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Fred V. Cherry (born 24 March 1928) is a retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot who served in Korea and Vietnam. During a mission on October 22, 1965 his plane was shot down over North Vietnam. Cherry ejected from his F-105 and was captured. He spent over seven years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi until his release on February 12, 1973. After returning home, Cherry attended the National War College, and was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency. President Ronald Reagan commissioned Fred Cherry to serve on the Korean War Veteran’s Memorial Advisory Board. His awards include the Silver Star, the Air Force Cross, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, Two Purple Hearts, the Air Force Commendation, the Meritorious Service Award, and two President Unit Citations. Cherry also received the Award for Outstanding Service to the Military Community from the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Cherry’s life is the subject of the book, Two Souls Indivisible: The Friendship That Saved Two POWs in Vietnam, by James S. Hirsch , author of Hurricane. Colonel Cherry was featured in the documentary, Tom Hanks Presents: Return With Honor, the story of Vietnam fighter pilots held as prisoners of war. After retiring from the Air Force, Fred served as the Director of Technical Support Services for E.H. White & Co., and as Marketing Manager for Data Transformation Corp. Most recently, Cherry has served as Chief Executive Officer for Cherry Engineering and Support Services, Inc, and Director of SilverStar Consulting, Inc.