Air Force hero to be honored

Published Sept. 9, 2011

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- A number of events will be held here Sept. 15 and 16 honoring Col. James H. Kasler, the only three-time recipient of the Air Force Cross.

The Air Force Cross ranks just below the Medal of Honor as an award for extraordinary heroism in combat.

Both the colonel and his wife, Martha, will be on hand for the events.

Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1926, Colonel Kasler saw combat in three conflicts over his thirty-year career. He flew seven missions in the Pacific Theater as a tail gunner in a B-29 Superfortress during World War II. After the war, he completed his college degree, earned his pilot's wings and returned to the Korean Conflict in the cockpit of an F-86 Sabre. He went on to fly 100 combat missions and became one of the first "jet aces."

It was during his service in Vietnam, however, where Colonel Kasler made his mark on history. He earned his first Air Force Cross leading an attack on a heavily defended Hanoi petroleum products storage complex on June 29, 1966. In the following August after leading another raid into North Vietnam, he flew at low level searching for a downed pilot putting himself in great danger and earning his second Air Force Cross. He was shot down and captured during this search attempt and ultimately earned his third award based on his courage in resisting efforts by Vietnamese forces to turn him into a propaganda prize.

The "Tribute to Honor" events get started on Sept. 15th with a POW/MIA Ceremony/Retreat, sponsored by the WPAFB Chief's Group, at the Arnold House flagpole. The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. with a short presentation by Mrs. Kasler, and will end with Retreat at 4:30 p.m. All Wright-Patt personnel are invited to attend.

The next event will be a dinner, sponsored by the Enterprise Information Systems Directorate, will be held at the Wright-Patterson AFB Club, beginning at 6 p.m. Activities for the evening will include a celebration of the Air Force 64th Anniversary and a presentation recognizing Colonel Kasler and his wife.

Those wishing to attend the dinner should contact 2nd Lt. Dustin Spafford at (937) 257-9867. The dinner and ceremony are available only to those with base access. Ticket purchase is required. Seating is limited. Dinner costs is $21 for WPAFB Club members and $23 for non-club members. Sept. 13th is the last day to purchase tickets.

Lastly, on Sept. 16th, the Enterprise Information Systems Directorate will sponsor a recognition of the Air Force 64th Anniversary, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Wright-Patt Medical Group Auditorium along with a special audio/visual presentation honoring Colonel and Mrs. Kasler. Seating is limited and only those with base access are invited. This event is scheduled to end at noon.