Time before the war
Col Joe Panza began his career of military service following his high school graduation in 1956.
“There were four of us who decided, hey let’s go join the Navy, just kind of on a whim.”
Col Panza
Col Panza spent a total of six years in the Navy where he served as a communications technician, with the Naval Security Group. Col Panza ended his time with the U.S. Navy as a Second Class Petty Officer ( E-5).
Following his time with the Navy Col Panza enrolled in San Jose State University. During his time here, he found himself a member of the university’s ROTC program. After serving two years in his ROTC unit Col Panza graduated as a distinguished graduate. Upon the completion of this program and a recommendation from his ROTC instructor Col Panza received orders to go to pilot training. After completing pilot training, Col. Panza began flying the C-131.
Going to Vietnam
After about a year of flying the C-131 Col. Panza received news that his orders had come down for him to be sent off to the war in Vietnam.
Thoughts on going to Vietnam
” Oh sure, ill take my turn.”
Col. Panza
It was at this time that Col. Panza was informed that his mission would be switched from the C-131 to the HH-53B also known as the Jolly Green
While the mission itself was not new the aircraft was. Col. Panza and the team of pilots who had undergone the reclassification training had to spend seven months waiting for the aircraft to come off the production line. Once the aircraft was complete they were put in cacoons and shipped to Vietnam.
Boots on the ground
Col. Panza arrived in Vietnam in 1966 and immediately began flying the HH-53B on search and rescue and shuttle missions. The day-to-day task was to be on alert and ready to pick up any pilots shot down flying over North Vietnam. Pilots would sit in dirt strips called Lima sites and listen to the radios for downed fighters that needed to be picked up. Col. Panza spent a year in Vietnam flying in Vietnam before being able to return home.
Back In America
Following his time in Vietnam Col Panza returned to America where he transitioned back to a fixed-wing aircraft where he flew the C-141 and the C-9. He went on to retire from active duty service in 1992 after 34 years of military service. Col Panza now serves as the executive director of the Air University Foundation where he raises funds to support all of the schools housed on the Montgomery Air Force base.
Reflecting on the war
Coming back was in some ways more stressfull than anything.
Col. Panza
Col. Panza found that his time served in Vietnam was a rewarding experience. He recognized the controversy surrounding the war but his experience there showed him the importance of America’s involvement. It was the importance of both the mission he served and his experiences in Vietnam that sustained Col. Panza when he returned to the U.S. and faced resentment.
Interview materials
Oral history interview – ttps://soundcloud.com/jamal-player/oral-history-interview-col-joe-panza?si=5e5347822df34554ba5032e1b3b4cc6c&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing