When George "Bud "Day died, his family asked for the military funeral all veterans are entitled to. What they got was a bit more....
Buds's funeral procession took 9 minutes to go by. Thousand of active Marines, Air Force, Navy and Army personnel lined the route.
Perhaps it was because Bud was a Medal of Honor recipient who served in WWII, Korea, and spent 5 years as a POW in Vietnam. Ask a Marine and they'll tell you it was because Bud was a Brother. Bud served as an enlisted Marine in WWII. Later, he served in the Air Force, as a fighter pilot. Bud served in Korea and Vietnam. Bud's F-100 Super Sabre was shot down over North Vietnam by a triple A. He was quickly captured and thrown into a prison compound and subjected to beatings. Yet, somehow he escaped his captors and evaded recapture for 10 days, despite being badly injured. Eventually, he became John McCain's cellmate.
Bud tells his own story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIq7A073N10&feature=endscreenBud's funeral procession....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lJ_AohP1xSwBud's MoH citation:
On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.
