Lou Cain claims that his birthplace was Pittsburgh, PA, because “that’s where his mother happened to be” on that cold winter 17th of December, 1925.  And since his parents ‘happened’ to live and work there, he was raised in Pittsburgh. Interested in flying at an early age, he took and passed all of the tests for Aviation Cadets and for Navy V-5 & V-12 programs while still in high school, but a perforated eardrum quashed any hopes of being a military pilot.

Although the ‘Big War’ had ended in 1945, the Draft continued. Lou joined the Army, and after Basic, was assigned to the disciplinary barracks at Camp Cooke, CA, [later to become the primary  USAF ICBM base ... ‘Vandenberg AFB’.]  He was later released from active duty and returned to Pittsburgh, only to be recalled to active duty at the start of the Korean War.

After 3 weeks of specialized Intelligence training at Ft. Campbell, KY, reading about the Korean Inchon Invasion and preparing to head West... he was sent instead to the Occupation Force in Vaihinger, Germany.

Upon return to the ‘States, instead of re-enlisting in the Army, Lou joined the Air Force and  was sent  to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH,  as a “KP Specialist no-class”, who promptly volunteered to take the ‘first overseas slot in his AFSC’, which in April ‘53 became the Personnel Classification Section of 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Osan [K-55], where he later became Section NCOIC and remained until April ‘54, then returned to Scott AFB  as an Instructor.  He separated from active duty in July ‘56 to attend the U. of Pittsburgh, majoring in Math and Engineering.  His road into Industry was ‘bumpy’ ... he claims that he was fired from 7 jobs on his way up.

He has worked as a Fire Prevention Engineer, Tech School teacher, and as an Engineer with the Postal Service.  He and Joanne, his wife, are now retired and living in suburban Pittsburgh, where his interest remains the study of Math and Military History ... and Writing.

This reporter has corresponded by mail with Lou Cain for several years, but we have yet to meet; we look forward to meeting Lou and Joanne for the first time.  My first and lasting impression of Lou Cain is that of the Ultimate Optimist.  Each of his letters is full of good natured humor, but he also seems ready to climb any mountain, or slay any Dragon to achieve a worthwhile goal.

A case in point is that of Lt Col. Flamm D. ‘Dee’ Harper [18FWA 95-037-18] during the final days before the ‘53 Truce in Korea.

Typically, people on base during a dynamic series of events are the last to know the facts. 

Lou Cain in year 2000, meeting with Col. Chas. 'Mac' McGee and LCol. Flamm D. 'Dee' Harper

Lou was at K-55 when the subject events took place, but it was not until many years later, that he read of Dee’s heroic performance as Acting 18th FBW Operations Officer  at K-55 the evening of 15 Jun ‘53. Cain then personally decided that Harper should finally receive belated recognition for “hanging his career and his ass out in the wind” by having made a series of World-class, high-level command decisions while only a ‘mere peon’ Major.

But the tale of Dee’s accomplishment  must await another time.  Our focus is on Lou Cain’s actions toward securing what he considered, long overlooked recognition.

Lou wrote a series of sincere, respectful, concise letters ... lots of letters, to the movers and shakers not only of the U.S. government, but to Korea as well.  He wrote Senators Robert Dole, Sam Nunn, and Kim Young-sam, President of the Republic of Korea, enclosed full documentation, plus previously published reports. Senatorial replies were typical, ‘canned’ letters explaining how certain ‘AF regulations must apply’, and ‘the many intervening years’ would make it very difficult to verify”, etc.

It was not until one of his letters reached then AF Chief of Staff, General Ron Fogelman that he began to see promising results. The General recognized the brave decision­­-making process demonstrated by Harper, and agreed with Cain that it should provide the basis for a lesson plan for future AF leaders ... at the Air Force Academy.        

[It is being done as we write... according to Genl R. E. Eberhart, Vice Chief of Staff.]

During his mass letter-writing campaign, Lou wrote me, in hopes that the 18th Fighter Wing Assoc.  might assist his efforts in some way.  His timing was excellent.... because I was then in the midst of furnishing subject matter for a new video documentary series: “Remembering the Forgotten War”, by Monumental Productions.  While providing photos, a series of articles on the Korean air war, 1950s Truck-Busters copies, etc., I was also able to provide Monumental with the copy of Sabre-Jet Classics containing Harper’s story, strongly suggesting that they include that episode in their documentary.  After verifying its historical events, with the USAF, and with the Army staff, they also checked with the CIA... all was confirmed. Dee’s actions are to be featured in this new Korean documentary series, according to Art Lindgren, it’s Producer *.

The Air Force recently confirmed officially, then-Major Harper’s actions in a personal letter to Dee, and recent recommendations for a Presidential Unit Citation for the 18th Fighter Wing, for their total combat and aircraft conversion operations during that period, has been submitted.

The fuse lit by Lou Cain under that enormous Dragon continues to burn very brightly... and proves once again what one dedicated person can accomplish when he sets his mind to it.; ;

 We salute LOU CAIN’s dedication, and appreciate the favorable publicity he has reflected upon the 18th Fighter Wing and the 18th FWA.

Many thanks!  --- Bud Biteman