Stanley Usinowicz

From brother George: I wrote this the November 25th:

I lost my brother, U.S. Air Force Captain (Ret.), Stan Usinowicz last evening, and as an F4 phantom combat pilot in Vietnam, he flew 138 combat missions.

100 missions were into North Vietnam and "Package Six" - Hanoi/Haiphong Harbor, flying through surface-to-air missiles that were like telephone poles with smoking tails seeking out pilots and planes. (World War II Air Force pilots could go home after 25 combat missions.)

For the other 38 combat missions, my brother flew into Laos, Cambodia, and support missions of ground troops in South Vietnam.

After 11 years of service, my brother decided to retire, and his commanding officer noticed that he had never been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), for which he qualified.

Stan never got a "100 Mission Patch" and I´ve submitted a request to the USAF about that honor. But as I read Stan´s obituary which he composed, he did reach the 100 Mission Mark which was insane. (except when you´re in your 20's...)

My brother explained that as the Awards Officer, he did not feel it necessary to write up an award for himself, because as he explained it, he was "just doing his job."

As I understand it, his commanding officer said he would be getting the awards if he would stay on active duty until all that was complete, but Stan left. That was his resolve.