Photo #1 Bob Bunker, Co-Pilot, James Badley Survivor, Herb Kalen Aircraft Commander, William Carroll Flight Engineer, Donald Claudius Pararescue Specialist, in the door

Photo #2 Herb Kalen & Bob Bunker greeted by Lt Col Caughron, Squadron Commander

Photos from Charles Wells Collection. The photo was taken by his father Lt Col Joe Wells at Da Nang RVN 20 November 1968 after pick-p of Lt Badley.

This rescue took place on a beach area in North Viet Nam. The following is from Lt Badley’s web site
“On 20 November 1967 while flying his 25th mission in North Vietnam, Lt. Badley's aircraft (an F-4) was shot down and he was forced to bail out. He remained calm under the pressure of intense small arms fire and vectored the rescue helicopter to his position within seconds of Viet Cong capture. For his heroic actions, he received the Silver Star for Gallantry and the Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement.”

The information below was provided by Rich Blackwell.
Herb and crew were returning from an orbit mission over the Gulf of Tonkin when an F-4 was shot down in North Viet Nam near their position. They proceeded to the area making radio contact with the downed pilot Lt James Badley.  He was located inland a few hundred yards from the shore in a sandy area covered with low shrubbery.  Lt Badley vectored them to his general location.  They asked him to pop smoke, which he did.  Herb flew to the smoke and landed.  The crew could not see Lt Badley.  They finally sighted him some distance away when he jumped out from behind a bush and waved at them.  The crew motioned for him to come to them but he jumped back behind the bush.  Herb picked up the helicopter and hovered over to Lt Badley’s position where he was taken aboard the helicopter.  They safely egressed the area proceeding out to the Gulf of Tonkin and 

returned to Da Nang RVN. Lt Badley was asked why he left the area of the smoke.  He said when he popped smoke, he started receiving small arms fire so he ran away from that area and hid where they finally picked him up.

From the 1980s to July of 2016 ... "Cheers Sir!"

We miss you Mr. K... Liz, Nick, Skooch, & Gabriel 

         It has been a pleasure having known Herb Kalen. He was a special friend to us in our Hibiscus Condo Community in Panama City Beach.

         We really enjoyed his company. It was so nice to talk with him, because he had experienced so many interesting things in his life, and was willing to share his knowledge and wisdom of what he had learned. He was bright and sharp in his thinking.

         Even though we only knew him the last 2 years of his life, we were impressed with his energy for enjoying nature and charming personality. We will miss him a lot, especially as a favorite hiking buddy.

        Angie & Terry Brace

It was a priveledge and honor to have had the opportunity to have know such a wonderful man. Herb was always so full of energy, enthusiaum, encouragment and determination. I was very fortunate to have meet Herb through his daughter. Who I know will be my friend for life. A lot of Kristy's great qualities that makes her a friend worth keeping for a life time came from the good traits her parents taught her during her upbringing. 

It has been over 30 years and I still have such a fond memory of when I 1st meet Herb. Kristi invited me home to go skiing with her. Oh my gosh I had so much fun skiing with Herb. Herb knew everyone one on that ski hill. I was overjoyed because I got to ski with the Angel Fire ski patrol too. Yep I was the coolest kid on the hill thanks to Herb. 

Through the years and the many gathering I had with Kristy, Herb and Kathy it was great fun talking to Herb. We where always on the opposite side of politics but he was always so gracious to listen to my side and he would just smile then so graciously discuss his side. 

The last time I spent time with Herb was skiing with him in Angel Fire.  As always he was pumped to go skiing. He express just a little bit of frustration because Kathy and Kristy made him wear a helmet, which I was suprised he complied. The reason he was wearing a helmet was because the year before he had ran into wire that caused damage to his eye. WHAT and he was still skiing. As we where skiing together for the last time half way through the day Herb needed to stop and get something warm in him becuase his shingles where bothering him..Again my reaction was WHAT and he's still skiing.  
But this just was a true testimate to how Herb live his life fearless, always willing to go out and have fun, full of enthusiams towards life and everyone around him. 
The thing that I was most admirable of was how much he loved his daughter and wife. He was always conserned about their well being. How lucky you two girls to have had such a great love in your life!!! 
Rest in peace Herb!!!!

