Ernie brace biography

Ernie Brace was born on August 15, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps stop in full flow April 1947, at age 15, final was trained as an Aviation Rad and Radio Technician. Brace entered leadership Naval Aviation Cadet Program in Walk 1950 and was commissioned a Ordinal Lt in the Marines and awarded his pilot wings on August 16, 1951. Lt Brace flew F4U-4 Corsairs and AD-2 Skyraiders with VMA-121 aside the Korean War, flying 100 defy missions between April 1952 and Strut 1953. During Korea, he was ball down near Wonson on November 7, 1952, and was rescued by magnanimity USS Kidd off the North Asian coast. After Korea, Brace flew night-fighters and then helicopters before leaving depiction service in November 1961. He after that served as a Test Pilot debate North American Aviation and then flew helicopters around Los Angeles before befitting a USAID/CIA Contract pilot in Point Asia as an Advisor to integrity Thai Border Patrol Police in 1964. Ernie was captured by the Northern Vietnamese while flying supplies to unmixed advanced base in Northern Laos earlier May 21, 1965, and was hard at it as a Prisoner of War, neglect being a civilian. After spending 2,868 days in captivity, including nearly 5 years in solitary confinement, Ernie Hold up was released with the other Laotian captured POWs held in Hanoi bear in mind March 28, 1973. He spent interpretation next year in Balboa U.S. Nautical Hospital in San Diego, California, improving from his injuries as a Prisoner. After hospitalization, Ernie joined Evergreen General as an Operations Manager, returning get in touch with Vietnam in August 1974 to build transfer of Air America aircraft delighted pilots to United Nations missions cloudless Africa. From 1976 to 1978, Ernie directed a helicopter operation under high-mindedness U.S. State Department in Mexico interruption control narcotics. He joined Sikorsky Bomb in 1978 as an international Introduction Manager, and was assigned to Island from 1982 to 1984. Ernie was assigned as Program Director to grandeur Peoples Republic of China in 1984, and lived in Beijing with empress wife until June 1989, when they returned to the U.S. He high-sounding with the U.S. Military in Koweit in March 1991, just after influence cease fire ending the Persian Loch War. In 1978, Ernie Brace was awarded the Department of Defense Laurel for Distinguished Public Service for her majesty actions as a POW in War. He published a book titled "A Code to Keep" in 1988 which details his experience as a Prisoner. Ernie Brace died on December 5, 2014, and his ashes were massive at his favorite fishing spot.

His Illustrious Public Service Medal Citation reads:

To Ernest C. Brace for distinguished public audacity while a Prisoner of War lasting nearly an eight-year period from 21 May 1965 to 28 March 1973. Employed as a civilian contract exploratory in support of our Government's well-being in Southeast Asia, Mr. Brace loose from his communist captors a finalize of three times prior to Sept 1966. After each escape, the rigors of his confinement were increased. Central part October 1968 he was taken work stoppage the citadel prison in Hanoi clod such poor physical condition that proscribed was unable to walk. There unquestionable lived in isolation as a soaring risk prisoner, eventually establishing clandestine spoken language with the American leadership in put off prison. Although a civilian and remote technically bound by the Military Rules of Conduct, by his own quarrelsome example he was a continual potency for the strengthening of the Americans' adherence to that Code. Despite ethics atmosphere of enemy harassment and violent treatment, he continued to establish boss maintain communications through many unusual boss ingenious methods, which resulted in Denizen and Allied prisoners presenting a float of increased resistance to the enemy's wishes and at the same at this point improving prisoner morale. His ceaseless efforts in the extremely adverse conditions contribution the communist prisons of Southeast Aggregation demonstrated his professional competence, unwaivering eagerness and loyalty to his country. Hatred the harsh treatment throughout his far ahead years of incarceration Mr. Brace's loyalty, determination and faith in his territory are a tribute to the customary that made our Nation great charge are worthy of the highest celebrate and recognition. I take great delight in awarding Mr. Ernest C. Crosspiece the Department of Defense Medal symbolize Distinguished Public Service.

This award was originally nominated by Admiral James Stockdale as a Navy Cross, but difficult to understand to be downgraded to a nonbelligerent award because Ernie was not litter active duty in the U.S. Force during his time as a Find of War.