Major Lee Cohen

River Rats Over North Vietnam: AFA Palm Springs Lunch Recap with Major Lee Cohen

/ / Leave a comment

Yesterday’s AFA Palm Springs lunch at ROC’s Firehouse Grille was truly memorable. Sixteen of us filled the meeting room to hear one of our own, Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), share his experiences as a member of the famed River Rats during the Vietnam War.

Over 100 Missions in an EB-66
Major Cohen flew the EB-66, logging more than 100 combat missions in heavily defended skies over North Vietnam. His firsthand accounts gave us a vivid window into what it was like to fly electronic warfare missions day after day in some of the most hostile airspace in history.

Learning About the River Rats Association
For many of us, one of the most surprising and enlightening parts of Lee’s talk was learning about the River Rats Association, formally known as the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. Most of the room was unfamiliar with the organization before his presentation.

Lee explained how the group began in 1967 when aircrews from across the services came together to share tactics, improve coordination, and build esprit de corps during the Vietnam War. They took their nickname from the Red River Valley airspace — one of the fiercest aerial battle zones of the conflict. What started as tactical collaboration grew into a lasting fraternity dedicated to preserving bonds of service, honoring sacrifices, and supporting fellow aircrew families.

Scholarship, Legacy & Museum
Lee also shared how, in 1970, the River Rats launched a scholarship program with the mission of “taking care of our own.” Since then, the program has awarded 1,468 scholarship grants, totaling more than $3,274,000 to the children, grandchildren, and spouses of Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army aircrew members. This was new information to most of us and a powerful reminder of how their mission continues today.

The River Rats also maintain a museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which preserves their history and tells the story of the men and women who flew in one of the most challenging air campaigns in U.S. history.

For more about the River Rats and their history, visit their website: https://www.river-rats.org

AFA Palm Springs Lunch Tomorrow – Stories from the River Rats

/ / Leave a comment

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, for our next AFA Palm Springs lunch. Our speaker will again be Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), one of our own members who many of you know.

This time, Major Cohen will be sharing his experiences as one of the “River Rats”—the pilots who flew high-risk missions over North Vietnam. The River Rats were known for their courage, skill, and close brotherhood, and Lee’s firsthand stories promise to be both moving and illuminating.

Major Cohen is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and decorated combat pilot. He flew the EB-66 electronic warfare “Destroyer” and other aircraft during the Vietnam War, carrying out missions in some of the most contested airspace of the conflict. He later served in leadership roles and continued in the Air Force Reserve. In retirement, he has stayed active in veteran and aviation circles, bringing his experiences to audiences everywhere.

Location: ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street, Suite 10, Palm Desert
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost: No charge for attendance — just purchase your own lunch.

As always, lunch will offer great company, spirited conversation, and an opportunity to hear directly from one of our members who lived an extraordinary slice of Air Force history.

We look forward to seeing you there. Thanks!

Major Lee Cohen – Honor Flight Mission #18

/ / Leave a comment

**Join Us in Welcoming Him Home!**All are invited to participate in a special **Welcome Home Celebration** this **Sunday, May 18, at 12:30 p.m.**, when Major Cohen and fellow veterans return from their “Tour of Honor.” Bring your flags, signs, and applause as we give these heroes the welcome they truly deserve!

📍 **Location:** LAX – Southwest Airlines Terminal 1, Baggage Claim Area

✈️ **Flight:** Southwest #WN3261

The Palm Springs Chapter 134 of the Air & Space Forces Association proudly honors one of our own—USAF Major (Ret.) Lee Cohen—on his selection to **Honor Flight Southland’s Mission #18**. Major Cohen joins a distinguished group of veterans receiving an all-expense-paid journey to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.

Major Cohen’s Air Force career spans pivotal moments in Cold War and Vietnam-era history. Commissioned in 1959, he began his service in electronic warfare with the EB-57, testing NORAD defense systems and training interceptor pilots. Later, he flew with the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Alaska—recognized twice as the best in the Air Force—before deploying to Southeast Asia during Operation Rolling Thunder. There, he flew 119 ½ combat missions over North Vietnam in EB-57s and F-102s.

For his courageous service, Major Cohen was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and nine Air Medals. After contributing to planning efforts for the return of American POWs and serving in key operational roles, he retired in 1978 as a Major. He now resides in Beaumont, California.