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Released: Jun 6, 1997
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- As the announcer read the names and biographies of each Medal of Honor recipient, the only name that stood out to Jim Lundie of Concord, N.C., was Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson, U.S. Air Force retired, 311th Air Commando Squadron.
"When I looked at my wife she agreed with me; it was the man who rescued me," said Lundie. On May 12, 1968, Jackson, then a pilot of a C-123 Provider, volunteered to attempt the rescue of a three-man Air Force Combat Control Team from a special forces camp at Kham Duc, Vietnam.
Little did either of them know that 29 years later, on May 25, 1997, as Jackson was honored during the Air Force's 50th Anniversary activities at the Coca Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway, N.C., one on the men he rescued would be sitting in the audience.
The two men were reunited with a compassionate hug and a strong handshake. "It was a very emotional meeting as tears came up in our eyes," said Jackson. "It almost seemed impossible that we could find each other after all these years in a crowd of 185,000 people.
"It seemed like I had been a step behind him all these years of almost catching up with Colonel Jackson, said Lundie. "I am shocked and pleased to see him.
What had seemed like hours the day of the rescue was probably only minutes, according Lundie. "Colonel Jackson risked the flight crew and the airplane to save us."
Hostile forces overran the forward outpost and established gun positions on the airstrip. "We were the only people (Americans) left in the area," said Lundie, "and the Vietnamese knew we were there. They were raking the camp with small arms, mortars, automatic weapons and recoilless rifle fire."
With the camp engulfed in flames, ammunition dumps were continuously exploding and littering the runway with debris, according to Jackson. Additionally eight aircraft had been destroyed by intense enemy fire and one aircraft remained on the runway, reducing its usable length to only 2,200 feet.
"I knew there had been other attempts for the rescue," Jackson said. "Then there was a radio call to see if anyone was in the vicinity to make another attempt and I knew the situation as well as anyone." To further complicate the landing, the weather was deteriorating rapidly, permitting only one air strike prior to Jackson's landing.
Although fully aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of an attempt, Jackson landed his aircraft near the point where the combat control team was reported to be hiding.
While on the ground, the aircraft became the target of intense hostile fire, according to Jackson. A rocket landed in front of the aircraft nose but failed to explode. Once the combat control team was aboard, Jackson succeeded in getting airborne despite the hostile fire directed across the runway in front of his aircraft.
After the aircraft landed safely at Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam. The four crew members and three combat controllers were taken to separate intelligence debriefings where they lost contact with each other.
"You hear about long lost family members being reunited and the emotions they feel; this was the same close family feeling for me," Lundie said. "Now it's all about staying in touch."
Jackson was presented the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House Jan. 16, 1969. Jackson in one of six Air Force Medal of Honor recipients still living and he resides in Kent, Wash.
Lundie separated from the Air Force in 1968 and resides in Concord, N.C. with his wife Diana. (Courtesy of AETC News Service)
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