Preserving Lance Sijan's Legacy — WTMJ Cares Radiothon Highlights

WTMJ called on its community to help us preserve the legacy of Lance Sijan — one of the most courageous Wisconsintes of all time. We raised money for the upkeep and maintenance of his memorial, which has been maintained by his sister, Janine. You can still donate to help!

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On November 9th, 1967 Lance and Colonel John Armstrong lifted off into the dark Vietnam sky on Lance’s 52nd combat mission. Their F4 headed to the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. The plane rolled into its target in the dense jungle below and released its bombs. Experts would later determine that the fuses on the bombs were defective and detonated prematurely, engulfing the F4 in a fireball.

Lance ejected, was knocked unconscious and landed in a thick triple tree canopy below. He suffered a fractured skull, a compound leg fracture just below his knee, and a badly mangled hand. For days, he was in and out of consciousness.

Led by John Mercure (Wisconsin’s Afternoon News), we met and exceeded our goal of $50,000 to maintain the replica of her brother’s F-4 Phantom fighter jet at Sijan Plaza near Mitchell International Airport.