I met Herb in early 1969, he was an instructor pilot in H-3s and I was a student converting from fixed wing aircraft to helicopters. My initial impression of Herb was as Royce Terrell said "a tough old bird" but, we hit it off immediately. After serving in Vietnam, I returned to Eglin to be an instructor in the outfit with Herb and thus began our lifetime friendship. Herb was totally involved in the Son Tay raid preparations and utimately in the raid. Talk about a real life hero, Herb was one! Shortly thereafter, Herb was assigned to Scott AFB as chief check pilot and I ended up in Utah where all Air Force helicopter and rescue training was consolidated. After that, our careers criss crossed and we both ended up in Kirkland together where Herb retired and after I retired we returned to Albuquerque. Below are some fond and some not so fond memories, some funny memories and a few serious memories.
1. Herb visited us in Utah when he was probably there to give some check rides anyway, he introduced our son Bill to Alta, we continued to ski there to this day. 
2. On another occasion Herb was trying to make powder skiers out of Anne and I. Long story short, Anne skied under my skis and fell. We thought she dislocated her hip. The ski patrol splinted her leg and took her to the top of the mountain to get in an old fashioned four person gondola, after being manhandled by a very tall patrolman, she arrrived at the on hill clinic. The xrays revealed nothing broken or out of place. After a few days on crutches, she was back to about 70% and ultimately recovered.
3. On another occasion, I was visiting the Kalens and on Saturday we went skiing in Santa Fe. Herb was always one to try the off trail snow, while I prefer to stick to the marked trails. The snow was pretty thin, rocks and logs were sticking up here and there, well Herb went down like he had been shot. His head was cut in the form of half circle and deep to the skull. Rather than wait for a ski patrol, he put both ski poles in one hand,  with the other he grabbed a hand full of snow, held it on his head wound and took off for the ski patrol at the bottom of the hill, beating all of us there. He was advised he would need stitches (duh) and it had to be done at the Santa Fe Hospital. Well, we piled into Herb's VW bug and down the hill we went. Before getting to the bottom of the mountain, we found a bottle of wine, after some discussion, we decided to go to the Kirkland base hospital. By the time we arrived, there was a fair amount of blood on Herb's white turtle neck shirt. He was also wearing knickers (his favorite ski attire} and he looked like he had stepped out of the Revolutionary War poster depicting the drummer boy and a piper. I learned a valuable lesson from Herb, if you ever have to go to the emergency room, sprinkle some catsup all over yourself and you will get immediate attention. The on duty flight surgeon was old John Buckingham, which we both knew. After viewing the wound, he said "Herb you really did a number on yourself." After stitching, which was unpleasant for Herb, we went home. Herb didn't ski the next day.
4. Shortly after retiring, we visited Herb and Kathy in Angel Fire. They were in the second home of the three houses they built which was not quite finished, door knobs for instance. After skiing, I tried out the new jetted tub. Somewhere along the way, my heel hit the drain plug and all of a sudden I had water squirting everywhere. I felt like the little Dutch boy with his thumb in the dike. I had a foot on one, a hand on one and a cheek on another. I was running out of stoppers. I yelled and Kathy turned off the switch and rescued me.
5. While skiing at Brighton, Utah, I was attempting to learn how to powder ski, unsuccessfully. I had been extricated from the snow when some 75 yards further down the trail, I was once again head first in the snow with my light blue pants fully exposed. After the second rescue, Kathy said as she skied by the blue pants, "those pants look familiar."
6. When we skied, Herb was always the leader, whether it was just me or a whole gaggle of people.  He was the accomplished skier and I was a rank beginner when we began our ski life together. In the begining, I was always tail end Charlie. Herb would stop and wait, then when I caught up, he would say "okay" and off he would go. As a matter of self preservation, I had to get better and over the years, I did. So one winter, it seemed Herb had slowed down a bit. Stupidly, I had made some comment to that effect. A hugh mistake, Herb put all of us in our place as he skied our legs off that day. Dave Wammer is proned to remind me of that day most every winter, when we get together for our annual ski trip, much to my chagrin.
7. When I crashed an H-3, Dale Oderman, our wing CO, put togerther a team of Herb, Royce Terrell and Don Damoth, to help me prepare my response to the accident board findings. What a great team and great friends.
8. When we were visiting the Kalens,  Kathy would remind Anne of the lot which we ultimately bought and built our retirement home, was the lot she wanted as her home site. 
9. Once Herb was driving up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Solitude Ski area, by now he was blind in one eye. It was snowing hard and traffic was very light. Herb was trying to adapt to his and the external conditions. He would drive in the middle of the road and if we encountered oncoming traffic, I would tell him to move six feet to the right. Once the oncoming traffic had passed, he would return to the middle of our little two lane road. After a number encounters, it was decided we should go home and ski another day.
10. On another occasion, we had gone over to Eden, Utah to spend the night 
 with Herb. We took an old bottle of wine, which Herb proceded to decant at the dinner table. Well it was older than we thought. It spewed up through the diniing room chandelier and onto the ceiling. After it dried, it was not too noticeable.
11. Herb and I were making our respective breakfasts, at our home  and he was attempting to thank me for our visit to him in the hospital after a serous operation (He and Kathy had done the same for me some years earlier). He began to cry and then I began to cry and we hugged and bawled on each others shoulders. For me it was brotherly love.
12. Thru, the years we talked of many things (what else are you going to do on the chair lift) and after he moved to Florida, off and on by phone, catching up on when he would fly to New Mexico to get his ski fix. While we didn't discuss religion much, we did talk some and it is my belief that Herb believed in God and the saving Grace provided by Jesus Christ.
13. In sum, Herb was a man who lived life to the fullest, he did so many things, most of us would be happy to have one quarter of the adventures he had. Herb Kalen is a real American Hero, but, to me and mine he was a special friend and buddy. I have blest to have had af riend such as Herb Kalen! 

