Joseph A. L'Huillier enlisted in the Air Force, arrived at the Niagara Falls Air Base as a helicopter pilot, and became a jet fighter pilot flying F-100 aircraft for four years. About a month before the 107th Tactical Fighter Group departed for Vietnam in May 1968, he accepted a commission in the Air Force. The 107th had been activated in January, three days after North Korea captured the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo. While piloting a ground support mission in Quang Tin, South Vietnam, his aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. He was the first member of the 107th to be killed in action, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and received many commendations including the Purple Heart.