combat mission at the time. His wingman Capt. 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. Other articles related to "legacy ": X86 . Your email address will not be published. Bri. 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. [10] Subsequently, he served as commander of the 34th Fighter-Day Squadron, also at George Air Force Base. Gen. James Robinson Risner. B/G Robinson Risner was a general officer and professional fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. 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. Other special honorees included Serena Williams, who was honored with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award. Voices of the Vietnam POWs: Witnesses to Their Fight. Risner, James Robinson . [48] He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in November 1974 in recognition of his military service,[49] and announced as an inductee into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame on November 1, 2013.[50]. 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. This guy had balls of steel. 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. Timothy A. Kinnan in 1977. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship and aggressiveness, Colonel Risner reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. 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. With Risner we had spirituality. In 1976, the Robbie Risner Award was created to recognize an air force weapons officer who makes the greatest combat impact in his or her first year after graduating from the Weapons Instructor Course at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. [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 October, Robinson Risner was promoted to Major and named Operations Officer of the 336th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The flight of four F-86 Sabres launched and encountered 14 MiG-15s. 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. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. The extremely harsh treatment inflicted upon him was to become a way of life for him in the subsequent years. Risner retired as a brigadier general in 1976. Robinson Risner. The Legend Of James Robinson Risner - F-86 Sabre Pilot. [15], 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. Risner's wingman was shot down in the opening pass, and the mission was in danger of collapsing when Risner took charge. James Robinson Risner's F-86; While a guest of the communists, he suffered. Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. [28][31], Risner spent more than three years in solitary confinement. Risner was severely tortured for 32 days, resulting in him being coerced into confessing war crimes. Fighting one MiG at nearly supersonic speeds at ground level, Risner pursued it down a dry riverbed and across low hills to an airfield 35 miles (56km) inside China. The retired brigadier general was 88-years-old. 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. 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. 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. Gen. James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was part of that legendary group who served in three wars, built an Air Force, and gave us an enduring example of courage and mission success Today's Airmen know we stand on the shoulders of giants. [3] By the time Risner entered high school, his father was self-employed, selling used cars. As soon as he was eligible, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces, having been accepted as an aviation cadet. Risner in 1973 after being released as a POW by the North Vietnamese, Risner's call sign this date was "John Red Lead". Gender. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. 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 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. Bri. 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. 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. Near Cho Do, Lt. Logan bailed out, after radioing to Risner, "I'll see you at the base tonight." I did not ask God to take me out of it. In his words: To make it, I prayed by the hour. [7], On September 15, Risner's flight escorted F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bombers attacking a chemical plant on the Yalu River near the East China Sea. 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. 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. The first recipient of the Risner Award was Capt. White. Risner, in Davis (1978), p. 46, is quoted as identifying the airfield as "Tak Tung Kau". He actually had his cast removed to fly his first mission. I prayed he would give me strength to endure it. "On Colonel Risner". Albert C. Vollmer, was rescued. When the Russian wondered if they might have met in combat, Risner replied, No, way. He directed his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected, and was rescued. Tactics were revised in which "Hunter-Killer Teams" were created. Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions: U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Perhaps his greatest act of rebellion was the organization of a forbidden church service in 1971. Some prisoners reconstructed an abbreviated version of the Bible from memory. 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 . James Robinson (Robbie) Risner, a native of Mammoth Spring (Fulton County), was a much-decorated fighter pilot famed for his resistance to his North Vietnamese captors as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. Related Entries. 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. (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. 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. James Robinson Risner. According to fellow prisoner Charles G. Boyd (who retired as a four-star general), Risner told him his name and asked for his name and rank. It was never threatening, always gentle and optimistic, like a loving father giving guidance to his son. Robinson Risner, Air Force Ace and POW, Dies at 88. Washington Post, October 29, 2013. [26], On the morning of September 16, 1965, on an Iron Hand sortie, Risner scheduled himself for the mission[21] as the "hunter" element of a Hunter-Killer Team searching for a SAM site in the vicinity of Tuong Loc, 80 miles (130km) south of Hanoi and 10 miles (16km) northeast of the Thanh Hoa Bridge. Thompson, Warren E., and McLaren, David R. (2002). 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. In his book, Risner attributes faith in God and prayer as being instrumental to his surviving the Hanoi prison experience. He flew a combined 163 combat missions, was shot down twice, and was credited with destroying eight MiG-15s. Following the war, Risner raised quarter horses in Texas and became executive director of the Texans War Against Drugs. He was promoted to brigadier general in May 1974. 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. 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. Divergent Prosperity and the Arc of Reform (1968-2022) Type. For more information, contact 501-918-3025 orcalsfoundation@cals.org. [8][9] Scoring numerous hits on the MiG, shooting off its canopy, and setting it on fire, Risner chased it between hangars of the Communist airbase, where he shot it down into parked fighters. His mother and brother died while he was still a P.O.W. In a brief dogfight, Risner shot down one to score his first aerial victory. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. Heavy ground fire struck Risner's F-105 in its air intakes when he popped up over a hill to make his attack. It was no accident that the statue was nine-feet tall. He maneuvered his aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, ejected a mile offshore, and was rescued after fifteen minutes in the water. One of 'em is 9 feet tall and headed west in full afterburner. [6], On September 15, using the call sign "John Red Lead",[8] Risner's flight escorted F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bombers attacking a chemical plant on the Yalu River near the East China Sea. James R. Risner. [21][22][23][n 7], On April 3 and 4, 1965, Risner led two large missions against the Thanh Ha Bridge in North Vietnam. [16], From August 1960 to July 1961, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. 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. [29], Publication of Risner's book led to a flap with American author and Vietnam war critic Mary McCarthy in 1974. When he passed the tough entrance exam for pilot training by one point, his future aloft was set. He was captured and taken to the Hoa Lo Prisondubbed the Hanoi Hilton by its American prisonerswhere his captors waved the Time magazine in his face. Always it would make sense, be crisp and to the point. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! 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. Forces in Southeast Asia. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [4], Risner had a religious upbringing as a member of the 1st Assembly of God Church. With (Captain James) Stockdale we had wisdom. 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Led to a flap with American author and Vietnam war of over 2 million, if are... The two had met, apparently at McCarthy 's request, [ 36 ] McCarthy... Was born on January 16, 1925 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA questions... Tung Kau '' gentle and optimistic, like a loving father giving guidance to his....

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