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Contact Info
Home Town Frisco
Last Address San Antonio, TX
Date of Passing Apr 26, 2003
Location of Interment Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (VA) - San Antonio, Texas
For meritorious service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from May 1972 to March 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. Despite the adversities of confinement, he performed such duties and responsibilities as assigned by superiors and required of the Code of Conduct in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and dedication throughout this period of imprisonment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
Fighter Squadron 24 was originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron 211 in June 1955 at NAS Moffett Field. The unit flew the FJ-3 Fury aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard. The squadron transitioned to the F8U Crusader in 1957. Then on 9 March 1959, the Squadron was redesignated VF-24 Fighter Squadron 24
While deployed aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (Carrier Air Wing Twenty One), Lieutenant Commander Bobby C. Lee and Lieutenant Phillip R. Wood became the first VF-24 pilots to shoot down MiG aircraft over North Vietnam on May 19, 1967,. The MiGs were shot downed withAIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Then on July 21, 1967, Commander Marion H. Issacks (XO) and Lieutenant Commander Robert L. Kirkwood made the 3rd and 4th MiG kills for their Squadron with 20 mm guns and Sidewinder missiles. The MiG-killing "Fighting Renegades" became one of the Navy's first "Ace" squadrons
The MiG KILLS
Lt Phil Wood: MIG-17, 19 May 1967
LCDR Bobby Lee: MIG-17, 19 May 1967
CDR Marion Isaacks: MIG-17, 21 July 1967
LTJG Phil Dempewolf: MIG-17, 21 July 1967
LCDR Robert Kirkwood: MIG-17, 21 July 1967