Dale E. Stovall

Dale Emery Stovall (born February 19, 1944) Stovall was also recognized with the 1973 Jabara Award for Airmanship, two Silver Star awards and two Distinguished Flying Cross awards for other combat rescues among the 12 successful rescue missions he accomplished during his tour in Southeast Asia. Stovall retired from the Air Force as a brigadier general on June 1, 1993.

Background Stovall was born in Toppenish, Washington, and enlisted with the US Air Force in June 1962. The following year, he was accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and graduated with the class of 1967. At the 1966 NCAA indoor track and field championships, he finished 3rd in the 440 yards with a time of 48.7 seconds.

Rescue of Roger Locher During the initial phase of Operation Linebacker in May 1972, a USAF F-4D was shot down by a North Vietnamese Shenyang J-6. Pilot Major Robert Lodge refused to eject, but his weapons officer Captain Roger Locher was able to get out of the aircraft. Locher landed, unseen by either friendly or enemy forces, only from Hanoi, North Vietnam.

Locher evaded capture and covered over , gradually losing and his strength. On June 1, 1972, his 22nd day behind enemy lines, he was finally able to contact a flight of American jets overhead, calling, "Any U.S. aircraft, if you read Oyster 1 Bravo, come up on Guard". Lieutenant James Dunn and others, including Captain Steve Ritchie in one of the F-4 aircraft overhead, heard his radio call and remembered Locher's call sign. When the aircraft answered, Locher calmly responded, "Guys I've been down here a long time, any chance of picking me up?" His transmissions left some Americans who did not hear his call in doubt about the authenticity of his message, and they believed that the People's Army of Vietnam may have manipulated a POW into impersonating him, setting a trap for the would-be rescuers. "We shut down the war to go get Roger Locher," Stovall later said. At only 60 miles (97 km) from Hanoi, it was the deepest rescue inside North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Awards and decorations

USAF Command pilot badge Air Force Cross Silver Starwith bronze oak leaf clusterDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Meritwith bronze oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying Crosswith "V" device and bronze oak leaf clusterMeritorious Service Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Medalwith silver oak leaf clusterAir Force Commendation MedalAir Force Presidential Unit Citationwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Outstanding Unit Awardwith two bronze oak leaf clustersNational Defense Service Medalwith service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medalwith three bronze campaign starsAir Force Overseas Long Tour Service RibbonAir Force Overseas Short Tour Service RibbonAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith silver and bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbonwith bronze starAir Force Training RibbonRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry CrossRepublic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Silver Star

Capt Stovall was recognized on several occasions for his bravery during the Vietnam War. He received the Silver Star for actions on March 2, 1972. The citation reads in part: