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AFGSC colonel passes on piece of history at promotion ceremony

  • Published
  • By Megan A. Orton
  • Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  When Maj. Christopher Clark, aide-de-camp to the Air Force Global Strike Command commander, pinned on the rank of major Feb. 26, he also pinned on a piece of Air Force history that once belonged to a Medal of Honor recipient.

After final remarks were made and the cake was cut, Col. David Thomson, AFGSC director of staff, asked for everyone's attention and began to tell a story about a major's oak leaf insignia worn by three Air Force officers through the Vietnam War, as well as Operations Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

That rank will now be worn by Major Clark.

The story that Colonel Thomson told was that when he was a major, he and his family visited his sister, Amy, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. After a summer evening barbecue, conversation drifted to the family's common bond - the Air Force. Amy's father-in-law, Noble, was a retired F-4 Phantom pilot, and Colonel Thomson's father is a member of the famous Vietnam-era "Mistys," an elite squadron of fighter pilots who flew F-100 Super Sabre missions in Vietnam. Colonel Thomson flies B-1s.

The Misty Forward Air Controllers were named after their radio call sign "Misty." The Mistys were led and founded by retired Air Force Col. George E. "Bud" Day, a Medal of Honor recipient, Vietnam war hero and former prisoner of war. Colonel Day's squadron chose its call sign after one of his favorite songs, Johnny Mathis' "Misty."

Back at the barbecue, Noble abruptly excused himself from the family and went in the house. He emerged with something in hand, along with a story of his own about a bronze oak leaf insignia that had belonged to then-Maj. Bud Day when he flew in Vietnam.

Noble presented the rank to Major Thomson.

During a later visit to Fort Walton Beach, Colonel Thomson had the opportunity to meet Colonel Day. When Colonel Thomson showed Colonel Day the oak leaf insignia, and explained that the rank had once been Day's, Colonel Day gave him a critical piece of advice:

"Make sure you do right by these," Colonel Day said. "Make sure you pass them on to the right person."

Since he stopped wearing the major's rank nine years ago, Colonel Thomson has been looking to pass along the insignia to another Airman.

"Not a day went by when I didn't think, I need to find someone to pass these on to," he said.

Then, during his new assignment to AFGSC, Colonel Thomson took notice of then-Capt. Christopher Clark, who the colonel knew would soon pin on the rank of major.

"You have an officer who started out as a scientist, then became a fighter pilot, and now is spending one year at a brand new command, getting basically a one-year internship in the nuclear world," the colonel explained. "'Look at the potential he has,' I thought, 'he is going to grow up to be a change-maker in our Air Force.'"

The colonel said he mulled over the decision for a few weeks, and he didn't make the final decision until the week of Major Clark's promotion. No one else knew that he was planning to present the oak leaf insignia to the major that day.

The colonel said that he always wore the rank on his flight cap during his days as a major because it was a part of his uniform that would be with him every day.

Major Clark now proudly wears the rank on his flight cap.

"I was completely stunned," Major Clark said of the passing of the oak leaf insignia. "It is an amazing honor to be entrusted with this piece of history, and I'm honored that Colonel Thomson would think of me."

The major said he feels challenged to live up to the standards of performance set by the previous wearers of the rank insignia, and he will pass on the oak leaf insignia when he finds someone that he believes will honor its history.

"The whole experience has just been humbling," Major Clark said, "very humbling--and I'm still amazed he chose me."

Editor's Note: Colonel George E. "Bud" Day is America's most highly decorated military warrior since General Douglas MacArthur. Throughout his 34-year military career, Day received nearly 70 decorations and awards, including the Medal of Honor, which he was awarded for his bravery while in captivity. Day currently practices law and resides with his wife Doris in Shalimar, Fla., and is a well-known advocate for veterans' rights.