Obituary for Colonel Herbert D. Kalen

Colonel Herbert D. Kalen passed away unexpectedly, after a short illness, in Panama City, Florida on August 27, 2016 at the age of 87. 

Herb graduated from Kent School in Connecticut in 1949 and graduated from Denver University in 1953, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts. Herb spoke often of his ski bum days in Aspen, Co. and working at the Purple Onion restaurant while he was studying at DU.  He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force on September 18, 1953, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on December 18, 1954. Lt Kalen then completed helicopter pilot training and served as a helicopter pilot until June 1957, when he transitioned into fighters and joined the 6520th Test Group at Hanscom Field, Massachusetts, where he served until January 1964. He next served with Air Force Systems Command at Eglin AFB, Florida, from January 1964 to January 1967. While at Eglin AFB, he met the love of his life, Kathy. They were married in 1966 and soon deployed to Southeast Asia as an HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter pilot with the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) at Da Nang AB in the Republic of Vietnam until January 1968. Maj Kalen then served with the 48th ARRS at Eglin AFB, Florida, from January 1968 to February 1971. Their daughter Kristi was born in 1969. During this time, he participated in the Son Tay Raid on November 21, 1970. His next assignment was as a staff officer with Headquarters Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service at Scott AFB, Illinois, where he served from February 1971 to April 1974. Col Kalen's final assignment was at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, where he retired from the Air Force on September 30, 1979. His awards include, the Air Force Cross Award (Throughout the history of the USAF only 197 have ever been awarded), a Silver Star; which is the third-highest U.S. combat-only award, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

After retirement, Herb built a series of homes in Angel Fire, NM where he lived for 30 wonderful years. He enjoyed life to the fullest with his passion of skiing, backpacking, hiking, and tennis. He volunteered many hours building trails around the Angel Fire area and a summer building street signs and installing in the Angel Fire area of 150 miles.. He skillfully conquered 34 of the 53 tallest mountains in Colorado towering above 14,000 feet. 

In 2011 they moved to their "retirement" home in Panama City Beach. He loved walking on the beach and spending time with his friends in this wonderful community. 

Herb is survived by his wife, Kathy and daughter Kristi, both of Panama City Beach. 

