John L. Borling

John Lorin Borling (born March 24, 1940) is a retired major general of the United States Air Force whose military career spanned 33 years. He has piloted many aircraft including the F-15, F16, F-4, the SR-71 Blackbird, the U-2, and B-52 and B-1 bombers. During the Vietnam War, his aircraft was shot down and he spent 6½ years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. Borling was soon overpowered by the soldiers and would spend the next 6½ years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi.

In 2004, Borling was a candidate in the Republican Primary for the United States Senate. He finished sixth with 2.0% of the primary vote.

Awards and decorations A highly decorated officer, Borling's awards include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Prisoner of War Medal.

US Air Force Command Pilot BadgeParachutist BadgeDefense Distinguished Service Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Distinguished Service MedalSilver StarDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Meritwith bronze oak leaf clusterDistinguished Flying Crosswith Valor device and bronze oak leaf clusterBronze Star Medalwith Valor device and two bronze oak leaf clustersPurple Heartwith bronze oak leaf clusterMeritorious Service Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Medalwith silver oak leaf clusterAir Force Commendation Medalwith two bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Presidential Unit CitationJoint Meritorious Unit Awardwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Outstanding Unit Awardwith Valor device and bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Organizational Excellence Awardwith two bronze oak leaf clustersPrisoner of War MedalCombat Readiness MedalAir Force Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service Medalwith service starVietnam Service Medalwith three silver campaign starsAir Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbonwith one silver and two bronze oak leaf clustersAir Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbonwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith silver and bronze oak leaf clustersSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonAir Force Training RibbonRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationVietnam Campaign Medal

Borling was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State’s highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois on November 6, 2021.

His publications

Personal life Borling is married to his high school sweetheart, Myrna, also from Illinois. They have two daughters.