Lt. Col. Samuel A. Hodnett, Jr. served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force from July 1966 until July 1986. His initial operational assignment was flying the F-100 Super Sabre with the 492 Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Lakenheath, England. He later flew combat missions in the F-4 Phantom with the 421 TFS from Da Nang, Takhli, and Udorn during the Viet Nam conflict from May 1972 to May 1973. Lt. Col. Hodnett was shot down in the Phantom over North Viet Nam in July 1972, but was recovered by a U.S. Navy helicopter just north of Haiphong Harbor. He returned to combat, ultimately flying 170 combat missions, including a number of missions over North Vietnam during the December 1972 Linebacker II air campaign. Lt. Col. Hodnett later served as an instructor pilot in advanced jet trainers, and again returned to flying the F-4 Phantom at Moody AFB, GA and with the 613 TFS at Torrejon, Spain. He completed his Air Force tour of duty serving five years as a staff officer on the Air Staff at the Pentagon. Lt. Col. Hodnett’s decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Lt. Col. Hodnett accumulated over 2700 hours of jet time, including 1900 hours of fighter time and 350 combat hours.