Thomas M. McNish

By zthanson, 13 December, 2022
First Name
Thomas
Middle Name
M.
Last Name
McNish
Birthdate
Hometown
Madison, Tennessee
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in pilot uniform standing next to a plane.
PreCapture Description

Thomas McNish entered the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1960. McNish graduated and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on June 3, 1964, and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings in September 1965 at Williams AFB, Arizona. He next completed F-105 Thunderchief combat crew training before being assigned to the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, in June 1966. Lieutenant McNish was shot down over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on September 4, 1966, while flying his 45th combat mission in Southeast Asia.

Post Release Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Air Force suit.
Post Release Description

McNish was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, before beginning his pre-medicine classes at Emory University. Captain McNish graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in June 1978, and interned in the Department of Family Practice at the University of Texas Heath Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. He completed family practice residency in 1981 and then began a residency in Aerospace Medicine at Brooks AFB, Texas, where he graduated in June 1983. During this time he was selected for the USAF Pilot-Physician program. Dr. McNish served as Chief of Aeromedical Services and Commander of the Air Transportable Hospital at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, from December 1983 to May 1985, and then as Commander of the USAF Hospital at Myrtle Beach, where he served until July 1986. During this time, he maintained mission-ready qualification in the A-10 Thunderbolt II, flying with the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, and was designated by Tactical Air Command as the weapons system flight surgeon for the A-10. Colonel McNish next served as Commander of the 833rd Medical Group and the 833rd Tactical Hospital at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, from July 1986 to October 1988. He flew the AT-38 Talon with the 479th Tactical Training Wing while at Holloman. He was then assigned as Chief of Flight Medicine in the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General until June 1991, when he became the Command Surgeon in the Office of the Air Force Reserve at the Pentagon, where he served until his retirement from the Air Force on July 1, 1994. Dr. McNish is married to the former Yona Gross of Montgomery, Alabama, and they have three children- Lori, Amy, and Tommy; and five grandchildren.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Silver Star (3)
  • Legion of Merit (2)
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Bronze Star (3)
  • Prisoner of War Medal


 

Passed away before release
Post Release