Bud Day

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George E. "Bud" Day (born February 24, 1925) is a former U.S. Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received some seventy decorations, a majority for actions in combat.

Day enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served thirty months in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war Day attended Morningside College and the University of South Dakota Law School. He graduated and passed the bar exam in 1949. The following year he was commissioned in the Iowa National Guard. In 1951 he was called to active duty to enter pilot training. He then served two tours as a fighter-bomber pilot during the Korean War flying the Republic F-84 Thunderjet.

George "Bud" Day with Wife and Grandson

He began service in the Vietnam War when he was assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in April 1967. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Phu Cat Air Base where he organized and became the commander of the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, the first "Misty Super FAC" unit flying the North American F-100 Super Sabre.

On 26 August 1967, he was shot down over North Vietnam and immediately captured by the North Vietnamese following his ejection. Despite serious injury, he managed to escape and evade across the Demilitarized Zone back into South Vietnam. Within two miles of freedom and after two weeks of evading, he was re-captured by the Viet Cong. Six years later, on 14 March 1973 he was released. Within three days Day was reunited with his wife and four children at March AFB, California.

After a short recuperative period, Day was returned to active flying status. On 4 March 1976, President Gerald Ford awarded Day the Medal of Honor for his personal bravery while a captive in North Vietnam.

Day retired from active duty in 1977 having attained the rank of colonel. Following his retirement, Day wrote an autobiography, Return with Honor, detailing his time as a captive in Vietnam.

On 14 March 1997, the new Survival School Building at Fairchild AFB was named in his honor.

During the 2004 U.S. presidential election, Day appeared in a Swift Boat Veterans for Truth advertisement, saying "How can you expect our sons and daughters to follow you when you condemned their fathers and grandfathers?" Following that election, Day signed on as President of the newly formed Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation, which absorbed virtually all the Swift Both Veterans for Truth members and officers.

As of July, 2006 he has a law firm in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.