Ronald Glenn Bliss (1943 - 2005)

Captain Ron Bliss was a Prisoner of War, 2374 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

Captain Ron Bliss served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War
Service started: Jun 1964
Unit(s): 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron; 465th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Service ended: 3 Jun 1974

Birth

Capt. Ronald G. Bliss was born on 22 March 1943 in Buckeye, Maricopa, Arizona, United States. ^[1]

Marriage and Family

During his pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock County, Texas, Ron met Charlene Wallace (daughter of Charles Patton Wallace and Jimmye Leola Greeson, born 14 May 1943 in Bexar County, Texas, USA) ^[2] who was attending Texas Tech University. They were married at Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada on 18 September 1965. He was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada at the time of his marriage.^{[3] [4]}

Child of the Bliss-Wallace Marriage

1. Erik G. Bliss born 7 April 1966.
2. Jason Wallace Bliss born 21 May 1974 in Bell County, Texas, USA.

Education

In June 1960 when he was 17 years old, Ron entered the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado. He graduated with his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force on 3 June 1964.^{[5] [6]}

He went to Baylor University's Law School in Waco, McLennan, Texas to receive his law degree in the summer of 1974. He finished 27 months later.

Military Service

Ron accepted his commission on 3 June 1964 and began active duty after a two month vacation. He entered pilot training in August 1964, completed the training and was given his wings at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock County, Texas in October 1965. Then he went to F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training from October 1965 to May 1966 at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada.

In June 1966 he was assigned as an F-105D pilot with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. While flying his F-105D on a mission against the Nguyen Khe POL storage facility with the 357th, he was shot down with a 57mm shell and had to eject from his burning airplane on 4 September 1966 over North Vietnam. He was taken immediately. He was held in the Hanoi Hilton and Heartbreak Hotel.^{[7] [8][9]}

Prisoner of War from 4 September 1966 to 4 March 1973.^{[10] [11]}

Ron was shot down on his 37th mission and forced to eject over North Vietnam and taken captive to Hanoi.

He returned during Operation Homecoming and was hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas before returning to flying status.

After his release from incarceration and rehabilitation, he was assigned to the 465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, Otero, New Mexico as a T-38 Talon instructor pilot from September 1973 until 3 June 1974 when he retired from the United States Air Force.

Honors

His Silver Star Citation

First Lieutenant Ronald G. Bliss distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in Southeast Asia on 4 September 1966. On that date, Lieutenant Bliss piloted an F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber through intense anti-aircraft fire to strike a strategic petroleum storage facility within North Vietnam. The dauntless courage and intrepidity exhibited deep within hostile territory were exceptionally conspicuous. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Bliss has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

1. 2 Silver Stars.
2. Distinguished Flying Cross.
3. Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
4. Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.
5. Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.

The entire ribbon set is available here.

Retirement

He retired from the United States Air Force on 3 June 1974 and returned to school to get his law degree.

Later Life

Second Career

He practiced intellectual property law as a partner at Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. in Houston, Harris, Texas for many years until his death. ^[12]

Death and Burial

Captain Bliss died of melanoma cancer on 8 February 2005 in Houston, Harris, Texas, United States. ^[13] He had been battling the disease since 1998. He was a few weeks from the age of 62. He was buried on 4 March 2005 at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington, Virginia, USA. Section 54, Site 5729. Find A Grave: Memorial #106095545

Sources

• Veteran Tributes. The entire tribute is available here.
• NAM POW, Inc. The Association of Former Vietnam War POWs.
• POW Network has his homecoming statement here
• Combat Area Casualties Returned Alive Files. Record of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
• Web.[ http://www.scopesys.com/cgi-bin/bio2.cgi?bio=B090].
• Yearbook of the Class of 1964 United States Air Force Academy. [1]
• Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005.
• Texas Birth Index for Charlene Wallace.
• U.S. Phone and Address Directories. All in Houston, Texas. 1995 residence 1301 McKinney Street, showing him to be an attorney. 1997 residence 3016 Ella Lee Lane, showing him to be an attorney. 1993-2002 in Houston, Texas.
• U.S. Veterans Gravesites.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File.
• Find A Grave Index.
• U.S. School Yearbooks. U.S. Air Force Academy 1964.
• U.S. Social Security Death Index.
• Lone Star Flight Museum for Bliss find page here
• Ruston Daily Leader, Ruston, Louisiana on 23 December 1970, page 8 entitled: List of U.S. Prisoners in North Vietnam. ^[14]
• Air Force Together We Served. Find page

here

Footnotes

1. ↑ Vet Trib
2. ↑ TX Birth Rec
3. ↑ POW Network-Ron's Statement
4. ↑ NV Marriage Rec
5. ↑ POW Network
6. ↑ Vet Trib
7. ↑ Vet Trib
8. ↑ Wyatt, BP
9. ↑ POW Network-Mike McGrath
10. ↑ NAM POW
11. ↑ Combat Area Casualties
12. ↑ Lone Star
13. ↑ Vet Trib
14. ↑ Ruston Daily Leader: They are broken down by state of record (not birth). Ron is in the Texas section under Temple.

Acknowledgements