LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The United States’ National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year.

Many Americans take the time to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA), as well as their families.

Robert R. Craner was born on June 10, 1933 in Cohoes, New York. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the United States Air Force on February 2, 1953 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on May 19, 1954.

Craner was awarded his pilot wings in May 1957 and served with the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Etain Air Base, France during 1958 and 1959. He then served at Spangdahlem Air Base in West Germany, until August 1961.

Promoting to captain, he then served as an instructor pilot in the F-100 Super Sabre combat crew training program with the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, until deploying to Southeast Asia in 1967.

Craner served as a “Misty Fast FAC” at Phu Cat Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam. “Misty" was the radio call sign used by the F-100F Fast Forward Air Controllers (Fast FACs) during the Vietnam War.

There were 157 pilots officially assigned to fly missions over North Vietnam from June 15, 1967 to May 19, 1970. 21 other attached pilots flew occasional missions. There were also Intelligence Officers, Flight Surgeons, and Maintenance Officers assigned. It was a small, tight-knit group of special people given a difficult task.

Of the 157 Mistys, 34 were shot down. Eight others were shot down when not flying with Misty. Two Mistys were shot down twice.

There were seven killed in action (KIA), four prisoners of war (POW), and as of January 2010, 42 were deceased.

There also was one Medal of Honor winner, two Air Force Chiefs of Staff, six general officers, a winner of the Collier Trophy, the Louis Bleriot Medal, the Presidential Citizen's Medal of Honor, and the first man to fly non-stop, un-refueled around the world. By any measure this was an unusual group of men.

Robert Craner was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a prisoner of war on Dec. 12, 1967.

After spending 1,920 days in captivity, along with future Sen. John McCain, Craner was released on March 14, 1973. He was hospitalized for his injuries and subsequently attended Holy Cross College, as an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment.

Colonel Craner graduated in 1976, and subsequently served as Air Attaché in Bulgaria and Hungary.

In September 1980, Colonel Craner returned to the United States to begin training for his next assignment, but succumbed to a heart attack on October 3, 1980, while on active duty.

Craner had a connection to Lake County, California, though he may have never known of it. All the while he was being held prisoner, a man named Leonard was flying a flag in his honor.

Leonard also wore a POW/MIA bracelet bearing the pilot’s name. They were distributed by the POW/MIA Bracelet Campaign for VIVA (Voices in Vital America), the Los Angeles based student organization that made the bracelets during the Vietnam War. Entertainers Bob Hope and Martha Raye served as honorary co-chairmen.

That flag and bracelet recently were given to the United Veterans Council of Lake County. Jim Yates has lovingly constructed a flag case of California Redwood. The case now protects the symbols of hope.

Through research, Colonel Craner’s family was located and the items have been sent to their rightful place with loved ones.

For his military accomplishments, Colonel Craner had received three Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Colonel Craner, Misty 17, was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on October 8, 1980.

Please take a moment to remember Colonel Craner and all the others on Friday, Sept. 16.