By Phil Riske, managing editor
A high school classmate and patriot, Ronald G. Bliss, was born in Buckeye, Ariz.
He died in 2005 of a rare from of cancer.
Ron was the subject of strict rules in a Hanoi POW camp in North Vietnam, where he was held for more than six years after his F-105 was shot down in 1964.
He was awarded two Silver Stars, one Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, two Purple Hearts, one Air Medal; and a POW Medal. His story was included in the 2000 CBS documentary, “Return with Honor.”
After his military service, Mr. Bliss practiced law for 28 years with the firm of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P in Houston, Tex.
In so many ways, Ron and the war were present at my high school reunion last week.
His widow, Charlene, donated Ron’s Air Force dress uniform (photo), complete with all his decorations, to The Nelson Museum of the West, a museum owned by classmate Bob Nelson.
I had to touch and salute it.
On the wall next to the manikin dressed in blue, are two age-yellowed parchments titled “Rules of the Camp,” one written in Vietnamese, the other in English. Upon his release, Ron took the documents from the wall and secreted them in his clothing.
It’s difficult to explain the emotions of being close enough to touch American history and a war that did anything but bring us close.
I had breakfast one morning with a classmate who has t been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It was mentioned the often-crippling disease might be a result of exposure to Agent Orange, used by the U.S. in Vietnam in its herbicidal and defoliant warfare.
