James C. Harding (born June 27, 1934) is a retired United States Air Forcecolonel and pilot. He served two tours, during the Vietnam War and flew a total 596 missions, all in propeller aircraft.
He served as squadron commander for a 400-person unit at Lackland Air Force Base and as an A-1 Skyraider combat squadron commander. Harding is one of the top 25 most decorated American veterans.[1]
In 1972, he was engaged in the rescue of U.S. Marine CorpsA-6 Intruder pilot Major Clyde D. Smith and bombardier/navigator, 1st Lt. Scott D. Ketchie, who were shot down over North Vietnam.[3] 1st Lt. Ketchie was not rescued and was subsequently declared Missing in action. For his effort in leading the rescue mission, Harding was awarded the Air Force Cross.[2] The rescue effort is depicted in History Channel.[4]
Shoot-down and evasion
He was shot down in Vietnam in 1972 northeast of Qui Nhơn and just south of the DMZ — an area overrun by the North Vietnamese Army.
After landing began clearing enemy foxholes. He killed three North Vietnamese soldiers, the first with his .38 pistol, the others with the dead soldier's SKS rifle. He successfully evaded capture by the North Vietnamese and was rescued by U.S. Army helicopters.
Harding then returned to Maxwell Air Force Base, where he served from July 1976 to September 1977. His final assignment was at Shaw Air Force Base, where he served from September 1977 until his retirement from the Air Force on July 31, 1979.
