The family of Brigadier General Jon A. Reynolds notified us on April 16th of Jon’s passing.
Brigadier General Jon A. Reynolds is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer who served in the Vietnam War. He was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam from November 1965 to February 1973. Following his release from captivity, he continued his USAF career, finally serving as assistant deputy director for attaches.
He was born on 13 December 1937 in Philadelphia and graduated from Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, Pennsylvania, in 1955. He received a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Trinity College in 1959.[1]”
Jon Reynolds “was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program and entered active duty in December 1959. From January 1960 to January 1961 he attended primary pilot training at Malden Air Force Base, MO, and basic pilot training at Craig Air Force Base, Alabama. He then was assigned to advanced flight training in the F-100 Super Sabre at Luke Air Force Base, AZ, and Nellis Air Force Base, NV. In January 1962 he transferred to the 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, as an F-100 pilot.[1]
In March 1963 he was assigned as an air liaison officer and forward air controller with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam 22nd Infantry Division. He returned to the United States in February 1964 and was assigned to the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, where he flew the F-105 Thunderchief. During 1964 and 1965, as a member of the 334th and 335th Tactical Fighter Squadrons at Seymour Johnson, he participated in squadron deployments to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; Yokota Air Base, Japan; Osan Air Base, South Korea; and Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.[1]
On 28 November 1965, while flying a mission near Yên Bái, North Vietnam, his F-105D was shot down, he ejected, was captured, and interned as a prisoner of war. On 6 July 1966, he was one of the prisoners forced to participate in the Hanoi March. He was among the first group of American prisoners released during Operation Homecoming on 12 February 1973.”[1] Jon memorized about 300 POW names and carried them back with them when he was released.
He retired from the USAF on 1 September 1990.[1]
Later life
Following his retirement he joined Raytheon Company as vice president for international technology programs, first working on the destruction of American chemical weapons at the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System and then as head of sales in China from 1994 to 2000.[2]
Decorations
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star with oak leaf cluster; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star with “V” device and oak leaf cluster; Air Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Santos-Dumont Merit Medal.” (1)
Jon is survived by his wife Emily and children Elizabeth and Andrew.
More information will be posted as information becomes available.
Biography Source: Wikipedia