Iceal Hambleton, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Iceal Hambleton

Recipient of the Purple Heart medal

Date of Birth: 16-Nov-1918

Place of Birth: Rossville, Illinois, United States

Date of Death: 19-Sep-2004

Profession: military officer

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Iceal E.
"Gene" Hambleton (November 16, 1918 – September 19, 2004), ranked Lieutenant Colonel, was a United States Air Force navigator and electronic warfare officer who was shot down over South Vietnam during the 1972 Easter Offensive.
He was aboard an EB-66 aircraft whose call sign was Bat 21.
As the ranking navigator/EWO on the aircraft, he was seated immediately behind the pilot, giving him the call sign "Bat 21 Bravo".
He survived for ?11 1/2 days behind enemy lines until he was retrieved in a ground operation.
His rescue was the longest and most costly search and rescue mission during the Vietnam War.
He received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart for his actions during this mission.