Pops Racer Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 CLACKAMAS, Ore. — Retired Marine Corps Col. Kenneth L. Reusser, a highly decorated Marine aviator who was shot down in three wars, has died at age 89. Reusser, who died June 20 and was buried Friday, flew 253 combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and was shot down in all three, five times in all. His 59 medals included two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts and two Legions of Merit. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he worked for Lockheed Aircraft and the Piasecki Helicopter Corp. He also remained active in veterans groups. Now thats a hero. A true defender of the Constitution. RIP Colonel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HtownTurboBrick Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 Hoorah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s70turbo1998 Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 Retired Marine Corps Col. Kenneth L. Reusser, 89, a highly decorated aviator who was shot down in three wars, died June 20. He lived in the Portland, Ore., suburb of Milwaukie. Col. Reusser flew 253 combat missions in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was shot down in all three, five times in all. His 59 medals included two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts, and two Legions of Merit. In 1945, while based in Okinawa, he stripped down his F4U-4 Corsair fighter and intercepted a Japanese observation plane at high altitude. When his guns froze, he flew his fighter into the observation plane, hacking off its tail with his propeller. In 1950, he led an attack on a North Korean tank-repair facility at Inchon, then destroyed an oil tanker, almost blowing himself out of the sky. In Vietnam, he flew helicopters and was leading a rescue mission when his Huey was shot down. He needed skin grafts over 35 percent of his badly burned body. - AP Wow. RIP indeed. It's upsetting (to me at least) that these veterans don't get the recognition they deserve. It takes a huge pair to put yourself in danger for your country like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pops Racer Posted June 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 I think the last combat veteran from WWI died not long ago. Tom Brokaw called these guys the greatest generation. No doubt in my mind. Both my Grandpappy's have passed and they were the greatest men I ever have ever known, even above my dad. Self-less, hard working, self-sufficient, honorable, and chivalrous. They both taught me about hardwork, culture and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 VII 7 Posted June 29, 2009 Report Share Posted June 29, 2009 wow that's ridiculous. I bet he made bank at Lockheed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmartinlsmith Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 is that all you think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbon Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 Yeah, do you think ABC/CBS/NBC/etc will put time into this man like they've done for Michael Jackson (among other celebs who've recently died)? And I haven't yet heard them expostulating on Obama's personal message to this man's family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 VII 7 Posted June 30, 2009 Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 is that all you think about. no, but we have tons of ex marines, army, af that are retired that do very well and know so much information as SMEs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pops Racer Posted June 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 I'm betting this guy was an adviser on air frame design and performance. He should be getting coin just for the job he did in uniform. All that time in the air, he got time in grade, time in service, hazardous duty pay, flight pay, pension and wicked medical benny's. He must have served for 30 yrs. Checking Wiki now...The Colonel He flew in the same unit as Pappy Boyington, Black Sheep Sqdrn. Not at the same time? We got to Guadalcanal in '42. He was born in 1920, age 22 at enlistment? Maybe 2 yrs younger for flight school and basic... 20 yrs old. No sign of separation, lets say he left 'Nam in '68. 28 yrs. I love Wiki, all the links can keep me on a subject and it's history for hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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