Vermont Garrison | |
|---|---|
 Vermont Garrison in Korea, 1953 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Garry", "The Gray Eagle", "Pappy" |
| Born | October 29, 1915 Mt. Victory, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | February 14, 1994 (aged 78) Mountain Home, Idaho, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943–1973 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron 405th Fighter Wing 408th Fighter Group 4780th Air Defense Wing |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (7) Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart Air Medal (11) |
Vermont Garrison (October 29, 1915 – February 14, 1994) was a career officer in the United States Air Force, and a flying ace credited with 17.33 victories in aerial combat.[1] He was one of only seven Americans to achieve ace status during World War II, then again against jet fighter opposition during the Korean War.[n 1] In 1966, Garrison participated in his third war, as vice commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, and flew a full tour of bombing and fighter missions over North Vietnam.[1]
During all three of his combat tours, Garrison was consistently older than his peers, becoming an ace in World War II at the age of 28, in Korea at the age of 37, and flying Rolling Thunder missions at the age of 51. For this and his renown as a gunnery expert, Garrison was known in the service as "The Gray Eagle".[2][n 2]
U.S. Air Force historian and author Walter J. Boyne described Garrison as a "first-rate combat unit leader."[3] Robin Olds, commanding the 8th TFW in Thailand, said of his vice commander: "Of the many hundreds I've served with, Garry was one of the greatest—as pilot, as gentleman, as officer, and as friend."[4]
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