As a Purple Heart City, Frisco is honored to be home to many veterans. These pictured Frisco veterans gathered on September 20, 2019, and represent almost 90 years of combined service in the U.S. Air Force.
Left to right: Staff Sergeant Fred Dyer (age 99) flew B-17 bombers in World War II. He completed 23 missions as part of the 95th Bomb Group, including June 6 during the Normandy D-Day invasion, two missions over Berlin, the June 25 low-level drop of food, arms and ammo to the French Resistance in Dunipe, France, and the July 25 low-level bomb drop against German Panzer units in and around St-Lo, Normandy, France.
Frisco’s former mayor, Colonel Robert “Bob” Warren (age 98), was a C-47 pilot with the 94th Troop Carrier Squadron during 1944-1945. His missions included the airborne troop drop and glider tows for the September 1944 Operation “Market Garden” in Holland and, during the Battle of the Bulge, an airborne drop near Bastogne to U.S. troops. He also flew in Operation “Varsity” over the Rhine River into Germany which was the first time a C-47 attempted to tow double gliders with men and material.
During the Vietnam War, Colonel Bernard “Bunny” Talley, Jr. (age 80), while piloting his F-4C as part of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, was shot down in 1966 over North Vietnam during his 76th mission. Colonel Talley was able to evade capture for more than 24 hours before eventually spending six and a half years as a POW in Hanoi. He was released by the North Vietnamese in March 1973.
Brigadier General Richard “Skip” Middleton (age 62), during 1988-1990, flew on 203 EC-135 missions with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing in support of the Strategic Air Command “Looking Glass” operation. His service totals 35 years, having also deployed in 2002 in support of Operation “Enduring Freedom” in the Afghanistan region.
Frisco residents proudly salute all U.S. military veterans, active duty, National Guard and reserve personnel for their service to and in defense of America!