WADDELL, DEWEY WAYNE
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Name: Dewey Wayne Waddell Rank/Branch: O4/United States Air Force Unit: 354th TFS 355 TFW Tahkli RTAFB Date of Birth: 12 September 1935 Home City of Record: Bremen GA Date of Loss: 05 July 1967 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 213200 North 1063300 East Status (in 1973): Returnee Category: Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105D Missions: 47 Other Personnel in Incident: none
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Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews. 2025
REMARKS: 730304 RELEASED BY DRV
In 1975, Wayne was assigned to DoD as AF member of AMRAD, the Joint service
committee on weapon systems R&D. Later, he became acting chairman and sat
on a NATO weapons systems committee. He moved to Dobbins AFB, GA in early
1979 as Director of National Emergency Programs and served as President of
NAM-POWs, 1981-84.
Single once again, he met Barbara Jeter of Shreveport, LA, a flight
attendant with Eastern Air Lines. They were married in the base chapel on
New Year's Day, 1983. Space-A allowed for lots of trips to Europe,
Thailand/China, South America, etc. The Friendship Force arranged for
'Soviet' Georgia and Vietnam.
Since his retirement In October 1987, Wayne plays at golf and works
part-time on emergency management for Argonne National Laboratory. After
EAL days, Barbara taught English as Second Language and was the editor for a
local marketing research firm.
Greg has worked on Capitol Hill since Princeton graduation (on Purolator's
scholarship). He and Tamara, language teacher, have a son, Alden. Jennifer
and Bill Combs married after graduation from Emory; she works there and he
has oral surgery practice.
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After his completing studies at the Air War College in 1974, Wadell spent 3 1/2 years at the Pentagon (DoD) and then 8 1/2 years at Dobbins AFB, Georgia, working with AF Emergency Preparedness Plans. Dewey Waddell retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel in 1987. Among his awards and decorations were 2 Silver Stars. Since his retirement, he works part time as a consultant for Argonne National Laboratory. He and Barbara live in Georgia, and have traveled extensively in Europe, Thailand, China, "Soviet" Georgia, and South America. He visited Vietnam just a few years ago. |
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Wayne Waddell Honored by Hometown
Borrowing a phrase from a commander in SEA who was selected as one of USA's
'badass pilots,' I had very humble pride on July 4. (2014)
The veterans in my hometown/county worked for 18 months on project to
dedicate two F-105D's that day...[maybe only place with 2??]
Weather [rains] and mechanical snags prevented completion of all they
planned but work continues...i.e., the planes will be repainted camouflage
with names plus plaques and paved walkways....
B/G Winn was 355TFW/Ass't-DO...one of his sons attended and told couple 'war
stories' about his dad....one was that he took a Thud to Death Valley and
got it up to 880 knots! Reportedly, the airplane's crewchief was not happy
as the paint was 'burned off' on leading edges of wings and empannage
...Jerry Jackson was his crewchief when shotdown for second time.
Cheers,
Wayne
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RIVER RATS IN THE NEWS |
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D. Wayne Waddell Honored
D. Wayne Waddell was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans
Hall of Fame 5 November. In the picture above, GA State Senator
Ed Harbison (Sgt, USMC) presents him with the medal and
certificate.
Dewey Wayne Waddell (VALOR) (POW) Colonel, Air Force, Bremen,
GA. On 5 Jul 1967 on his 47th combat mission in an F-105
Thunderchief jet over North Vietnam he was shot down, captured,
and held as a POW for five years, eight months, and ten days,
suffering greatly at the hands of the enemy. During the attack,
even though his aircraft received several hits from flack, he
continued the attack until he had to eject. He served on active
duty for over thirty years with honor, distinction, courage, and
conviction. His combat awards are: Prisoner of War Medal, Air
Medal (6), Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the
Silver Star (2).
Robert G. CertainCh, Col, USAFR-Ret |
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Bio update: 08/03/2020Wayne Waddell was shot down on about 1600 on 5 July 67 by Chicom AAA on NE RR near Chinese Buffer Zone and spent 24 hours with them. "The Commandant said if I cooperated with them, I would be taken to Beijing and treated well. I declined his kind offer and asked to go to Hanoi. The next day I was taken to several gun sites in the complex to be shown off plus a trip to a larger Chicom complex before turnover to NVA for truck, jet helo and truck rides to Hoa Lo." GB, Oa't
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https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/north_fulton/four-pows-recall-their-times-in-vietnamese-prison-camps/article_f628bb90-fc47-11ea-91b7-57708ec76d7e.html Four POWs recall their times in Vietnamese prison camps
Four Vietnam Prisoners of War visited north
Fulton to tell their stories of captivity in honor of
National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Vietnam
veterans ...
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04/29/2024
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