by Steve Hock
Many of our friends and acquaintances think that being an Air Force photographer was a pretty “safe” job, and for the most part it was. “Grip and Grins”, newsy base newspaper shots, and creating slide briefings don’t sound particularly hazardous. However for some of us flying there were times of very real and intense danger. Not all of us were lucky enough to return to our bases and ultimately to our homes, loved ones and civilian life.
Today, Veterans Day 2013, I would like to recognize one of our own, Sgt. James H. Alley, Combat Motion Picture Photographer, shot down while “on the job” during the Vietnam War. Jim was aboard “Jolly 67”, an HH-53 Super Jolly participating in the rescue attempt of the sole survivor of call sign “Bat 21”, Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton. Bat 21 was an EB-66 recon aircraft that had flown from my home base, Korat RTAFB, Thailand and shot down days before.
Jim and I were within one day of being exactly the same age. He from Plantation, Florida and I from Catawissa, PA. Our time working together while he was TDY to Korat was brief, but he made quite an impression on me. I was quite shocked when I learned he was shot down. Our ages were near identical but our lives turned out so differently.
As you all can see, I’ve never forgotten Jim and I hope that as we celebrate and remember all our “living” veterans today, we also take a moment to think of those who weren’t so fortunate as all of us who made it home.
Congrats and thanks to all the still and mo-pic photogs that have served all over the world. Enjoy YOUR day today and celebrate our freedom!
I served with Jim Alley at Det 3 601st Photo Flight at Ubon RTAFB . I left there in Oct 1971 and went to the AAVS Detachment at Andrews. Needless to say it was shocking to see what happened to him. It was never safe at any time when anyone did what we did over in Viet-Nam. The 600th lost many combat photographers in the War, Jim’s sacrifice will always be remembered by me.