Contents |
Col William Joseph Baugh was born on 17 July 1934 in Piqua, Miami, Ohio, United States to Earl Palmoth Baugh (1908-1998) and Frances Juanetta Colmorgan (1909-1998). [1]
He lived in Dayton, Mongomery, Ohio when he was 5. [2]
Bill was educated at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Wood, Ohio. He was in the United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program there and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant at graduation on 10 June 1956 when he was 21.
Bill married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ellen Dubois (born 13 December 1935 Piqua, Ohio) on 2 September 1955 in Miami County, Ohio. [3]They had four children. Three of his children were teenagers when he returned home from Vietnam. The fourth and youngest child, Liz hadn't been born when he was taken prisoner. [4]
On 15 October 1956 he went on active duty in the United States Air Force and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and received his wings at Laredo Air Force Base in Laredo, Webb, Texas in January 1958. He completed fighter interceptor pilot training in the F-86D Sabre in July 1958. From there he was assigned to the 465th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, Oneida, New York. There he flew the F-89 Scorpion and the F-101B Voodoo.
In September 1963 he went to Royal Air Force Bentwaters near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England to the 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron where he flew F-101A Voodoo and C and then the McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom. In September 1966 he was assigned to the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. He flew 25 missions over South Vietnam. He was forced to eject on his 50th combat mission (25th over North Vietnam) and was taken prisoner.
Prisoner of War from 21 January 1967 to 4 March 1973. [5] [6] [7]
Bill was shot down over North Vietnam on 21 January 1967. He spent 2,235 days in captivity in Hanoi at the notorious Hanoi Hilton. In the crash, his injuries included a compressed vertebrae, broken jaw and cheek bone and was blinded in one eye. He was returned home during Operation Homecoming on 4 March 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from injuries at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.[8]
After returning from captivity, he attended Air War College at Maxwell Patterson Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama from July 1973 to June 1974. His blind right eye disqualified him from flying.
His final assignment was at Peterson Air Force Base, El Paso County, Colorado. There he served on the staff at Headquarters North American Aerospace Command and then Director of Personnel at Peterson Air Force Base until May 1981.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph Baugh, United States Air Force, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the period 5 October 1967 through 29 May 1969, while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. Lieutenant Colonel Baugh resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain William Joseph Baugh (AFSN: 0-670121), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-4C Aircraft Commander near Kep Airfield, North Vietnam on 20 January 1967. On that date, Captain Baugh was flying defensive cover for several attacking aircraft. Undaunted by extremely intense anti-aircraft fire, Captain Baugh maintained on target until receiving a direct hit on his aircraft. Through outstanding perseverance, he then maneuvered the stricken aircraft to his home base and landed under marginal weather conditions on one engine. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Captain Baugh reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
The full ribbon set is available here.
He retired on 15 May 1981. When he retired, he had acquired over 2500 hours of fighter pilot flying time. He served the greater NAM-POW community by becoming editor of their quarterly newsletter. He also frequently lectured as a guest at the Air Force Space Command Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy and Airman Leadership Schools. [9]
In 1983 he returned to government service as the Chief of the Public Affairs Office for the 2nd Space Wing at Falcon Air Force Base (now called Schriever Air Force Base) near Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado until again retiring in 1991.[10]
Colonel Baugh died on 19 February 2010 in Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, United States at the age of 75. He had been experiencing declining health for many years. He developed kidney cancer and it spread quickly. His desire was to have no funeral service. He was cremated and his ashes given to family. [11]Some say he was interred at Arlington; however his name is not included there. His obituary in the Colorado Springs Gazette stated that he would be buried in his hometown of Piqua, Ohio. [12]
Darlene Scott Kerr created Baugh-394 profile on 30 September 2015, added bio and sources. Part of personal Vietnam POW project. Not a family member of mine. If a family member wishes to take this over and has more information, please let me know.
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Bill is 28 degrees from Herbert Adair, 26 degrees from Richard Adams, 20 degrees from Mel Blanc, 29 degrees from Dick Bruna, 22 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 37 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 22 degrees from Sam Edwards, 17 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 21 degrees from Marty Krofft, 17 degrees from Junius Matthews, 20 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 22 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
B > Baugh > William Joseph Baugh
Categories: 4th Allied P.O.W. Wing | Wounded in Action, United States of America, Vietnam War | Hỏa Lò Prison | Aviators | F-4C Phantom II Pilots | Silver Star Medal | Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) | Purple Heart | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Air Medal | Air Force Commendation Medal | Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, Ohio | Wood County, Ohio | Prisoners of War, United States of America, Vietnam War | United States Air Force, Vietnam War