Watch CBS News

Passing Of Medal Of Honor Recipient Col. George "Bud" Day

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Medal of Honor recipient Retired Col. George "Bud" Day, who spent 5½ years as a POW in Vietnam and was Arizona Sen. John McCain's cellmate, has died. He was 88.

Doris Day said Sunday that her husband died Saturday at his home in Fort Walton Beach after a long illness.

Day was one of the nation's most highly decorated servicemen since Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He later became a tireless advocate for veterans' rights.

Day received the Medal of Honor for escaping his captors for 10 days after the aircraft he was piloting was shot down over North Vietnam. In all, he earned more than 70 medals during service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Doris Day said her husband will be buried at Barancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.