Fred Bardshar
{{Infobox military person
|name= Frederic Abshire Bardshar
|image=
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption=
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1915|10|20|df=yes}}
|birth_place= Seattle, Washington
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1993|9|13|1915|10|20|df=yes}}
|death_place= La Jolla, San Diego, California
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United States
|branch= United States Navy
|serviceyears= 1934–1972
|rank= Vice Admiral
|unit=
|commands= Task Force 77
Carrier Division Seven
{{USS|Constellation|CVA-64|6}}
{{USS|Pawcatuck|AO-108|6}}
Air Transport Squadron 32
Air Group 27
VF-27
|battles= World War II
Vietnam War
|awards= Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (4)
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Air Medal (6)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Vice Admiral Frederic Abshire Bardshar (20 October 1915 – 13 September 1993) was an American World War II air ace,{{cite web|title=United States Navy and Marine Corps Aces|work=Naval Historical Center|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/aces.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970206095800/http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/aces.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1997-02-06|access-date=2007-10-10}} who later became Commander of United States Navy Task Force 77 and Carrier Division Five during the Vietnam War.{{cite web|title=USS KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) Command History|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/k/cv-63/1970.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129065020/http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/k/cv-63/1970.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-11-29|access-date=2007-10-10}}
Military career
=World War II=
During World War II, Lieutenant Commander Bardshar piloted a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, and was credited with eight kills at the Philippines during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in 1944. He was made commander of Air Group 27, based aboard {{USS|Princeton|CVL-23|6}}.{{cite book|last=Karig|first=Walter|title=Battle Report – the End of an Empire By Karig|date=March 2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r1eYvlnndYcC|page=302|publisher=READ BOOKS|isbn=978-1-4067-5405-6}}
=1960s=
From November 1963 to November 1964, Captain Bardshar was the third Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|6}}.{{cite web|title=Commanding Officers of the United States Ship Constellation (CVA/CV-64)|url=http://www.ussconstellation.org/commandingofficers.html|work=U.S.S. Constellation CVA/CV-64 Association|access-date=2007-10-10 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070901235025/http://www.ussconstellation.org/commandingofficers.html |archive-date = 2007-09-01}} In 1969, Rear Admiral Bardshar led an investigation into the fire aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} when a Zuni rocket misfired, resulting in the deaths of 27 crew, and 314 more injured.
=Vietnam War=
Bardshar commanded the Constellation during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident from which he led the first U.S. attacks on Vietnam. Later he served two tours with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As Vice Director of Operations he led the planning for Operation Duck Hook to escalate U.S. involvement, eventually denied by President Nixon.{{Cite web|url=http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb517-Nixon-Kissinger-and-the-Madman-Strategy-during-Vietnam-War/|title = Nixon, Kissinger, and the Madman Strategy during Vietnam War}} As commander of Task Force 77 he was involved in Operation Ivory Coast, to liberate 55 American pilots from Son Tay POW camp. On 20 August 1970, Vice Admiral Bardshar hosted the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|America|CV-66|6}}.{{cite web|title=America|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a8/america-iii.htm|work=Naval Historical Center|access-date=2007-10-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815111157/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a8/america-iii.htm|archive-date=2007-08-15}}
Bardshar died at La Jolla, San Diego, on 13 September 1993.{{cite web|title=Social Security Death Index |url=http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/SingleIndexIndView.aspx?ix=ssdiall&hpp=1&rf=*,z*&qt=i&zassn=535&zgssn=38&zsssn=2011&highlight=Bardshar|access-date=2007-10-10}}
Awards and decorations
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Naval Aviator Badge.png|width=206|alt=}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Navy_Distinguished_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver_Star_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=award-star|other_device=v|ribbon=Legion_of_Merit_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|other_device=|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=award-star|other_device=|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=|type=award-star|other_device=v|name=Navy_and_Marine_Corps_Commendation_Medal_ribbon|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat_Action_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=U.S._Navy_Unit_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy_Meritorious_Unit_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=VPD_National_Order_of_Vietnam_-_Commander_BAR.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnam_gallantry_cross_unit_award-3d.svg|width=106}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Phliber_rib.svg|width=106|alt=}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=PHL Independence Medal ribbon.png|width=106|alt}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}} |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="3"|Naval Aviator Badge |
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal
|Legion of Merit |
| Distinguished Flying Cross w/ two {{frac|5|16}}" Gold Stars |Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal |
| Combat Action Ribbon
|Navy Unit Commendation |
| American Defense Service Medal w/ one {{frac|3|16}}" Bronze Star |Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal |
| World War II Victory Medal
|Navy Occupation Service Medal |National Defense Service Medal |
| Vietnam Service Medal w/ three {{frac|3|16}}" Bronze Stars |National Order of Vietnam |
| Philippine Liberation Medal w/ one {{frac|3|16}}" Bronze Star |
References
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.usmilitarypi.com/political002.htm Photo of Bardshar with Marcos]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bardshar, Frederic}}
Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:American World War II flying aces
Category:Recipients of the Air Medal
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the National Order of Vietnam
Category:United States Naval Academy alumni
Category:United States Navy vice admirals
Category:United States Navy pilots of World War II