After cremation, internment will be in Arlington National Cemetery April 7, 1017 at 3 PM

. A Celebration of Life memorial service is being planned November 11, 2016, in the Panama City Beach area.

It is with great sadness and regret that I report the passing of a wonderful, heroic American warrior. USAF Col. (ret) Herb Kalen passed away at the age of 87 last night of apparent natural causes. Next to my dad, I revered this man more than any other I know, and I was proud to be considered his friend. He flew rescue helicopters together with my dad in Viet Nam.

As a tribute I've copied an entry from the Military Times Hall of Valor regarding valor awards Col. Kalen received, particularly for his role as aircraft commander during the Son Tay raid, and then copied a link to a story about that raid.

Col. Kalen was a great man, such a wonderful and kind person, and the best skier I ever knew. I will miss him so much.

Herbert D. Kalen
Date of birth: January 8, 1929
Place of Birth: New York, Tarrytown

Five Air Force Crosses were awarded in the attempted rescue of American Prisoners of War camp at Son Tay, North Vietnam. Colonel Warner Britton "Apple 1", Lieutenant Colonel John Allison "Apple 2", and Major Frederic Donohue "Apple 3" were HH-53 pilots awarded the Air Force Cross. Major Herbert Kalen "Banana 1" carried the lead elements of the assault force into an 85-foot clearing in the center of the camp where he crash landed his 73-foot long HH-3E helicopter. Technical Sergeant LeRoy Wright, a Helicopter Flight Mechanic aboard Major Kalen's aircraft was the only enlisted airman to receive the Air Force Cross in this mission that also netted 6 Distinguished Service Crosses and 83 Silver Stars. In addition to the Air Force Cross he earned in this Mission, Major Kalen also earned a Silver Star during his Vietnam War service. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel on September 30, 1979.
AWARDS AND CITATIONS

Air Force Cross
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Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Major Herbert D. Kalen (AFSN: 0-56767), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as an Aircraft Commander of an HH-3E Rescue Helicopter of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, as part of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam, on 21 November 1970. On that date, Major Kalen volunteered to rescue and extract United States military personnel held as Prisoners of War deep inside the territory of North Vietnam. Major Kalen was faced with the most intense counter-air environment in the history of aerial warfare involving surface-to-air missiles. He masterfully executed the complicated maneuvers to evade the enemy's air defense systems. Knowing that a grave danger existed in that the guards within the Prisoner of War compound may have been alerted, he valorously, fearlessly and successfully flew the helicopter with an assault group into the compound yard, knowing that he must crash-land the helicopter in an area much too small for safe landing. Once the landing was completed, he further assisted the assault group in its ground operation mission. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Major Kalen reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

General Orders: Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-985 (December 15, 1970)

Action Date: November 21, 1970

Service: Air Force

Rank: Major

Battalion: 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: Son Tay Volunteer Task Force

Silver Star
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Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Herbert D. Kalen (AFSN: 0-56767), United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Crew Commander of an HH-3E Helicopter of the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group, DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, in action in Southeast Asia, on 20 November 1967. On that date, Major Kalen was returning from a Gulf of Tonkin orbit when a fighter aircraft was shot down in an extremely hostile area. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Major Kalen made a low-level penetration of the area in the face of intense hostile fire and effected a successful rescue of the downed pilot. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Kalen has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

General Orders: Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-591 (1967)

Action Date: 20-Nov-67

Service: Air Force

Rank: Major

Company: 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: DaNang Air Base, Vietnam

Distinguished Flying Cross
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Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Major Herbert D. Kalen (AFSN: 0-56767), United States Air Force, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia.

