Bud Day | |
|---|---|
 Colonel (later Brigadier General) Bud Day | |
| Birth name | George Everette Day |
| Nickname(s) | Bud |
| Born | February 24, 1925 Sioux City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | July 27, 2013 (aged 88) Fort Walton Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Buried | 30°21′30″N 87°17′39″W / 30.35847°N 87.29415°W |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Marine Corps (1942–45) United States Army (1946–49) Iowa Air National Guard (1950–55) United States Air Force (1955–77) |
| Years of service | 1942–1977 |
| Rank | Colonel Brigadier General (posthumous) |
| Unit | 33rd Fighter Wing 55th Fighter Bomber Squadron 559th Strategic Fighter Squadron 3d Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion |
| Commands held | 416th Fighter Squadron |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Air Force Cross Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (4, 3 with "V" device) Purple Heart (4) Full list |
| Other work | Author, Return with Honor Partner, Day and Meade (law firm) |
George Everette "Bud" Day (24 February 1925 – 27 July 2013) was a United States Air Force officer, aviator, and veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. He was also a prisoner of war, and recipient of the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. As of 2016[update], he is the only person to be awarded both the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. He was posthumously advanced to the rank of brigadier general effective March 27, 2018, as directed by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
Day's actions from 26 August 1967 through 14 March 1973 were the last to earn the Medal of Honor prior to the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War on 30 April 1975, though some honorees (e.g. Leslie H. Sabo Jr., honored on 16 May 2012) were cited for their medals after Day's recognition on 4 March 1976. Having earned over 70 awards, decorations, and medals, Day is considered to be the most decorated United States military officer since Douglas MacArthur.[1][2]
- ^ "Best Friend". New York Magazine. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
- ^ Stoelting, Carrie; Stoelting, Stacie (August 2018). "August Edition: In Memory of John McCain, Bud Day, and All POWs". unitetheusa.org. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.