Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame Spotlight
Dewey Wayne Waddell
2016 Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame Inductee (Valor)
Attention All Georgia Military Veterans!
| September 2019 | Real Hero Report
United States Air Force
Colonel (Ret.) Dewey
Wayne Waddell, from
Bremen, Georgia was inducted
into the 2016 Class of the
Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall
of Fame for his heroism and
On July 5, 1967, on his
47th combat mission in an
F-105 Thunderchief jet over
North Vietnam, then Major
Waddell was on a bombing run
of a key enemy railroad yard
which was defended by one of
the most accurate and heavy
concentrations of anti-aircraft
artillery in all of North Vietnam.
During the attack, his aircraft
Regardless, he tenaciously
continued his mission, accurately
delivering his ordnance until he
was forced to eject.
He was soon captured, and held
eight months, and ten days. While
in captivity, he suffered greatly
both physically and mentally at the
hands of the enemy who disregarded
all international agreements on the
treatment of prisoners of war. By
calling on his deepest inner strengths
and unwavering resolve, he was able
to endure those many cruel years.
For his exemplary leadership and
example to his fellow POWs and
his heroic service to our nation in
time of war, Colonel Waddell was
awarded the Prisoner of War Medal,
six Air Medals, the Purple Heart,
the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the
Distinguished Flying Cross, and our
nation’s third highest award for valor,
two Silver Stars. After the Vietnam
War, Colonel Waddell continued his
dedicated career in the Air Force,
serving our nation for more than 30
years with honor, distinction, courage,
and conviction.