Action Date: Vietnam War

Service: Air Force

Rank: Major

Company: 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: DaNang Air Base, Vietnam

Distinguished Flying Cross
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Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major Herbert D. Kalen (AFSN: 0-56767), United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an HH-3E pilot in Southeast Asia on 3 October 1967. On that date, Major Kalen penetrated one of the most heavily defended areas in Southeast Asia and was instrumental in the rescue of a downed pilot. Major Kalen deliberately exposed his aircraft as a target to attract hostile fire and make the rescue possible. Major Kalen's skillful evasive maneuvering prevented the serious damage or loss of his aircraft and crew. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Kalen reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Action Date: October 3, 1967

Service: Air Force

Rank: Major

Company: 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: DaNang Air Base, Vietnam

http://combatreform.org/sontay.htm 

Kathy - Herb's passing has brought me such sadness. I was so privileged to know him and count him as a friend. Rose and I are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers of course. Such a rare gift to have men like him to look up to in life. Bill

Herb and Kathy have been great friends, and we will continue this friendship with Kathy:

On an RV camp at Columbine State Park, a stray dog followed us on the trail.  When I was grilling dinner, I gave him a little piece of chicken and then he would not leave me.  The Camp Host asked us to take him home because he had been abandoned, but we declined and left without him.  The next day, back at home, Herb and Kathy brought this (freshly washed) stray, that we had to keep.  We soon learned to love “Benji” and Herb loved Benji just as much.

We drove to South Florida in our pickup camper to houseboat with them in the Everglades. We bought a canoe at a gas station on the way, and later gave it to Herb to use in Florida.  Later, Herb decided we need a larger RV, and found us a low mileage, bargain (on Kirtland AFB), that we drove many miles and shared many campgrounds with the Kalens.  We rode in their little blue truck when they took us to hiking trails they knew, and I shared their old brown truck, hauling firewood, manure, and wood chips.  When we spent six weeks sharing condos and rental cars, seeing three Hawaiian islands,  he and I would fight every morning for the car keys.

In the last few years, we have enjoyed their hospitality in vacant condos in Panama City Beach in Novembers and Herb was welcomed in our vacant apartment in Angel Fire for his skiing.

Herb once told me that he had received three tickets (from the same policeman) for not wearing a seatbelt.  As many thousands of hours he had been belted in planes and choppers, he hated to wear one on the ground.

A couple of years ago,  I required the insertion of a Pacemaker.  Soon, the same cardiologist put one in Herb.  I’ve also been using a CPAP at night, even though I hate the uncomfortable mask.  Herb never could get used to his CPAP, even though he had worn masks for many thousands of hours in the air.

Herb and I enjoyed many phone calls, discussing current events, especially politics heard on “Morning Joe”, one of his favorite programs.

Many in Angel Fire are thankful to Kathy and Herb for starting and supporting the Moreno Valley Trekkers and their work with the HALO Home Owners Association.  As part of that effort, Herb made and installed street signs at Angel Fire street intersections.

Thank you Herb and Kathy for the many GOOD TIMES.

Bill and Cheryl

How we will miss Herb!   We had so many wonderful experiences with Herb and Kathy hiking, canoeing, traveling, sharing meals and thoughts, it's hard to pick one incident that stands out as they were all so enjoyable.  One canoe trip in particular comes to mind.  We were in Montana on an RV trip with them and canoed down a river in a wilderness that was classed as an easy canoe.  The water was very low in the river and there were so many exposed rocks.  On one bend in the river, Herb and Kathy got their canoe wrapped around a big rock and after getting the canoe to the bank, they realized it was bent in half so they promptly straightened it, luckily there were no holes in the canoe, and we proceeded on our way.  We have had so many fun times with them and Herb always had a winning smile and happy presence.  He was the best friend and we can't imagine not having him in our lives.  You'll always be in our hearts and in our memories, Herb!  Cheryl & Bill Mason

Herb, had a reputation for being somewhat of a hard ass stand eval pilot that would cause lesser H- 3 pilots to quake in their boots, especially students. One day I was on the ramp at Hill AFB with a student pilot for his check ride and Herb was on a stand eval visit  to the 1550th. Herb was scheduled to check another crew so my student and I were somewhat relieved and were going about our checklist when we heard via the radio the other H-3 was having maintainence problems. I told my student not to worry Col. Kalen would stick with the other crew until they were good to go. WRONG!!! Before you could blink an eye Herb lept off the broken bird and ran lickety split right over to our bird and hopped in. Seeing that big grin on his face all I could think of to say was "Beard clear sir?" Everyone on the crew got a chuckle out of it but I had to explain to my student that the expression was in reference to Santa Claus. I still don't think he got it but he did well on his check ride. Herb was the best!