John C. Giraudo

John Charles Giraudo (October 2, 1923 – June 17, 1996) was a highly decorated United States Air Force major general. He is one of just a few Americans to be shot down and captured as a prisoner of war on two occasions, first during World War II and again during the Korean War.

Early life and World War II John Giraudo was born on October 2, 1923, in Santa Barbara, California. He was attending college in Santa Barbara when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941. Giraudo subsequently dropped out of college and enlisted into the United States Army Air Forces on March 25, 1942, and entered the Aviation Cadet Training Program.

On March 10, 1943, Giraudo was commissioned as a second lieutenant and awarded his flying wings. Giraudo was assigned to the 720th Bombardment Squadron at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, where he flew B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators. By late 1943, Giraudo was a squadron leader flying missions with the Fifteenth Air Force in the Mediterranean Theater. He would spend more than one year as a prisoner of war, until the camp was liberated by Russian troops on April 30, 1945.

While strafing enemy trucks during his 99th combat mission on June 16, 1953, Lieutenant Colonel Giraudo's aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Giraudo tried to nurse the F-86 to the sea, but he was forced to eject just one mile from the water. Giraudo landed near enemy troops and was successfully evading them when the life raft in his survival equipment unexpectedly inflated. He was shot through the shoulder and was captured by enemy troops for the second time. Giraudo's wingman, Marine Major John Glenn, circled over the area for a period of time while North Korean soldiers hid Giraudo from sight.

US Air Force Command Pilot BadgeAir Force Distinguished Service Medalwith two bronze oak leaf clustersSilver StarLegion of Meritwith bronze oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying Crosswith Valor deviceBronze Star MedalPurple Heartwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Medalwith three silver and one bronze oak leaf clustersAir Medal(second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing)Army Commendation MedalAir Force Presidential Unit Citationwith two bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Outstanding Unit Awardwith Valor device and two bronze oak leaf clustersPrisoner of War Medalwith service starCombat Readiness MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medalwith four bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medalwith service starKorean Service Medalwith two bronze campaign starsVietnam Service Medalwith three bronze campaign starsAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith one silver and three bronze oak leaf clustersRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry CrossUnited Nations Service Medal for KoreaVietnam Campaign MedalKorean War Service Medal