Gary L. Morgan

Gary Morgan enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on March 11, 1963, and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, in May 1963. His first assignment was as an Admin Clerk with the Reno Air Defense Sector at Stead AFB, Nevada, from June 1963 to March 1966, followed by service as an Admin Clerk with the 779th Radar Squadron at Opheim AFS, Montana, from March 1966 until he left active duty on March 10, 1967. Morgan next enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 20, 1967, and was trained and served as a UH-46 Sea Knight Rescue Aircrew Member with HC-1 at Ream Field, California, from April 1967 to March 1968. His next assignment was as an UH-46 Rescue Aircrew Member with the Helo Detachment aboard the combat support ship USS Camden (AOE-2) during its deployment to Vietnam from March 1968 to March 1969. Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Third Class Morgan received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy on March 19, 1969, and then reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 24, 1969. Sergeant Morgan served as a Maintenance Scheduling Specialist with the 11th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, from July 1969 to December 1971, and then completed B-52 Stratofortress Defensive Fire Control Systems Operator training from December 1971 to March 1972. His next assignment was as a B-52 tail gunner with the 9th Bomb Squadron at Carswell AFB, Texas, from March to October 1972, and then with the 20th Bomb Squadron at Carswell and deployed to Southeast Asia from October 1972 until he was forced to bail out of his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 22, 1972.