Bernard Francis Fisher

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Bernard Francis Fisher
born January 11, 1927

Nickname	Bernie
Place of birth	San Bernardino, Calif.
Allegiance	USAF
Years of service	1951-1974 (USAF)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	1st Air Commando Squadron
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Col. Bernard F. Fisher, ret. (pronounced Bernerd) (born 1927) is the first living US Air Force recipient of the Medal of Honor. Moreover, he is the first living USAF member to receive the medal as a result of an act of heroism during the Vietnam War.

Born in 1927, the native of Idaho served briefly in the Navy at the end of World War II and then spent the period from 1947 to 1950 in the Air National Guard before receiving his Air Force commission in 1951. After pilot training, Bernie Fisher served as a jet fighter pilot in the Air Defense Command until 1965 when he volunteered for duty in Vietnam. From July 1965 through June 1966, he flew 200 combat sorties in the A-1E/H "Spad" as a member of the 1st Air Commando Squadron located at Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam.

On March 10, 1966, he led a two-ship of Skyraiders to the A Shau Valley in support of friendly troops in contact with the enemy. A total of six "Spads" were striking numerous emplacements when the A-1 piloted by Major D. W. "Jump" Myers was hit and forced to crash-land on the airstrip of the CIDG-Special Forces camp. Myers bellied in on the 2,500-foot runway and took cover behind an embankment on the edge of the strip while Major Fisher directed the rescue effort. Since the closest helicopter was 30 minutes away and the enemy was only 200 yards from Myers, Fisher quickly decided to land his two-seat A-1E on the strip and pick up his friend. Under the cover provided by the other A-1s, he landed in the valley, taxied to Myer's position, and loaded the downed airman into the empty seat. Dodging shell holes and debris on the steel planked runway, Major Fisher took off safely despite many hits on his aircraft by small arms fire.

Major Fisher returned to the United States, and, on January 19, 1967, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Major Bernie Fisher returned to the Air Defense Command and jet interceptors until he retired to his hometown of Kuna, Idaho, where he lives today with his wife Realla.

Colonel Bernard Fisher Veteran's Memorial Park, in Kuna, was named after Bernie.

The A-1 Skyraider that Major Fisher flew into the A Shau Valley was saved and restored and is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.