Following his Vietnam War service, John Lackey served as a member of the New Mexico Air National Guard. He was killed while flying an A-7d of the New Mexico National Guard when it crashed near Soccorro, New Mexico, on May 1, 1978.
Sponsored by:
John
Edgar
Lackey
June 8, 1945
–
May 1, 1978
Cemetery:
Fairview Cemetery
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Air Force Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronRegiment:
34th Tactical GroupDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
-
Air Force Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronRegiment:
34th Tactical GroupDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
March 18 – 19, 1972
Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-722 (November 22, 1972)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an A-1E Tactical Fighter Pilot of the 1st Special Operations Squadron, 34th Tactical Group, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia from 18 to 19 March 1972. During this period, Captain Lackey was the commander of an extremely hazardous and complex search and rescue mission that was attempting to recover two American crew members located in one of the most heavily defended segments of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos. In order to force the hostile gunners to disclose their positions, Captain Lackey exposed himself to their lethal fire for more than four hours, directing tactical air strikes on each of the more than thirty large caliber weapons as they opened fire, thereby eliminating the threat and allowing the vulnerable rescue helicopter to effect a safe and successful recovery of both crew members. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Captain Lackey reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Seventh Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in addition to a previously awarded Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of an Eighth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
CaptainBatallion:
1st Special Operations SquadronDivision:
Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain John Edgar Lackey (AFSN: 0-15834289), United States Air Force, was awarded a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.