FAC Memoral

[Rocky Raab]

Thanks, Dan. I was there. We based the dedication around our bi-annual FAC Association Reunion. Take it from me, there was not a dry eye in the house when we heard from keynote speaker Bud Day (POW and MOH awardee) nor from a SpecialOps Army Ranger who literally depended on FACs for his life every day.

Most impressive was the half-time at the AF/Navy football game the next day. They devoted five whole minutes of the halftime to honoring us FACs. Read the citations of our three MOH winners, introduced Bud Day (the other two were posthumous awards) and had the entire 60,000 fans stand and salute us FACs. I think every one of us were stopped, hands shaken and saluted - with not a dry eye on either side.

Saturday was also the 89th birthday of our "FAC Emeritus" Gene McCutchen. Gene flew as a B-17 pilot in WWII, flew combat missions as one of the first FACs (a new concept) in Korea, and was in the first batch of ten FACs to serve in Vietnam. He served two tours there. One HELL of a hero to us all, believe me.