Published May 19, 2015
Harding in front of an O-1. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Harding was wounded four times during his service in Southeast Asia. One of those times, a bullet creased his right eyebrow, which is evident in this photograph. (U.S. Air Force photo)
DAYTON, Ohio - Flight suit, scarf, and survival chaps worn by Maj. James Harding on his O-1 missions over North Vietnam. Harding obtained the scarf while attached to Australian troops as a ground air liaison officer. Harding had just landed his O-1 at Dong Ha—which was right next to the DMZ—after flying a mission over North Vietnam. As he walked away from the aircraft, Harding slung this map bag over his left shoulder and held the strap with his left hand. Then, North Vietnamese artillery fire hit the base, and this fragment hit and broke his left hand (which was directly in front of his heart). Harding’s unique 100 mission patch. (U.S. Air Force photo)