John spent the majority of his 29 years in the Air Force flying C-130's and responding to contingency operations on the world stage, including the Congo, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic and in Southeast Asia. In 1962, he transported the Spaceship Sigma 7 and several of the Mercury astronauts from Midway Island to Patrick Air Force Base, Florida after Walter Schirra's successful flight and landing. That same year, he played a minor role as a soldier in the Cinemascope epic "Merrill's Marauders" based on the exploits of the Long-Range Jungle Warfare Unit in Burma during WWII. In 1964/65, Captain Daughtry flew combat resupply missions in Vietnam while based at Mactan Island in the Philippines. In April 1975, as an AC-130 gunship Squadron Commander, he participated in Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind, providing combat air support for the evacuations of Phnom Pehn, Cambodia and Saigon, Vietnam. A month later, the now Lt. Colonel Daughtry found himself over Koh Tang island in Cambodia, providing fire support to US Marines who had landed on the island in response to the boarding and capture of the SS Mayaguez and its civilian crew. He was awarded the Meritorius Service Medal for his performance.
John spent the majority of his 29 years in the Air Force flying C-130's and responding to contingency operations on the world stage, including the Congo, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic and in Southeast Asia. In 1962, he transported the Spaceship Sigma 7 and several of the Mercury astronauts from Midway Island to Patrick Air Force Base, Florida after Walter Schirra's successful flight and landing. That same year, he played a minor role as a soldier in the Cinemascope epic "Merrill's Marauders" based on the exploits of the Long-Range Jungle Warfare Unit in Burma during WWII. In 1964/65, Captain Daughtry flew combat resupply missions in Vietnam while based at Mactan Island in the Philippines. In April 1975, as an AC-130 gunship Squadron Commander, he participated in Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind, providing combat air support for the evacuations of Phnom Pehn, Cambodia and Saigon, Vietnam. A month later, the now Lt. Colonel Daughtry found himself over Koh Tang island in Cambodia, providing fire support to US Marines who had landed on the island in response to the boarding and capture of the SS Mayaguez and its civilian crew. He was awarded the Meritorius Service Medal for his performance.
Inscription
LT COL US AIR FORCE
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
