Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Major Bernard Francis Fisher

1st Air Commando Squadron

Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

1. Major Bernard Francis Fisher Marker

Inscription. Major Fisher was an A-1E pilot at A Shau, South Vietnam on 10 March 1966. The Special Forces camp was attacked by 2,000 North Vietnamese Army Regulars. Tops of 1,500-foot hills were obscured by an 800-foot ceiling, limiting maneuverability and forcing pilots to operate within easy range of hostile guns. During the battle, Major Fisher observed a fellow airman crash-land on the damaged airstrip. He believed the downed pilot was seriously injured and faced capture. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure, he landed, taxied the length of the runway littered with battle debris, and effected the rescue. Still facing withering ground fire, he applied power and barely achieved take-off in his badly damaged aircraft. Major Fisher was presented the Medal of Honor by President Johnson on 19 March 1967, becoming the first Air Force recipient of honor in Vietnam.

Erected by the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park Council.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Heroes • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #36 Lyndon B. Johnson, and the Medal of Honor Recipients series lists. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 31.

Location. 30° 24.823′ N, 86° 42.039′

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W. Memorial is in Hurlburt Field, Florida, in Okaloosa County. It can be reached from Oneal Avenue. Located at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park and access to the base is restricted. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 315 Independence Road, Hurlburt Field FL 32544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III (here, next to this marker); A-1E Skyraider (here, next to this marker); Medal of Honor Recipients (a few steps from this marker); MC-130P Combat Shadow (within shouting distance of this marker); HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" (within shouting distance of this marker); A-26 Counter-Invader (within shouting distance of this marker); Operation Ranch Hand Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Operation Kingpin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hurlburt Field.

Also see . . .
1. Bernard Francis Fisher. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on November 20, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

2. COL Bernard Francis “Bernie” Fisher. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on June 29, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Major Bernard Francis Fisher with Medal of Honor. image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

2. Major Bernard Francis Fisher with Medal of Honor.

Major Bernard Francis Fisher Marker and A-1E aircraft. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

3. Major Bernard Francis Fisher Marker and A-1E aircraft.

Marker is the one second from right.

Markers and A-1E Skyraider aircraft. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

4. Markers and A-1E Skyraider aircraft.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 485 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 20, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.