Captain O-3, U.S. Air Force
|
|
Veteran of: | |
|
|
Tribute: | |
|
|
Jerry Gerndt was born in 1942 in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. He was
commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force through the ROTC program
at the University of Wisconsin on January 23, 1965, and went on
active duty beginning April 18, 1965. Lt Gerndt next completed
Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings at
Reese AFB, Texas, in May 1966, followed by F-4 Phantom II Combat
Crew Training and then service as an F-4C pilot with the 46th
Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill AFB, Florida, from May 1966 to
March 1967. He then served as an F-4D pilot with the 555th Tactical
Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from March 1967
until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a
Prisoner of War on August 23, 1967. After spending 2,031 days in
captivity, Capt Gerndt was released during Operation Homecoming on
March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his
injuries at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and then left active duty on
August 10, 1973. After leaving the Air Force, Jerry flew commercial
airliners for 10 years, and then received his MBA from Stanford
University. He was married in 1976 and has two adult daughters. |