James H. Platt was a Vietnam War veteran who served with the United States Air Force from the 1960s to the early 1990s. He was born on February 4, 1942 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. His family eventually relocated to Portland, Oregon, where he attended Central Catholic High School and the University of Portland.

While in college, Platt participated in the school’s ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program and was selected for the Flight Indoctrination Program. He completed fixed-wing flight training at Randolph Air Force Base (Texas) and helicopter training at Stead Air Force Base (Nevada). From 1966 to 1967, he served at Patrick Air Force Base (Florida) as a Sikorsky CH-3 pilot, flying support missions for the Eastern Test Range. Afterwards, he was deployed to Thailand to serve as commander of an Air Rescue team. During his combat tour in Southeast Asia, Platt flew 98 combat missions in the Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant.

On his return to the United States, Platt resumed flying support missions for the Eastern Test Range out of Patrick Air Force Base. He then transitioned from helicopters back to fixed-wing aircraft, flying the Northrop T-38 Talon and Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. Shortly after the Christmas Day Bombing in 1972, Platt was transferred from Travis Air Force Base to Castle Air Force Base (California) to undergo training in the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. He subsequently served as an aircraft commander in Guam.

Platt’s next assignments included serving as Chief of Battle Staff Display at Eighth Air Force Headquarters and SAC (Strategic Air Command) Headquarters, serving as watch officer at EUCOM (United States European Command), and serving as airfield manager at Grand Forks Air Force Base (North Dakota). He also flew the North American T-39 Sabreliner. He retired from the Air Force in 1993 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Following his retirement from the military, Platt earned a master’s degree in aviation business administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He was then hired by Boeing and worked in airplane certification. He retired from the company after a ten-year career. As of 2018, Platt was an active member of The Museum of Flight Docent Corps.

Platt married his wife in 1968. They had four children. Platt died peacefully in his sleep on March 31, 2025.

Source

Biography derived from collection materials and family members.

The Vietnam War, between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, lasted from approximately 1955 until 1975 and was fought with the goal of reunification. The North Vietnamese were aided financially and militarily by China and the Soviet Union, while South Vietnam was backed by the United States.

Regular U.S. deployments began after the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. However, U.S. involvement peaked in 1968 following the Tet Offensive, which was an attempt by North Vietnam forces to execute surprise attacks on military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. The Tet Offensive triggered the decline of support from the U.S. public, eventually dovetailing into the anti-Vietnam War movement. In May 1968, peace talks began between the United States and North Vietnam in Paris, France.

Gradual withdrawal of U.S. ground forces began in 1973 as part of "Vietnamization," a policy of President Richard Nixon's that sought to end American involvement by providing equipment and training to the South Vietnamese with the goal of transferring fighting solely to their forces. Additionally, President Nixon suspended military offensives against North Vietnam, and on January 15, 1973, direct U.S. involvement ended.

Despite all parties signing the Paris Peace Accords, fighting continued between North and South Vietnam, but South Vietnam was not able to sustain its defense against North Vietnam. The Vietnam War ended in April 1975 when the North Vietnamese Army captured Saigon, the capital city of South Vietnam. The countries reunified the following year.

Source and Further Reading:

Stanley Karnow, Vietnam: a history, New York: Viking Press, 1983.