Col Fred V Cherry USAF
Born in Suffolk, Virginia in 1928, Fred Cherry graduated from Virginia Union University (Biology Major) in 1951. He entered the USAF in 1951 and went through basic airman training at Sampson Air Force Base in Ithaca, New York. In October of that year he commenced pilot training at Malden, Missouri with later studies at Dennison/Sherman, Texas. At Webb AF13 in Texas he successfully completed Jet Fighter Pilot training and was commissioned at Second Lieutenant in October of 1952. Ten more weeks of intensive combat training ensued, after which Cherry was assigned to the 3 1 01h Fighter Bomber Squadron of the 58 th Fighter Bomber Group. He flew more than fifty combat sorties over North Korea piloting F84Gs prior to the end of hostilities in 1953. From early 1954 until August of 1958 Cherry served stateside with a number of units including the 407 th Strategic Fighter Squadron (F-84s) and the 506 h Tactical Fighter Wing (F- 1 00s.) After a short tour to Germany, Fred returned home as a full time combat crew training inspector at Luke AFB. He then served a two-year tour in Japan with the 35h Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 8h Tactical Fighter Wing where he flew F-100s. As the War in Vietnam escalated, Cherry was assigned to the 35 th Tactical Fighter Squadron, where he flew 52 combat missions while piloting the F-105D. On his last mission over North Vietnam he was shot down on October 22, 1965. He was immediately captured after surviving ejection from his F-105. He remained a prisoner of war in North Vietnam from October 1965 until February of 1973. With the end of hostilities and the return of our POWs, Fred Cherry returned to the States. He attended the National War College in 1973-74, and the Defense Intelligence School the year after. He was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency from June 1974 until September 1981. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Fred has had an active civilian professional career. He served as the Director of Technical Support Services for E.H. White & Co. in Washington, DC from 1982-87, and as Marketing Manager for Data Transformation Corp. after 1987. Fred Cherry's 30plus military awards and decorations include the Air Force Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, the Air Force Commendation, the Meritorious Service Award, two President Unit Citations, and a Distinguished Unit Citation. Col. Cherry was commissioned by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the Korean War Veteran's Memorial Advisory Board. He also received the Award for Outstanding Service to the Military Community from the Tuskegee Ainnen. Cherry has been an active member of the Kiwanis International as well as the Masonic Lodge. He resides in the Washington, DC area and is currently President and CEO of Cherry Engineering Support Services. Inc. The Cherry's are blessed with six children, and eleven grandchildren. He died on 16th February 2016.
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