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Description
In March of 1967, Captain Bob Pardo and his wingman, 1st Lieutenant Earl Aman, had taken heavy fire on a mission over North Vietnam. Pardo’s damage was somewhat light and he would have been able to make it back to their Air Base, but Aman’s fighter had been hit hard and he was rapidly losing fuel. Although Pardo could have saved himself and his aircraft, he chose to stay with his wingman and try to help him get back to friendly skies. That’s when Pardo had an idea.

He instructed Aman to lower his tailhook on the back of the aircraft. Pardo then carefully maneuvered his F-4 below and to the rear and made contact with the lowered tailhook at his windscreen. He then proceeded to “push” the crippled aircraft 88 miles until they were safely into South Vietnam. At this point, Pardo had expended all of his own fuel and the aircrew from both fighters were forced to eject from their aircrafts where rescue crews could come retrieve them.

Despite this heroic and selfless act of courage, Captain Pardo was demoted for losing his own aircraft when he could have saved it. Go figure. The USAF rectified this travesty in 1989 when they gave him a Silver Star for his bravery. I feel it should have been the Medal of Honor.

Description
In March of 1967, Captain Bob Pardo and his wingman, 1st Lieutenant Earl Aman, had taken heavy fire on a mission over North Vietnam. Pardo’s damage was somewhat light and he would have been able to make it back to their Air Base, but Aman’s fighter had been hit hard and he was rapidly losing fuel. Although Pardo could have saved himself and his aircraft, he chose to stay with his wingman and try to help him get back to friendly skies. That’s when Pardo had an idea.

He instructed Aman to lower his tailhook on the back of the aircraft. Pardo then carefully maneuvered his F-4 below and to the rear and made contact with the lowered tailhook at his windscreen. He then proceeded to “push” the crippled aircraft 88 miles until they were safely into South Vietnam. At this point, Pardo had expended all of his own fuel and the aircrew from both fighters were forced to eject from their aircrafts where rescue crews could come retrieve them.

Despite this heroic and selfless act of courage, Captain Pardo was demoted for losing his own aircraft when he could have saved it. Go figure. The USAF rectified this travesty in 1989 when they gave him a Silver Star for his bravery. I feel it should have been the Medal of Honor.