The Huntingdon TN Historical Society is pleased to announce that Colonel James C. Harding USAF Retired will be the next speaker at The Dixie on November 18, 2026 at 9 a.m. Colonel Harding has a very distinguished career and is a military hero. His accomplishments are many.
Colonel Harding began his career in 1956 when he entered the Air Force as a distinguished graduate of the Penn State University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.
He was also the cadet division commander and selected as the outstanding Air Force ROTC cadet. Colonel Harding is a command pilot with nearly 5,000 hours of military single-engine flying time. He is also a master parachutist, with 69 jumps. Colonel James C. Harding is the 25th most decorated hero in military history.
In 1972, during the Vietnam War and while directing a rescue mission in Vietnam, Colonel Harding was shot down by an SA-7 Surface-to-Air Missile.
Colonel Harding was attempting to rescue U.S. Marine Corps A-6 Intruder pilot Major Clyde D. Smith and bombardier/navigator 1st Lt. Scott D. Ketchie, who were shot down over North Vietnam.
This area was controlled by the North Vietnamese Army. After landing, he killed three Vietnamese soldiers and successfully evaded capture. Also while on the ground, Colonel Harding used his survival radio to direct the rescue of his wingman. He was rescued by U.S. Army helicopters. 1st Lt. Ketchie was not rescued and was later designated as missing in action. For his effort in leading the rescue mission, Colonel Harding was awarded the Air Force Cross. The mission is depicted on the History Channel.
From 1971-1972, Colonel Harding was the Commander, 1st Special Operations Squadron Hobos and Sandy’s at Nakon Phenom Royal Thai AB, Thailand. He flew 154 missions in the A-1, bringing his total combat missions to 596. In propeller aircraft, 38 more North Vietnam missions brought that total to 139.
His major awards and decorations include:
Air Force Cross
Silver Star with two Oak Leaf clusters
Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with 8 Oak Leaf clusters
Bronze Star with Combat V and one Oak Leaf cluster
Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal with 39 Oak Leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf cluster
Presidential Unit Citation with 4 Oak Leaf clusters
USAF Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V and 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with 2 Oak Leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Huntingdon TN Historical Society is very pleased to welcome Colonel James C. Harding to The Dixie, in Huntingdon, TN on November 18, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Please join us for this exceptional opportunity to hear history told from a hero’s perspective.