Monday, July 29, 2013

Honoring Col. George "Bud" Day Medal of Honor Recipient + Vietnam POW; Police Officers And Death From Heart Attacks

"We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us." Winston Churchill



George "Bud" Day, Medal of Honor Recipient and Vietnam POW Dies At 88

Col. George "Bud" Day, war hero and former Vietnam POW, died at 88 after a long illness.

There are heroes and then there are heroes. Bud Day was one of our nation's most decorated heroes. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he was also a recipient of 70 medals. Col. Bud also served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam in the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.

He was a prisoner in a North Vietnam prison camp along with Sen. John McCain. Several years after his release from prison, Pres. Gerald Ford awarded Col. Day the Medal of Honor for his bravery while captive in N. Vietnam.



His other citations included, but were not limited to, the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, Air Force Cross, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Purple Heart.



During his military career, he had almost 8000 flying hours in such aircraft as the F-84 Thunderjet,  F-105 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-4 Phantom II, and F-15 Eagle.

Sen. John McCain said of his former cellmate: "He was the bravest man I ever knew."

USA Today, Medal Of Honor, Wikipedia


Heart Attacks Taking Its Toll On Police Officers



According to Officer Down Memorial Page and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, death from heart attacks for police officers are increasing. In addition, most of the victims are younger than 50 years of age.

To date, nine police officers have succumbed to heart attacks, three more than in all of last year. The journal Cardiology found the following risk factors among police officers: hypertension, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and sudden physical stress. The study found that police officers "often exceed that found in the civilian population." While most law enforcement agencies require officers to meet specific physical standards, the study found there is no follow-up once the officers begin their careers.

The National Occupational Research Agenda plans on assessing more fully the disease's prevalence in the public safety workforce. This research will begin in 2016.

 

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