James Carroll Condon (1934 - 2013)

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Condon was a Prisoner of War for 92 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Condon served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War
Service started: 1954
Unit(s): 486th Bomber Squadron; 2nd Bomb Squadron
Service ended: 1978

Birth

LtCol James Carroll Condon was born on 8 April 1934 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States to Russell Ellsworth Condon (1910-1979) and Clara Elizabeth Stocker (1912-1942). His mother died when he was 8 years old and in 1943 his father married Margaret B. Baltes, known as Rita (1918-2004).^[1]

Sibling

1. Fredrick Dean Condon, known as Fred, was born on 29 October 1936 in West Milton, Miami, Ohio, United States. He died on 21 May 2015 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States.

1/2 Siblings

1. Maria Lou Condon was born on 31 July 1953 in Greenville, Darke, Ohio, United States. She died on 2 August 1953 in Greenville, Darke, Ohio, United States.
2. Marcia Condon. She married 1) Steven Fulk and 2) Chuck Meiring.
3. Robert Condon
4. Richard Condon

Education

He graduated from Parker Vocational High School in Dayton, Ohio in 1952.

From 1973 to 1978, he attended Air War College in Alabama and also served on the staff of the 15th Air Force in California.

Marriage and Family

He married Mary Jenny Siefring (born 5 September 1935) on 19 August 1958.

Children of the Condon-Siefring Marriage

1. Krista Condon
2. Kelly J. Condon
3. Mary Beth Condon
4. Brian Condon

Military Service

After working for a few years with Frigidaire Division of General Motors, he decided to join the Ohio Air National Guard on 21 September 1952 and served until 7 December 1953. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on 5 October 1954 and was accepted in the Aviation Cadet program at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas. He graduated on 14 December 1955 as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and received Navigator/Bombardier Wings. From there he was assigned to B-47 Stratojet Combat Crew Training. He served as a Navigator Bombardier with the 66th Bombing Squadron at Lake Charles Air Force Base (it was later called Chennault Air Force Base) in Louisiana until March 1960.

In March 1960 he transferred to the 506th Bomb Squadron at Chennault until June 1960. At this point he became a Captain and he next completed B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training. From there he served with the 336th Bomb Squadron (it was later called the 824th Bomb Squadron) in Georgia at the Turner Air Force Base until February 1967.

In February 1967 he was assigned to the 524th Bomb Squadron at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan as a B-52 Radar Navigator until November 1968. His was next assigned to service on the staff of the 379th Bomb Wing at Wurtsmith until March 1970 when he was deployed to Southeast Asia. He flew combat missions with the 4258th Strategic Wing (later designated as the 307th Strategic Wing) out of U-Tapao Airfield in Thailand.

He returned to the United States to serve with the 486th and then the 2nd Bomb Squadron out of March Air Force Base in California from 1971. He had deployed again to Southeast Asia and was forced to eject over North Vietnam while acting as a B-52D Radar Navigator on a mission on 28 December 1972 and was taken as a prisoner. He had achieved the rank of Major by the time of his capture.

Prisoner of War from 28 December 1972 to 29 March 1973. ^[2]

He returned during Operation Homecoming and was briefly hospitalized before resuming his duties serving on the staff of 15th Air Force at March Air Force Base, California from July 1973 until his retirement.

Military Honors

His Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Citation:

Major James C. Condon distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as a B-52 Radar Navigator near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 28 December 1972. On that date, Major Condon's professional skill, devotion to duty, and personal courage in the face of grave personal danger were key factors in the successful delivery of his ordnance on the assigned target. Despite intensive hostile reaction, Major Condon was able to complete the assigned target strike. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Condon reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

1. Distinguished Flying Cross with V Device.
2. Bronze Star Medal with V Device and 2 Bronze Clusters.
3. Purple Heart.
4. Meritorious Service Medal.
5. Air Medal with 1 Silver Cluster.

The full ribbon set is available here.

Retirement From the United States Air Force

He retired on 1 May 1978, having served his country for 26 years. He moved the family to Versailles, Ohio where he and his wife owned and operated The House of Flowers for the next 19 years. Jim remained very active in the community and its activities.

Death

Lieutenant Colonel Carroll died on 30 May 2013 in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States at the age of 79. He died at Miami Valley Hospital. He was buried on 3 June 2013 at Saint Valberts Cemetery, Versailles, Darke, Ohio. Headstone photo is available.^[3] Find A Grave: Memorial #111540264

Sources

• Ohio Birth Index.
• 1940 United States Federal Census on 9 April in West Milton, Miami, Ohio. ^[4]
• 1959 U.S. City Directories in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Residence 2611 General Patch, occupation US Air Force. Wife Mary here.
• 1993 U.S. Public Records, 1950-1993, Vol. 1. Gives birth date & residence at 567 S. Pearl Street, Versailles, Ohio.
• 1946 School Yearbook for Milton-Union High School in West Milton, Ohio. He was in the Junior Band.
• Combat Area Casualties Returned Alive File, 5/1/1962-3/22/1979 [Archival Database]; Records on Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam Conflict, 1/20/1967-12/1998; Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Record Group 330; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.
• U.S. Obituary Collection.
• Find A Grave Index.

Footnotes

1. ↑ OH Birth Rec
2. ↑ NAM POW list
3. ↑ Obit
4. ↑ 1940: Condon, Russell 29, head, born Ohio (everyone in family born OH), foreman with Frigidaire Corporation, 4 years high school, head; Elizabeth 26, 2 years high school, wife; James 6, son; Freddie 3, son.

Acknowledgements