Knighthawk
Commander
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 323
Location: Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
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 Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:47 pm Post subject: LTC Iceal "Gene" Hambleton |
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I had the honor of meeting LTC Hambleton once back in 1988 as a young NCO. He was the true embodiement of Duty, Honor and Country.
| Quote: | TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, a military aviator whose 1972 rescue in Vietnam inspired the movie "Bat 21," has died. He was 85.
Hambleton, a retired lieutenant colonel from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, died of cancer Sunday at Tucson Medical Center, his family said.
Hambleton was shot down on Easter in 1972 and was the focus of the largest rescue operation in Air Force history.
Actor Gene Hackman played Hambleton in the 1988 film "Bat 21," which showed how he survived in the midst of thousands of enemy troops. The movie was based on the 1980 book of the same name. A second book, "The Rescue of Bat 21," was published in 1998.
During 12 days in hostile territory, the then 52-year-old Hambleton kept in touch with U.S. forces through his hand-held survival radio, directing many strikes against enemy supply lines by calling in the locations of vehicles on the highway.
Hambleton's actions earned him several medals for heroism, including a Silver Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart.
Bat 21 was the call sign of the EB-66 radar jamming aircraft Hambleton flew as navigator.
Copyright © 2004 The Associated Press |
http://www.legacy.com/Legacy.asp?Page=APStory&Id=8340
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Regards,
Brian
Beware of the lollipop of mediocrity! Lick it once and you'll suck forever.
If guns kill people, then I can blame misspelled words on my pencil.
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