| Theodore W. Guy |
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| Rank, Service |
| Colonel O-6, U.S. Air Force |
| Veteran of: |
U.S. Air Force 1949-1975
Cold War 1949-1975
Korean War 1951-1953
Vietnam War 1967-1973 (POW)
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| Tribute: |
Ted Guy was born on April 18, 1929, in Elmhurst, Illinois. He entered the Aviation Cadet Program on August 12, 1949, and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force and awarded his pilot wings on September 15, 1950. After serving as an Instructor Pilot at Goodfellow AFB, Texas, Guy completed combat crew training in the F-84 Thunderjet and flew combat missions with the 430th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Osan AB, South Korea, from December 1951 to March 1953. After Korea, Guy flew as an Instructor Pilot and Gunnery Instructor at Luke AFB, Arizona, from August 1953 to July 1958. He flew as an exchange pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force from July 1958 to June 1959, and then went through Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He then served as an Instructor Pilot at Reese AFB, Texas, from July 1961 to March 1965, when he transferred to Randolph AFB, Texas. In November 1967, Guy began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with the 559th Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Cam Ranh Bay AB in the Republic of Vietnam. On March 22, 1968, Col Guy was forced to eject from his F-4C Phantom II over Laos and he was taken as a Prisoner of War. He spent the next 1,790 days in captivity in prison camps in Laos and North Vietnam before being released during Operation Homecoming on March 16, 1973. After repatriation, Colonel Guy served as the Assistant Commander of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Homestead AFB, Florida. He retired from the Air Force on August 21, 1975, and married Linda Bergquist on October 18, 1973. Ted Guy died on April 23, 1999, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his brother Donald, three sons from his first marriage-Theodore Jr., Michael, and Donald, and three grandsons-Donald Jr., David, and Jeremy.
His Air Force Cross Citation reads:
The Air Force Cross is presented to Theodore Wilson Guy, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 25 January 1972 to 25 May 1972. During this period, Colonel Guy was subjected to maximum punishment and torture by Vietnamese guards to obtain a detailed confession of escape plans, policies, and orders that he had issued as the senior ranking officer in the prisoner of war camp in which he was commander, and the communications methods used by the Americans interned in the camp. He withstood this punishment and gave nothing of value to the Vietnamese while sustaining many wounds to his body. Through his extraordinary heroism and willpower in the face of the enemy, Colonel Guy reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. |
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