Here's To You Buddy.......

On 22 Dec 1972, during the "Christmas bombing" of North Vietnam, B-52D tail number 55-0061 was being flown by a crew from the 22nd Bomb Wing, attached to the 307th Strat Wing at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, and was targeted against the Bac Mai military storage area near Hanoi. Just short of the target, 55-0061 was attacked by a MiG and was separated from the other aircraft in its cell. While the MiG's missiles failed to hit the B-52, a surface-to-air SA-2 missile did hit in the central fuselage area. With both wings on fire and the pilot semiconscious, the copilot directed the crew to bail out. All six exited the aircraft: Capt Peter J. Giroux, Trumansburg, NY, pilot; Capt Thomas W. Bennett, Natchez, MS, copilot; Major Gerald W. Alley, Pocatello, ID; navigator; 1stLt Joseph B. Copack, Chicago, IL; radar navigator; Capt Peter P. Camerota, Gibbstown, NJ, EW officer; and MSgt Louis E. LeBlanc, Providence, RI, tail gunner. Captain Giroux amd MSgt LeBlanc were captured at once, while Captain Camerota successfully evaded for 12 days before surrendering to the North Vietnamese. These three came home three months later, but the returning POWs knew nothing of the other three. The remains of 1stLt Copack and Major Alley were repatriated on 15 Dec 1988, with positive identification announced on 27 June 1989. Captain Bennett was carried as Missing in Action until a Presumptive Finding of Death was approved on 09 Oct 1980; his remains have not been repatriated.

Above is the account written by the US Department of Defense. The above account is about a man that came into my life a little over 4 years ago. He came into my life in an unexpected way. A man that was very dear to me at the time hand selected a metal MIA bracelet out of box and slipped onto my wrist where it has since remained. Little did I know that night that it was put on my wrist just all that would transpire from it. That man that picked it out that night was using the MIA bracelets and soldiers that graced them as a visual reminder for a sermon he gave. He talked about the Ultimate Sacrifice. And as you can gather he used the correclation between soldiers and the sacrifce that Jesus has made for each one of us. He talked about an operative in Vietnam called the "Linebacker II" little did I know at the time that was the operative that "Buddy" went down in. There has always been something amazing about my bracelet. I hurried home that night to see if I could find anything on this man that was now in my life. I found the write up above from the DoD. The thing the DoD report doesn't share is that Dec 22, 1972 was actually Buddy's 30th birthday. It doesn't share that he went up as Scarlet one... It doesn't talk about that he was Marine first...then spent time at Seminary before joining the Air Force. It doesn't share that he always wanted to fly the biggest and the best plane. It doesn't talk about his deep blue eyes, his southern draw, how much of a gentleman he was. It doesn't talk about how tall he was. It doesn't tell the story of one of his crew telling a friend on the ground that he knew they weren't coming back. A goodbye another man will never forget. You see these are all things that I have learned over the last 4 years from people who knew Buddy. Whether it be a story about him as a boy, or a story about a man who took roses to a grieving mom every mothers day because a pilot always remembers his mom on mothers day and he thought he should do that on Buddy's behalf. There aren't words for me to even begin to express how Major Bennett has shaped my life in the last few years. Because of Buddy I have crossed paths with people I would not have met before. Because of Buddy I got a plane for the first time this year. Because of Buddy I am know longer afraid to pursue those things that fulfil my hearts desires. So kind sir I say THANK YOU! I thank your family who has spent the last 37 years having wonder. My prayers are that one day they will have the answers. I thank God for putting you into my life. If you don't think that God does silly little things, or has a sense of humor then put this on for size. You see the date of Dec 22 is significant in my life. A couple of months after the bracelet I realized I had forgotten the importance of that date. Actually it was Dec 22, 2002, when I was 30 years old (Buddys' 60th)...it was the day I walked to the alter and I gave my life to Christ and became born again. Buddy I am proud to share our birthday's together. I hope God may bless each and everyone of you this holiday season. As for me, I will be making a toast and saying a silent prayer for Maj Thomas Waring "Buddy" Bennett JR. God Speed my friend!