Navy Commander honored after 50 years at San Diego Air & Space Museum ceremony
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — U.S. Navy Commander Hank Strong was serving as the Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron 212 aboard the USS Hancock when he was shot down over Vietnam in May of 1972.
Today, members of his squadron proudly observed as his name was unveiled under the cockpit on the portside of the San Diego Air and Space Museum’s A-4 Skyhawk.
“To see him get what he deserves, the honor he deserves, it really is a heartwarming thing to be a part of,” said Jerry Tucker, a retired Navy fighter pilot.
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“It’s always important to recognize warriors, whatever their role might have been,” said Richard Evert, a retired Navy Captain.
Members of Strong’s squadron recounted the horrors of the day he made the ultimate sacrifice.
“I saw Rob ‘fireball’ Barber turn into a flaming ball because his airplane had been hit,” said Greg Marshall, a retired Navy Commander.
“I heard a little thump, and I thought maybe I had hit the jet wash of the plane right in front of me because we’re all in the same dive together. Shortly after that I think our skipper came up behind me and said Rob you’re hit, you’re on fire, head for the beach,” said Veteran, Rob Barber.
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“But we didn’t realize that Commander Strong had been lost until we got back over the water and things settled down a little bit and we realized that skipper wasn’t there,” said Greg Marshall, retired Navy Commander.
Commander Frank Green piloted an A-4F Skyhawk from Attack Squadron 212 just weeks later on July 10, 1972, when his Skyhawk went down and he was killed in the crash. Until today, Commander Green’s name was the only name displayed on the aircraft.
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“This is a wonderful occasion. 50 some odd years later we’re correcting this. It’s a great feeling,” said Veteran Rob Barber.
“This is correcting the historical record with a proper reverence to these two great heroes,” added Naval Aviator, John Wilks.
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