This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Andrea Melancon-Family
to remember
Chase, Arthur Leo, Col.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Do any of you remember my Dad, Col. Arthur L. Chase (ROCKETMAN)?? Posted - 3 hours ago
I am the only daughter of Art Chase. He fought in Vietnam and later was the squadron commander of the 76th squadron at England Air Force Base in LA. I would love to know more about my dad. He passed away many years ago without sharing much of his life with us kids.
Colonel Arthur Leo Chase (1935-1994) Fighter Pilot, USAF (1958-1986)
Medals Awarded to My Father During His Career as an Air Force Fighter Pilot
Citation to Accompany the Award of The Distinguished Flying Cross To Arthur L. Chase
Captain Arthur L. Chase distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-100 pilot at Bo Tuc, Republic of Vietnam on 20 December, 1967. In the pre-dawn hours of the date, Captain Chase led an alert flight in support of a friendly camp that was being hit hard by a large hostile force and in danger of being over-run. Captain Chase was restricted to dropping his ordnance low level, in marginal illumination conditions and parallel to a main line of quad fifty caliber machine gun positions while being silhouetted against a raging fire from an ammunition storage area. Despite these multiple hazards, Captain Chase elected to make multiple passes, dropping his bombs and strafing within 25 meters of friendly positions, with extraordinary accuracy. The intrepid courage and self sacrifice under intense hostile fire displayed by Captain Chase resulted in the saving of numerous friendly lives. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Chase reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
NOTE: You can learn more about the details of the mission described above at the Bo Tuc pages of the "Manchus" - the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry web site. My web page you are looking at now was discovered by a former soldier who was on the ground the night my Dad provided the air support for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and he sent me an email to let me know how much he and his fellow soldiers appreciated it.
In the picture above, then Major Arthur L. Chase is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while flying combat missions in Vietnam. Below I plan to include information about how my Father earmed each medal once I have it. For the time being I have included information about the history of the medal or citation and general requirements for earning it.
Silver Star
The Silver Star stands as the United States' third highest award for combat valor. Established on July 16, 1932, the Silver Star actually traces its history back to the silver Citation Star, established on July 9, 1918. The Citation Star was a silver star device which was attached to the service ribbon of the campaign medal for which the individual was cited in official orders for gallantry in action. While the degree of heroism required to earn the Silver Star is less than that required for the Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Medal, it must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.
Distinguished Flying Cross
with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
The Distinguished Flying Cross was established in 1926. From that time until the outbreak of WWII it was used primarily to recognize the achievements of aviation pioneers. Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart were among the first to receive the award. In 1927 award of the DFC became restricted to military personnel. Award criteria now demands heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Bronze Star with Valor Device
The Bronze Star was originally established in 1944 to recognize the unique sacrifices of infantry soldiers during WWII. However, the award was quickly expanded to include members of all the Armed Forces. Award of the Bronze Star Medal can be made for acts of Valor in combat or for acts of meritorious service within a combat theater. When awarded for valor, a small bronze "V" device is attached to the ribbon.
Meritorious Service Medal
with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
The Meritorious Service Medal was first proposed in 1938. However it was not until 1969 that the medal was approved. The MSM remains the only achievement award that is restricted to peace-time use. During time of war, the MSM is replaced by the Bronze Star.
Air Medal
with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters
The Air Medal was established in 1942 specifically to protect the prestige of the DFC. When the Distinguished Flying Cross was established, no one could have foreseen the extent of aerial combat that World War II was witness to. To protect the importance of the DFC from being diminished, the Air Medal was established as the aerial equivalent of the Bronze Star.
Joint Services Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) was established by Executive Order in February 1942 as the Distinguished Unit Badge. The name was changed in 1966 to the Presidential Unit Citation. The award recognized the same degree of combat heroism by a unit as the Distinguished Service Cross does for an individual.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device
with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Prior to its establishment as a separate branch of the Armed Forces and the establishment of the Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force used Army unit awards to recognize the meritorious service of its units. Established in January 1954, the AFOUA can recognize either combat valor or meritorious service. When awarded for combat valor, the "V" device is worn on the ribbon.
