| John L. Borling |
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| Rank, Service |
| Major General O-8, U.S. Air Force |
| Veteran of: |
U.S. Air Force Academy 1959-1963
U.S. Air Force 1963-1996
Cold War 1963-1991
Vietnam War 1965-1973 (POW)
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| Tribute: |
John Borling was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1940. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy on June 5, 1963, and completed pilot training in July 1964. Borling began flying combat missions in Vietnam in November 1965. He was shot down on his 97th mission in his F-4 Phantom II and taken as a Prisoner of War on June 1, 1966. Capt Borling spent the next 2,448 days as a POW of the North Vietnamese before being released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. After his release, Borling went back on flying status flying the F-4 and later the F-15 Eagle. He served as a White House Fellow from August 1974 to August 1975, went through the Armed Forces Staff College from August 1975 to January 1976, served as operations officer and then commander of the 94th Fighter Squadron from January 1976 to August 1979, went through the National War College from August 1979 to July 1980, served at the Pentagon from August 1980 to February 1982, was commander of the 86th Fighter Group from February 1982 to August 1984, served with SHAPE in Belgium from August 1984 to June 1986, served with the Strategic Air Command at Offutt AFB and Minot AFB from January 1987 to February 1991, served at the Pentagon again from February 1991 to January 1992, served as Deputy Chief of Staff and then Chief of Staff for Allied Forces North Europe in Stavanger, Norway from January 1992 until his retirement from the Air Force on August 1, 1996. General Borling is a Command Pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in fighter, bomber, tanker, and reconnaissance aircraft. After his retirement from the Air Force, John served as President/CEO of Chicago's United Way, he ran for Congress in 2004 and 2006, he founded and is currently the CEO of SOS America, and he is currently Chairman of Performance Consulting Group. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Myrna, also from Illinois, and they have two daughters.
His Silver Star Citation reads:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to John Lorin Borling, Major, U.S. Air Force, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the period from 1 August 1966 to 12 September 1966, while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. During this period major Borling was placed into a dark cell, severely harassed and brutally tortured for a war crimes confession. While resisting to the limits of his physical and mental abilities, Major Borling continued to communicate with others who were under heavy enemy pressure, morally inspiring them to hold out for a long period against enemy demands. The word of Major Borling's heroic resistance spread across the prison camp and was a source of inspiration to his fellow officers. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Borling has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air force. |
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Prisoner of War
North Vietnam
1 June 1966 - 12 February 1973
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