LeBlanc, Louis Edward, Jr., SMSgt

He was a B-52 gunner with the 2nd Bomb Squadron at March AFB, CA, from Dec 1969 until he was forced to bail out over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on Dec 22, 1972. He spent 98 days as a POW.

His DFC citations:
 

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War

Service: Air Force

Division: Anderson Air Base, Guam

GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Technical Sergeant Louis Edward LeBlanc, Jr. (AFSN: AF-12450593), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a B-52 combat aircrew member assigned to the 4133d Bombardment Wing (Provisional), Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, on 18 July 1968. On that date, Sergeant LeBlanc flew as gunner on a highly critical mission over Vietnam. He demonstrated outstanding airmanship by directing an emergency release of weapons by the following aircraft, while maintaining a constant vigil for hostile aircraft. He contributed immeasurably to the success of the Strategic Air Command's contingency operation in Southeast Asia. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant LeBlanc reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

 

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War

Service: Air Force

GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" to Master Sergeant Louis Edward LeBlanc, Jr. (AFSN: AF-12450593), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as a B-52 Gunner in Southeast Asia on 22 December 1972. On that date, Sergeant LeBlanc participated in high priority bombing missions against vital military targets in heavily defended areas of North Vietnam. Despite the intensity of the defensive reaction and the extreme hazard posed by numerous surface-to-air missiles and hostile interceptors, Sergeant LeBlanc displayed extraordinary courage and a remarkable ability to place the mission requirements above his personal safety. He maintained a constant watch for enemy fighter attack and other threats, thus enabling his crew to deliver their ordnance on the designated targets. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant LeBlanc reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

On December 22, a B52D crew consisting of Capt. Thomas W. Bennett, co-pilot;
LtCol. Gerald W. Alley; Capt. Peter P. Camerota, bombardier; 1Lt. Joseph B.
Copack, Jr., navigator; Capt. Peter J. Giroux, pilot; and MSgt. Louis E.
LeBlanc, tailgunner; departed Utapao on a bombing mission over Hanoi.

When the B52D was about 50 miles northwest of Hanoi, it was hit by Surface to
Air Missiles (SAM). Bennett called the mayday and manually ejected the pilot,
who had blacked out and then bailed out himself. The tailgunner later reported
that he observed in the bright moonlight that the entire crew of six had
deployed parachutes. Three of them, Camerota, Giroux and LeBlanc were released
from prisoner of war camps in Hanoi a few months later in the general prisoner
release of 1973. The U.S. was not expecting them. They had not known that the
three were being held prisoner. Alley, Copack and Bennett were not released and
remained Missing in Action.

During the month of December, 62 crewmembers of B52 aircraft were shot down and
captured or went missing. Of these 62, 33 men were released in 1973. The remains
of about a dozen more have been returned over the years, and the rest are still
missing. At least 10 of those missing survived to eject safely. Where are they?

As reports mounted following the war convinced many authorities that hundreds of
Americans were still held captive in Southeast Asia, many families wonder if
their men were among those said to be still alive in captivity, and are
frustrated at inadequate efforts by the U.S. Government to get information on
their men.

On June 23, 1989, the U.S. announced that the Vietnamese had "discovered" the
remains of Gerald W. Alley and Josepg B. Copack and had sent them home at last.
For 17 years, Alley and Copack - alive or dead - were prisoners in enemy hands.
Their families at last know for certain that their sons are dead. What they may
never know, however, is how - and when - they died, and if they knew that their
country had abandoned them.

Gerald W. Alley was promoted to the rank of Colonel, Thomas W. Bennett was
promoted to the rank of Major and Joseph B. Copack was promoted to the rank of
Captain during the period they were maintained missing.

Sources:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1534

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132967420/louis-edward-leblanc

https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/l/l083.htm

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/27889