Combat Readiness Medal
The Combat Readiness Medal was established on March 9, 1964 to recognize members of units who are, both individually and as a unit, certified as combat or mission ready for a two year period.
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal was originally established on April 22, 1953. There have been three periods of qualifying service; the first was from June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954, the second from January 1, 1961 to August 14, 1974, and the third from August 2, 1990 through November 30, 1995.
Vietnam Defense Service Medal
with 3 Bronze Stars
Authorized by Executive Order 11231 on July 8, 1965 and awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in Vietnam and the contiguous waters, and airspace, in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia or airspace in direct support of military operations in Vietnam between July 3, 1965 and March 28, 1973.
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Instituted: 1950. Criteria: Awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy. Notes: Palm device is citation for unit awards & for medal award at Army or higher level.
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Instituted: 1966 Dates: 1965-1973 Criteria: 6 months service in the Republic of Vietnam between 1965 and 1973 or if wounded, captured or killed in action during 1965-1973. Notes: Bar inscribed 1960- is the only authorized version.
If you knew my Dad or have any pictures of him or stories to share I would really like to hear from you.
Please send me an email at spanky@mac.com. Thanks!
Some of the planes my Father flew during his career as an Air Force Fighter Pilot
My Father was Commander of the 76th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Flying Tigers" at England AFB, Louisiana from 1975-1977. His nickname was "Rocket Man," and the sign in front of the Squadron included it under the "official" sign that said "Col. Arthur L. Chase-Commander."
283 air combat missions (422.1 combat hours) in Vietnam while stationed at Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of South Vietnam, August 1967-August 1968. Awarded multiple medals and ribbons.
Some of the Units my Father was Associated With During his Air Force Career
My Dad was awarded several medals while he served our country.
A plaque of "High Flight" was on the wall in every home we lived in.
My Dad requested that it be read at his funeral, and it was.
High Flight
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer John G. Magee, Jr. ================
Obituary for Arthur Leo Chase
Published Friday, September 23, 1994
The Alexandria Daily Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville, Louisiana
Arthur L. Chase
Services for Arthur Leo Chase will be at 10:00 AM today in St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Pineville, with the Reverend Lee Kneipp officiating. Burial will be in National Cemetery under the direction of Hixson Bros.
Chase, 59, of Pineville, died at 1:35 PM Wednesday, September 21, 1994 in Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pineville.
He was a native of Lubbock, Texas, and a member and four-year letterman with the Texas Tech baseball team as a pitcher. He played semi-pro baseball in Durango, Colo. from 1955-56.
He was a US Air Force veteran. He received the Top Gun Award in 1964 and was a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, flying in 283 combat missions. He received many awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with two Oak Leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service with three Bronze Stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Silver Star, Small Arms Expert Marksman Award, Bronze Star with Valor, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Combat Readiness Medal.
He was Commander of the 76th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Flying Tigers" at England AFB from 1976-77, and also Commander of Ohio Air National Guard from from 1981-82 in Springfield, Ohio. He was a member of the Retired Officers' Association, Vietnam Vets, American Legion, and VFW.
Survivors include his wife, Faye W. Chase of Pineville, two sons, Milward G. Chase of Austin, Texas, and Arthur S. Chase of Houston, Texas; two stepsons, John A. Harrell of Tioga and Jeffrey W. Harrell of Pineville; one daughter, Andrea C. Melancon of Pineville; one stepdaughter, Jenny M. Hicks of Tioga, his mother, Marie Burke of Lubbock, Texas, one sister, Glenna McCain of Lubbock, Texas, and eight grandchildren.
Friends may call from 9 AM until time of services today in the church.
Posted - 3 hours ago 
