31 January 1968 – On the first full day of the Tet Offensive, Major Joe Bulger (Flight Lead) and 1Lt “Fearless” Fred Abrams were asked to bomb their own base. In the early hours of the day, Vietcong forces had launched an attack on Bien Hoa AB. “The whole east end was hot,” Abrams said.
Theodore J. “Ted” Banick joined the United States Air Force in 1952 and served until 1980. While in the Air Force, he trained in the PA-18, T-6, T-28, T-33, and 2 helicopter types. He was commissioned in 1954 and went on to fly the F-86, F-104, F-100, F-4, and T-39. He served the USAF in many places and capacities, including 2 tours in Vietnam.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, Ted became an assistant professor at the University of Southern California, Institute of Safety and Systems Management, then an aviation safety consultant and accident investigator.
In 1995, he began his career as a “professional retiree and amateur golfer”. Ted was a member of several pilot and safety organizations. He loved the Air Force, aviation, golf, music, old movies, his dogs, and his friends. He was a lifelong Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan, and really enjoyed USC Trojans football, and was a longtime supporter of their marching band.