What price for warriors left behind?

 by James Zumwalt

The month of April began with bad news for our war effort in Iran. We learned a U.S. aircraft—an F15E—was shot down over Iran with the fate of its two-man crew unknown; breaking news developments report that one of the service members has been recovered. The aircraft is a dual-role fighter jet designed for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions and, most likely, was in the process of shooting down Iranian drones and cruise missiles.

For those of us who have worn the uniform, receiving news that fellow warriors have either been lost or are missing in action is a solemn moment. But we also know we will undertake every possible effort to locate and retrieve them—whether dead or alive. Needless to say, the Iranians will be searching for these two crewmen as well.

Should Tehran capture them or locate their remains, it will seek to make a propaganda victory out of it. Should the U.S. find them first, the act will simply underscore the humanity we have always placed on recovering our own.

For those of us who served in the Vietnam war, the search for the F15E crew brings back memories of the “largest, longest, and most complex search-and-rescue” operation ever occurring in U.S. Air Force history. It demonstrated the commitment to recovering our own, despite the additional life and death risks at which rescuers were placed.

It was 1972 and the rescue target was “Bat 21 Bravo.” This was the call sign of Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Iceal “Gene” Hambleton—the navigator and only survivor of an EB-66 aircraft’s six man crew. The plane had been shot down near the Demilitarized Zone but, unfortunately, behind North Vietnamese lines. There were approximately 30,000 enemy soldiers within striking distance of Hambleton. Perhaps another factor contributing to our determination to recover him was the fact that Hambleton was a top secret data bank.

A rescue helicopter vectored in on Hambleton but immediately came under intense fire and crashed. Other aircraft suffered the same fate. It took the loss of at least five helicopters before it was realized, the enemy had one of our radios and was therefore monitoring our communications and approach routes.

Having been outsmarted for the first unsuccessful phase of the rescue operation, it was realized we would somehow have to get Hambleton quietly re-directed to a safe area before he could be retrieved by helicopter.

It was learned that Hambleton was a golf enthusiast and, as such, instead of being given specific compass directions, he was given the directions between the holes on various golf courses he knew well. It enabled him to move off in a direction unknown to the enemy.

After 11.5 days straight of such golf course navigation, Hambleton came to a river where a Navy SEAL team met him, securing his rescue. Sadly, it was one of the most costly rescue operations in terms of human life ever undertaken.

The F15E was shot down over Iran on April 2. Ironically, that is exactly 54 years to the day that the EB-66 was shot down over Vietnam. Iranian newscasters broadcast the message to their people to capture the two pilots alive and turn them over to security forces in return for a reward. The Islamic Republican Guard Corps (IRGC) reported it has helicopters out looking for the Americans as well.

Obviously, the U.S. Central Command has been prepared since the war’s beginning for any contingency involving lost U.S. aircraft and their crews. U.S. helicopters have been positioned in both Iraq and Syria ready for such a purpose. Undoubtedly, it also has faster-moving aircraft on standby to defend the helicopters against Iranian strikes which can be targeted more easily.

Were Hambleton still alive today (he passed in 2004), he undoubtedly would be able to share some insights as to what the two F15E pilots may be going through at the moment concerning their own possible fight for survival.

Ironically, the mullahs and IRGC—unable to defend themselves in the war—have demonstrated  much more effectiveness in brutalizing their own people. Such cowards should be forewarned about daring to similarly treat any POWs they should capture.

In his inauguration speech on January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy made it clear to our enemies that “We shall pay any price” in stopping the spread of communism. Similarly, we should let an enemy of a new era know we are willing to pay any price in blood to ensure the safe return of any of our warriors left behind!

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/what_price_for_warriors_left_behind.html