This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Bryan, William Elmer, Jr., Maj Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Flint, Michigan
Last Address Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Date of Passing Apr 06, 2008
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
During WWII, he destroyed 7.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 damaged and 2 destroyed on the ground.
A glitch in the system shows his Air Medals incorrectly. His correct total is 24.
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major William E. Bryan, Jr., United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Pilot with the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 19th Fighter Bomb Group, FIFTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea during the period 1 through 21 February 1951. Displaying superb leadership, dauntless courage, and exceptional aeronautical skill, Major Bryan led his squadron of F-51 fighter aircraft on attacks against enemy transportation facilities and materiel. With total disregard for his personal safety, and ignoring the perils of enemy anti-aircraft, automatic weapons, and small-arms fire, Major Bryan repeatedly flew over hazardous mountain terrain at low speed and minimum altitude in search of camouflaged enemy vehicles and supplies. During this period, Major Bryan personally succeeded in detecting 82 vehicles which had been cleverly camouflaged by the enemy. Before destroying those targets, he led his flight in low level passes over the areas pointing out the camouflage techniques, and completely disregarded the damage frequently inflicted upon his own aircraft by enemy fire. As a direct result of this valuable instruction in camouflage detection, Major Bryan's squadron was able to locate 466 enemy vehicles of which 389 were totally destroyed and the remainder severely damaged.
General Orders: General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 103 (May 1, 1951)
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase IV Campaign (1968)
From Month/Year
April / 1968
To Month/Year
June / 1968
Description This period was from April 1 -October 31, 1968.
On April 1, 1968 the United States suspended bombing in North Vietnam north of the 20th parallel to encourage North Vietnam to agree to peace negotiations which it did 2 days later. At that time, President Lyndon B. Johnson moved the bombing ban farther south to the 19th parallel. U.S. and North Vietnamese diplomats met in Vientiane, Laos on April 25 to choose a site for the peace talks and on May 3 they agreed to meet in Paris, France. Preliminary discussions between representatives of the United States and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam began in Paris on May 10. A month later on June 11. Gen. Creighton Abrams, USA became Commander of MACV. Then on August 1, Gen. George S. Brown replaced General Momyer as Commander. Seventh Air Force.
On July 14, 1968, the U.S. began another interdiction campaign between the 19th parallel and the DMZ. American pilots struck rail cars. watercraft. trucks. and storage areas. They also bombed roads leading to Mu Gia and Ban Karai Passes on the Laotian border to disrupt movement of North Vietnamese supplies and personnel into Laos destined for South Vietnam. Following the cessation of bombing north of the 19th parallel. North Vietnam began to rebuild its industry, transportation network, stores of war materiel, and air defenses. It also moved its MiGs most of which had been based in China. back into the country. Still. North Vietnamese pilots generally
avoided the panhandle south of the 19th parallel. Attempting to encourage progress in the Paris peace negotiations. President Johnson on October 31, 1968, ordered a halt to all bombing in North Vietnam. The conflict in Laos became more active in 1968 as the Communists increased their efforts during April to send supplies, equipment, and personnel down the Ho Chi Minh Trail before the impending monsoon wet season (mid-May to early October) made the roads impassable.
To counter this infiltration. between April 19 and June 10. B-52 crews. flying up to 30 sorties each day bombed truck parks and storage areas along the trail. The Seventh Air Force meantime used its tactical assets to hit small targets, such as trucks and other surface traffic on the move and to make follow-up raids on the B-52 targets along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In northern Laos the USAF continued to provide close air support to Dorian troops battling the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese forces. In May 1968 the enemy massed forces at Na Khang 150 miles northeast of Vientiane and 100 miles east of Luang Prabang. The USAF increased its close air support in the face of this threat and by the end of October, the Laotians had driven the Communist forces back to Samneua about 35 miles northeast of Na Khang.
In South Vietnam, during the summer of 1968. the USAF flew closeair support. interdiction and airlift missions in support of Allied forces, while the Communists launched another offensive. A typical Communist attack occurred on August 23 against Duc Lap, a border camp 3 miles east of Cambodia and 35 miles southwest of Ban Me Thuot. a town 160 miles northeast of Saigon. The next day the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing‘s C-7s joined U.S. Army helicopters in resupplying and reinforcing Duc Lap. Heavy tactical air strikes drove the enemy from the camp's perimeter and suppressed enemy fire permitting aerial resupply. To help check similar attacks, USAF tactical aircraft and B-52s provided close air support while airlifters flew in or airdropped supplies to several other Army Special Forces camps. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese were not nearly as well equipped as they had been during the Tet Offensive and by mid-September the Allies had blunted this offensive.
