Sergeant James Douglas Locker
Killed in Action: June 9, 1968
Sgt James Locker is the son of Robert and Dorothy Locker. He entered the Air Force after graduation from Sidney High School, Sidney, Ohio, and trained as a Pararescueman. He was assigned to the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron operating out of Danang.
On 9 June 1968, Sergeant Locker was a crewman aboard Jolly Green 23, an HH-3E rescue helicopter (similar to the one pictured above), attemped the rescue of a downed Marine pilot, 1st Lt Walter R. Schmidt. Sgt Locker's aircraft was hit by enemy fire and exploded.
During his tour in Vietnam Sergeant Locker was awarded three Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and four Purple Hearts in addition to the usual awards for service in Vietnam. He was the only USAF pararescueman to earn to earn three Silver Stars in one tour in Vietnam. Buildings at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, and Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, were named in his honor. It is believed that the awards Sergeant Locker earned while in Vietnam for 11 months were more than accumulated in by any other military person from Shelby County, Ohio. |
