James C. Harding
James C. Harding | |
|---|---|
| Other work | Commander of Air Force Junior ROTC detachments Advisor to Royal Saudi Air Force |
James C. Harding (born June 27, 1934) is a retired United States Air Force colonel and pilot. He served two tours, during the Vietnam War and flew a total 596 missions, all in propeller aircraft.
He served as squadron commander for a 400-person unit at
Early life
Harding was born on June 27, 1934, in Brookville, Pennsylvania,[1] one of five children into a dairy farming family.
He attended
Military career
Harding served as an instructor pilot and aerial demonstration pilot at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, until September 1962. He flew with the
Vietnam War
Harding flew 442 combat missions in the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and U-10, of which 101 missions were over North Vietnam.[2] He served as an Instructor with Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base from 1967 to 1971, when he began training at Air Command and Staff College.[1]
Harding returned to the U.S. in July 1967 and served as an Instructor with Squadron Officer School at
1972 mission to rescue Major Clyde D. Smith
In 1972, he was engaged in the rescue of
Shoot-down and evasion
He was shot down in Vietnam in 1972 northeast of
After landing began clearing enemy foxholes. He killed three North Vietnamese soldiers, the first with his
Post war
After Vietnam, Harding then served with the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing at England Air Force Base, from November 1972 to November 1973, followed by service at Randolph Air Force Base, where he served until June 1976.
Harding then returned to Maxwell Air Force Base, where he served from July 1976 to September 1977. His final assignment was at Shaw Air Force Base, where he served from September 1977 until his retirement from the Air Force on July 31, 1979.
Later life
After retiring from the Air Force, James served as Commander of several Air Force Junior ROTC detachments in Florida, Hawaii, Germany, Texas, and Italy.
He served as an honorary captain at the Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights football game on November 14, 2017.[5]
Awards and decorations
Harding is a Command pilot and Master parachutist in the USAF. He has over 8,000 flight hours and flown aircraft such as
| |||
|
| ||
  |
 |
  |
  |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
   |
|
|
 |
 |
 
|
|
|
Air Force Command Pilot Badge
| |||||||||||
| Air Force Master Parachutist Badge | |||||||||||
| Air Force Cross | |||||||||||
| Silver Star w/ 2 bronze oak leaf clusters |
Legion of Merit w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster |
Distinguished Flying Cross w/ 1 silver and 3 bronze oak leaf clusters | |||||||||
Valor device and 1 bronze oak leaf cluster
|
Purple Heart w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters |
Meritorious Service Medal | |||||||||
| Air Medal w/ 4 silver oak leaf clusters |
Air Medal w/ 3 silver and 1 bronze oak leaf clusters (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing) |
Air Medal w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster (third ribbon required for accouterment spacing) | |||||||||
| Air Force Commendation Medal w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster |
Presidential Unit Citation w/ 2 bronze oak leaf clusters |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/ Valor device and 3 bronze oak leaf clusters | |||||||||
| Combat Readiness Medal w/ 2 bronze oak leaf clusters |
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
|
National Defense Service Medal | |||||||||
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | campaign stars
|
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon | |||||||||
| Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon | Air Force Longevity Service Award w/ 4 bronze oak leaf clusters |
award star
| |||||||||
Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Bronze Star |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
|
Vietnam Campaign Medal | |||||||||
- His other decoration include the Royal Thai Supreme Command Forward Badge (1st Class) of Thailand.
- Written descriptions of his medal awards can be read here: James Harding - Recipient
References
- ^ a b c "James C. Harding". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ^ a b c Neal, LB. "Colonel James C. harding, USAF Retired - Bio". Veteran Defenders. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ^ "LIFE IS TRULY A 'GIFT FROM GOD' - Baptist & Reflector". Baptist & Reflector. 2017-02-27. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ^ "War hero learned to be a lifesaver at PSU". The York Daily Record. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
- ^ "Brookville Native, Vietnam War Hero Jim Harding Served as Honorary Captain at Penn State Football Game Saturday". exploreClarion.com. November 14, 2017.