Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Daniel V. Borah Jr., who served as an A-7B Corsair pilot during the Vietnam War.
Daniel V. Borah Jr. served with the 7th Fleet on board the USS Oriskany.
On September 24, 1972, Borah was the flight leader on a day strike mission. The formation flew near a jungle approximately 15 miles south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone, and 23 miles east of the Vietnam/Laos border. Borah began a second run to bomb the North Vietnamese Army troops entrenched roughly 13 miles northwest of the city of Quang Tri. The enemy fired at Borah’s Corsair, which burst into flames. However, Borah ejected from the aircraft and descend with a good parachute.
The other fliers immediately started a search and rescue effort. Borah’s wingman made emergency radio contact with him. However, after two days, Borah made no further content. The military listed him as Missing in Action and ceased search and rescue efforts.
On October 19, 1972, the United States government received information that confirmed the enemy captured Borah and held him as a prisoner of war. When the Vietnamese released Prisoners of War at the end of the Vietnam War, Borah was not among them. His status changed to killed in action in 1997 after a local led searchers to Borah’s remains in June 1996.
Borah received numerous awards and medals including a Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal.
Borah is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, which is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. He is also honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 1W, line 75.
We honor his service.
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Writer: Gabriella Stockett
Editor: Samiha Hoque
Fact checker: Garrett Graham
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We honor the service of Daniel V. Borah Jr.
Great program, thank you.