at Brooks AFB, Texas. Fischer's final assignment was at the Pentagon, where he retired from the Air Force on May 31, 1978. Personal life Fischer was first married to Dorothy Herron and they had a son named Harold E. Fischer, III. The marriage ended in divorce shortly before he became a Prisoner of War. An Air Force widow, Mary Jane Erickson, wrote to Fischer during his captivity and the two married shortly after his release. His wife had a six-year-old daughter. Later, Fischer had two more sons with Mary Jane, Kurt and Clint, and a daughter who died in infancy. After the couple divorced, he was married to Jean Cramlin. They had no children together and the marriage also ended in divorce. Later life Fischer learned that Chinese pilot Han Decai was credited with shooting him down in 1953. Fischer met Decai, when he joined a group of Flying Tiger pilots who had been invited to visit China. He met Decai and presented him with an F-86 model. He later became friends with him. Fischer died on April 30, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nevada, from complications after back surgery at the age of 83. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 59. Awards and decorations Fischer served for a full 30 years, receiving many decorations, including the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Distinguished Service Cross. Distinguished Service Cross citation See also List of Korean War flying aces References External links Harold E. Fischer Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10047 .O/S, San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives Harold E. Fisher, Jr. (Photo Collection), Flickr, San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives American Korean War flying aces Aviators from Iowa Iowa State University alumni American prisoners of war in the Korean War Burials at Arlington National Cemetery People from Kossuth County, Iowa Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States) Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Order (Vietnam) Recipients of the Air Medal Shot-down aviators 1925 births 2009 deaths United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War American Korean War pilots American Vietnam War pilots Military personnel from Iowa