Burton Wayne Campbell (1939 - 2002)

Lt Col Burton Campbell was a Prisoner of War for 2419 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

Lt Col Burton Campbell served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War
Service started: 1962
Unit(s): 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Service ended: 1984

Birth

Lt. Col. Burton Wayne Campbell was born on 27 May 1939 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States according to his death records. His parents were Wayne F. Campbell (1912-1964) and Ada Zalea Jamison (1912-1984). ^[1]

Education

In 1957 he graduated from Lorain High School in Lorain, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government from Ohio University in 1961.

He completed his Master's degree in Communicative Arts at Air Force Institute of Technology from 1976 to 1977.

Residence

He moved from Amherst to Lorain, Ohio and lived there until 1957. He considered Lorain, Lorain, Ohio to be his home.

Marriage

He was married twice.

1. Bonita L. Unknown in about 1961. They divorced on 13 April 1973 in Lorain County, Ohio, shortly after he returned home. ^[2]
2. Lt. Col Adrienne Unknown^[3]

Military Service

After graduation from Ohio University he enlisted in the United States Air Force and entered Officer Training School on 6 February 1962. His commission as a 2nd Lieutenant came at Lackland Air Force Base Air Force Base in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas on 8 May 1962. Next he completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and earned his pilot wings in June 1963 while at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, Howard, Texas.

After completing F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training he received his first assignment as an F-100 and F-105 Thunderchief pilot with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa from August 1964 until June 1966.

From Okinawa, he went in June 1966 to Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron flying an F-105 Thunderchief. Captain Campbell was forced to eject over North Vietnam and taken as a Prisoner of War.

Prisoner of War from 1 July 1966 to 12 February 1973. ^{[4] [5]}

He was flown out on C-141 Tail number 50236 from Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, North Vietnam at 1445 hours and arrived at Clark Air Base, Philippines at 1718 hours.

He left the United States Air Force for the first time on 31 August 1973.^[6]

Upon returning to active duty on 8 April 1974, he did upgrade training with the C-9 Nightingale, completing in August 1974. It's used as an ambulance.

He served with the 11th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron of the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing out of Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois until December 1975 before he completed his Master's Degree.

With the newly acquired Master's Degree in Communicative Arts, he served as Public Affairs Staff Officer at Luke Air Force Base near Glendale, Maricopa, Arizona from July 1977. On 9 June 1980, he entered the United States Air Force Reserve.

Returning to active duty on 1 March 1982, he served as Chief of the Support Division with the Office of Public Affairs for Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio until his retirement in 1984.^[7]

He returned home to the United States with the first group of returnees in Operation Homecoming. He went to Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio to recover from injuries for a brief time. His first comments to the press about his future did not include the military. He also spoke to fellow prisoners while still in Hanoi about wanting to get out of the United States Air Force. He did eventually decide to stay and returned to active duty on 8 April 1974.

Honors

1st (of 2) Silver Star Citations: First Lieutenant Burton W. Campbell distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in North Vietnam on 1 July 1966. On that date, Lieutenant Campbell was the pilot of an F-105 Thunderchief that struck and destroyed a heavily defended target deep in hostile territory. Despite intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Campbell pressed the attack and delivered his bombs squarely on target rendering it impassable. He demonstrated heroism of the highest order and distinctive professional airmanship as he directed his aircraft against his target. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Campbell has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

1. Silver Star Medal with Oak leaf cluster.
2. Legion of Merit.
3. Distinguished Flying Cross with V Device.
4. Bronze Star with V Device.
5. Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
6. Meritorious Service Award.
7. Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
8. Air Force Commendation Medal.

The full ribbon set is available here.

Retirement from the United States Air Force

He retired on 1 October 1984 at the age of 45, having given 22 years of service to his country.

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Campbell died aged 63 on 3 September 2002 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States at the Veterans Hospital. He had been suffering from several types of cancer. He lived at the time in Oakwood, Montgomery, Ohio and was married.

Sources

• Ohio Divorce Index for Burton W. Campbell and Bonita L. Campbell on 13 April 1973 in Lorain County, Ohio. The duration of the marriage was 11 years. Decree granted to him on the grounds of gross neglect/extreme cruelty. Ohio Department o fHealth, Office of Vital Statistics. Volume 2688, Certificate Number 13140.
• Ohio Deaths.
• Vietnam War Casualties.
• 1994 US City Directories in Oakwood, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
• Ohio, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Obituary Index with death date and place and names of parents and spouse. It was referenced to the Lorain Journal Newspaper on 24 Sep 2002.
• US Social Security Death Index.
• Veteran Tributes.
• Nam POW List.
• POW Network with We Came Home Article found here
• Ruston Daily Leader, Ruston, Louisiana on 23 December 1970, page 8 entitled: List of U.S. Prisoners in North Vietnam. ^[8]

Footnotes

1. ↑ OH Death Rec
2. ↑ OH Div Rec
3. ↑ Obit
4. ↑ NAM POW List
5. ↑ Vet Trib
6. ↑ Many of the returning POWs sought airline jobs and due to the extensive airline cutbacks due to the energy crisis, even those airlines that assured them jobs upon their return were forced to layoff. He was probably in that group.
7. ↑ Vet Trib
8. ↑ Ruston Daily Leader: They are broken down by state of record (not birth). Burton is in the Ohio section under Aherst.

Acknowledgements