Birth name Richard Paul Keirn Years of service 1942 – 1996 Died 22 May 2000 Service/branch United States Air Force Battles and wars World War II, Vietnam War | Nickname(s) Pop Rank Colonel Other name Pop Allegiance United States of America | |
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Born July 29, 1924
Akron, Ohio ( 1924-07-29 ) Buried at Florida Memorial Gardens Battles/wars World War II
Vietnam War Awards Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit (2), Prisoner of War Medal (2) | ||
Richard Paul Keirn (29 July 1924 – 22 May 2000) was a Colonel and fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He was one of two United States service members to be a prisoner of war (POW) in both World War II and the Vietnam War and was the first US airman to be shot down by a Surface-to-air missile (SAM) during the Vietnam War.
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Early life
Keirn was born on 29 July 1924 in Akron, Ohio.
Air Force career
While serving as a USAAF flight officer during World War II, his B-17 was shot down on his first mission and he was held as a POW in Nazi Germany from 11 September 1944 to 5 May 1945.
Following World War II he served in the Ohio Air National Guard 164th Fighter Interceptor Squadron before returning to the active Air Force in December 1956.
Captain Keirn volunteered for duty in Vietnam and in July 1965 deployed with the 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron to Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.
On 24 July 1965 his F-4C Phantom #63-7599 was shot down by a North Vietnamese SAM-2 45 miles (72 km) northeast of Hanoi, in the first loss of a US aircraft to a Vietnamese SAM. Keirn ejected successfully from his stricken aircraft and was captured. His bombardier/navigator Captain Roscoe H. Fobair failed to eject and was killed, his remains were recovered in 2001. During his captivity, Keirn was one of 52 Americans forced to participate in the Hanoi March, a propaganda event held in July 1966 in which U.S. POWs were marched through the streets of Hanoi and brutally beaten by North Vietnamese civilians. He was released on 12 February 1973 as a part of Operation Homecoming.
Keirn returned to the Air Force and served as Assistant Director and as Director of Operational Services, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters Ninth Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, from 23 April 1975 to 30 June 1976.
Military awards and decorations
Colonel Keirn's major military awards and decorations include:
Family
Keirn was married with a son, professional wrestler Steve Keirn and a daughter.