RIP Roy Aldridge, Korea and Vietnam Vet, and Chapter IX Member

Special Forces Association Chapter IX say's goodbye for now to Chapter Honorary Member, Roy E. Aldridge who crossed the line of departure 15 September 2020. Roy was born 10 September 1934, served for 23 years in the US Army (Korean War) and the US Air Force (Korean War and Vietnam) retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1973. He made two combat jumps in the Army: on 20 October 1950 into Sukchon North Korea; and, on 23 March 1951 into Munsan North Korea on Operation Tomahawk. And if that wasn't enough, after he joined the Air Force, he bailed out a burning bomber over North Korea April 13,1953 and subsequently became a  POW for 5 months.

Aldridge joined the Oklahoma National Guard with two of his cousins to have beer money. They were on their way to summer camp when their unit was Federalized, sent to Fort Polk, LA. From there he went to Fort Campbell, KY, for jump school, joined the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team known as the Rakkasans and went on to Korea. In August 1950, he found himself in a country he had never heard of to help people he did not know. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion I Company landing at Pusan, Korea. Shortly after the Inchon invasion and breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, the 187th went to Kimpo Air Base to make preparations for the jumps north of Pongang and Maunsani. Subsequent to the later jump he was wounded and at that time the Army found out that he was underage and he received a minority discharged and returned to the States.

After completion of high school, he reenlisted, this time in the Air Force. He returned to Korea in March 1953 assigned to the 67th Tactical Recon Wing in munitions. They were experiencing difficulties with the new proximity fuses on the photoflash bombs used in night photography so he volunteered to fly a milk run mission to ensure all the settings were correct. During this mission, the RB-26 received heavy antiaircraft fire and the crew was ordered to bail out over North Korea. Unfortunately, he was the only survivor and spent five months as a POW in PAK’s Palace. On September 4, 1953, he was in the final group repatriated, six days short of his 19th birthday.

In 1954, he was assigned to the Armed Forces Special Weapons Command, Kirkland AFB, NM where he underwent training in the assembly of nuclear weapons. He was later assigned to Task Force One Los Alamos, NM where he assembled and tested both above and below ground nuclear weapons at the Atomic Proving Grounds in Nevada and in the Pacific. This lead to him being assigned to Vandenberg AFB, CA and strategic missiles. He assembled the reentry vehicles used on the Thor, Atlas, Titan and Minuteman missile systems. In 1962 while stationed at Malmstrom AFB, MT, he was assigned to the crew that put the first armed missile on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In December, 1962, he was assigned to the First Aero-Commando Group and stationed at DaNang Air Base, South Vietnam, where he supported the Army’s Special Forces. He also made two “short trips” back to Vietnam. He had various other assignments including NASA and the Gemini IV Project, SHAPE Belgium, and his final assignment was as NCOIC of the Armed Forces School for Nuclear Weapons, Lowry, AFB, CO.

Since there was no demand for nuclear bomb builders, he attended Nuclear Medicine Technology training and spent the last 35 years in this career in Nuclear Medicine.

Roy was a worker and giver, spending years and decade as a member of many Veterans and community organizations:

Life Honorary Member SFA Chapter IX, 2004
Life Member Korean War Veterans Association
Life Member 187th Airborne RCT Association
Life Member 82nd Airborne Division Association
Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
Life member Disabled American Veterans
Life Member American Legion
Member of the Texas Veterans Coalition Representing SFA and KWVA
Member US Congressman Beto O’Rourke VAC Representing SF and KWVA
Member of the VAVS and VAH Directors Council Rep. SF and KWVA
Member of the National SF Planning committee
Current President of KWVA Chapter 249 El Paso, TX
Past National Director KWVA 2013-2017
Past 1st Vice President KWVA 2011-2013
Past 2nd Vive President KWVA 2009-2010
Past KWVA Commander Department of Texas.

As a honorary member of SFA Chapter IX, he supported many Chapter functions, including: the John McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament for over ten years; the USBP SOG EXPO; Christmas Food drive; Isaac Camacho Head Start school; and was the Sub Chairman, current, 2018 El Paso National Convention, War Eagles Project.

His awards and decorations include:

Silver Star Korea October 1950
Bronze Star w/V Device Korea March 1951
Purple Heart Korea March 1951
POW Medal – 5 months
Army Good Conduct Medal w 3 clusters
USAF Good Conduct Medal 1 Silver Oak leaf
PUC w/silver oakleaf
ROK PUC, Outstanding Unit Award w 1 Silver Oak Leaf
Army Commendation medal
USAF Commendation medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
USAF Good Conduct medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
National Defense Medal with Bronze star
Korean Service Medal with Spear head 3 Battle stars
United Nations Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal 4 stars
Vietnam Campaign Medal with clasp
USAF Senior NCO ribbon
USAF Outstanding Unit Award with V device
USAF Master Munitions Badge
USAF Master Missile Man Badge
He is survived by his wife Cheryl A. Aldridge and son Michael D Aldridge. He will be missed.