A former U.S. Air Force pilot who spent seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam recently passed away at age 87.
Fighting against racial prejudice and segregation, the black hero joined the Air Force in 1951, and showed so much skill that he was soon flying combat missions over North Korea.
In 1965, Fred Cherry was flying an F-105 fighter over North Vietnam when anti-aircraft fire hit his plane.
Cherry bailed out just before the craft exploded, and fell captive to the communists.
“The plane exploded and I ejected at about 400 feet at over 600 miles an hour,” Col. Cherry wrote in a 1999 collection of war stories by POWs and Medal of Honor recipients. “In the process of ejection, I broke my left ankle, my left wrist, and crushed my left shoulder. I was captured immediately upon landing by Vietnamese militia and civilians.”
“My standard for making decisions is based on doing what is right, or what some might call, doing the right thing. I use as my embedded standard: honor, integrity, faith in God and country and love. Believe that right will prevail over wrong. Know that honor, integrity, faith in God and country, respect and love will set you free,” he added.
After his retirement in 1981, Cherry went on to start an engineering company.
“I’ve never, ever, ever heard any ill will against my father,” Cherry Jr. said. “Everybody that met him adored him, respected him and loved him.”
