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Shaun Thomas (Underdog), OSC
to remember
McKamey, John Bryan, CAPT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Greencastle
Last Address Columbus, Ohio
Date of Passing Feb 09, 2010
Location of Interment Barrancas National Cemetery (VA) - Pensacola, Florida
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander John Bryan McKamey (NSN: 0-4777909), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam on 16 June 1966. Commander McKamey's captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Commander McKamey reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Commander John Bryan McKamey (NSN: 0-4777909), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam during August 1966. Commander McKamey's captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Commander McKamey reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Commander John Bryan McKamey (NSN: 0-4777909), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from February 1970 to January 1973. During this period, although under constant surveillance from his captors, he performed duties involving highly classified material in an exemplary and professional manner. Through his zealousness and ingenuity, he generated new ideas and improvised techniques greatly enhancing covert operations. Although in a hostile environment, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. By his inspiring courage, exceptional skill, and resourcefulness, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Commander John Bryan McKamey (NSN: 0-4777909), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 1965 to February 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. In an outstanding and tireless fashion he served as an entertainer to provide diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain John Bryan McKamey (NSN: 0-4777909), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service while serving as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Management Support and as the Transition Team Leader on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, Florida, from August 1984 to June 1986. Captain McKamey consistently performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. He aggressively, effectively, and efficiently initiated procedures which improved significantly the identification, development, and coordination of training requirements within the Naval Education and Training Command. These accomplishments could not have been realized without his dynamic enthusiasm, keen insight, sound judgment, and superior managerial and organizational ability. Captain McKamey's exceptional professionalism, adroit leadership, and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Vietnam War/Tet Counteroffensive Campaign (68)/ Yankee Station, North Vietnam
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
April / 1968
Description Yankee Station was a point in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam used by the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 to launch strikes in the Vietnam War. While its official designation was "Point Yankee," it was universally referred to as Yankee Station. Carriers conducting air operations at Yankee Station were said to be "on the line" and statistical summaries were based on days on the line.
The name derived from it being the geographic reference point "Y", pronounced "Yankee" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. In turn the term Point Yankee derived from the launch point for "Yankee Team" aerial reconnaissance missions over Laos conducted in 1964. It was located about 190 km due east of Dong Hoi, at 17° 30' N and 108° 30' E.
During the two periods of sustained air operations against North Vietnam (March 2, 1965-October 31, 1968 and March 30, 1972-December 29, 1972) there were normally three carriers on the line, each conducting air operations for twelve hours, then off for twelve hours. One of the carriers would operate from noon to midnight, another from midnight to noon, and one during daylight hours, which gave 24-hour coverage plus additional effort during daylight hours, when sorties were most effective. However at the end of May, 1972, six carriers were for a short period of time on the line at Yankee Station conducting Linebacker strikes.
The first aircraft carrier at Yankee Station was USS Kitty Hawk, which was ordered there in April 1964 for the Yankee Team missions. Kitty Hawk was joined by Ticonderoga in May and Constellation in June, two months prior to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Ticonderoga and Constellation launched the first bombing missions from Yankee Station on August 5, 1964. Constellation was also the last carrier conducting operations at Yankee Station on August 15, 1973. USS Forrestal suffered a major accident while at Yankee Station when a series of fires and explosions on her deck killed 134 men and injured another 161.
A corresponding Dixie Station in the South China Sea off the Mekong Delta was a single carrier point for conducting strikes within South Vietnam from May 15, 1965 to August 3, 1966.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1968
To Month/Year
April / 1968
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2023
Personal Memories
Memories When she again sailed for the Far East 6 March 1965, her aircraft were prepared for combat operations, and from mid-April flew strikes against military and logistics installations in North and South Vietnam.