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Most-decorated Marine pilot dies at 89
CLACKAMAS (AP) — Retired Marine Corps Col. Kenneth L. Reusser, called the most decorated Marine aviator in history and was shot down in three wars, has died at age 89.
Reusser flew 253 combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and was shot down in all three, five times in all.
His 59 medals included two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts and two Legions of Merit.
In 1945, while based in Okinawa, he stripped down his F4U-4 Corsair fighter and intercepted a Japanese observation plane at a high altidude. When his guns froze, he flew his fighter into the observation plane, hacking off its tail with his propeller. :eek:
In 1950 in Korea led an attack on a North Korean tank-repair facility at Inchon, then destroyed an oil tanker almost blowing himself out of the sky.
In Vietnam he flew helicopters and was leading a rescue mission when his Huey was shot down. He needed skin grafts over 35 percent of his badly burned body.
Reusser, who lived in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, was born Jan. 27, 1920, the son of a minister.
Reusser raced motorcycles to help pay for college and earning a pilots license before WWII.
After retiring from the Marine Corps he worked for Lockheed Aircraft and the Piasecki Helicopter Corp. He remained active in veterans groups.
Reusser died June 20 of natural causes. He is survived by his wife, Trudy; and sons, Richard C. and Kenneth L. Jr. Interment was Friday in Willamette National Cemetery.
Godspeed Devil Dog.
This is a real celebrity death the nation should be discussing.
SeriousStudent
06-28-09, 23:20
Fair winds and following seas, sir.
My God - two Navy Crosses and four Hearts. A loud brass clanking noise must have followed him, wherever he walked.
A loud brass clanking noise must have followed him, wherever he walked.
I sure it did, but I doubt it was the sound of his medals!
:D
Milwaukie, eh? I live about 45 minutes away. A local hero.. funny how you don't get to hear about it till they DIE.
SeriousStudent
06-29-09, 18:08
I sure it did, but I doubt it was the sound of his medals!
:D
Indeed, it was not his medals that made the sound, but was likely caused by his bow-legged stance.
Derek_Connor
06-29-09, 20:42
THIS deserves all the TV/internet attention instead of the one gloved freak.
Damn...RIP COL.
Most-decorated Marine pilot dies at 89
CLACKAMAS (AP) — Retired Marine Corps Col. Kenneth L. Reusser, called the most decorated Marine aviator in history and was shot down in three wars, has died at age 89.
Reusser flew 253 combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and was shot down in all three, five times in all.
His 59 medals included two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts and two Legions of Merit.
In 1945, while based in Okinawa, he stripped down his F4U-4 Corsair fighter and intercepted a Japanese observation plane at a high altidude. When his guns froze, he flew his fighter into the observation plane, hacking off its tail with his propeller. :eek:
In 1950 in Korea led an attack on a North Korean tank-repair facility at Inchon, then destroyed an oil tanker almost blowing himself out of the sky.
In Vietnam he flew helicopters and was leading a rescue mission when his Huey was shot down. He needed skin grafts over 35 percent of his badly burned body.
Reusser, who lived in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, was born Jan. 27, 1920, the son of a minister.
Reusser raced motorcycles to help pay for college and earning a pilots license before WWII.
After retiring from the Marine Corps he worked for Lockheed Aircraft and the Piasecki Helicopter Corp. He remained active in veterans groups.
Reusser died June 20 of natural causes. He is survived by his wife, Trudy; and sons, Richard C. and Kenneth L. Jr. Interment was Friday in Willamette National Cemetery.
Assuming all of this is accurate, I am humbled and speechless due to his incredible bravery and sacrifice. We really need to remember these exceptional folks.
I know I at least am ignorant not knowing of him sooner.
The_War_Wagon
06-30-09, 07:39
Those guys NEVER call attention to themselves, but I wish the gummint they served, did a better job of it - instead of focusing on imaginary warming and carbon shenanigans... :mad::mad::mad:
CarlosDJackal
06-30-09, 15:15
RIP, Devil Dog!!
N.Y.45 ACP
07-12-09, 10:17
From Military.com:
[URL="http://http://www.military.com/news/article/twotime-navy-cross-recipient-dies.html?ESRC=dod.nl"][/URL
Two-time Navy Cross Recipient Dies
June 30, 2009
Stars and Stripes
Marine Corps Capt. Kenneth Reusser and his wingman were flying a mission in the Pacific region during World War II when they came upon a Japanese surveillance plane.
The cold air had frozen the fighters’ guns, so Reusser tipped his F4U-4 Corsair toward the aircraft, allowing his wingman to rake his propeller across the plane’s tail. The move downed the enemy plane and would have been a heroic highlight of any military career. But it was just a start for Reusser.
Known as one of the most decorated Marine Corps aviators ever, he died June 20 of natural causes at age 89 in Oregon.
Reusser was awarded 59 medals during his career, including two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts and two Legions of Merit. He retired from the service a colonel, The Associated Press and Oregon media reported.
He was shot down five times during 259 combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam — at least once in each conflict.
In 1950, Reusser led an attack on a North Korean factory. Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, he dipped down to window level of the facility and saw that it was being used to repair enemy tanks, according to the citation for his second Navy Cross.
He flew to his aircraft carrier to re-arm with rockets and napalm and then returned to destroy the facility, again braving the anti-aircraft fire.
Reusser’s plane had been damaged and his heavy ordnance was gone, but before returning from the mission, he flew low and pumped his machine guns into a North Korean oil tanker, the citation said.
The tanker exploded, knocking his plane momentarily out of control, but he managed to right it and return to the carrier.
In Vietnam, Reusser flew helicopters and was leading a rescue mission when his Huey was shot down. He was badly wounded and needed skin grafts over 35 percent of his burned body, the AP reported.
Reusser lived in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. He was born Jan. 27, 1920, the son of a minister, and raced motorcycles to help pay for college and earn a pilot’s license before WWII.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, he worked for Lockheed Aircraft and the Piasecki Helicopter Corp. and was active in veterans groups
Godspeed Devil Dog.It is absolutely incredible that this man fought/flew in 3 war's! The fact that he flew fixed wing and rotary is even more amazing.Like someone else said,this is the type of man who should be elevated and exalted,not the gloved one.As a matter of fact,i didn't even hear a whisper of this amazing man's passing on the TV.
Milwaukie, eh? I live about 45 minutes away. A local hero.. funny how you don't get to hear about it till they DIE.
Mainly because those that were of the Greatest Generation rarely talk about their deeds.
Godspeed sir. Rest now.
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