Bruce Ducat served in the U.S. Air Force as a Major in the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force in the Vietnam War. He was the weapons system operator on an F4C sent on a combat mission over North Vietnam on December 2, 1966. During the mission, the aircraft was shot down about 40 miles northwest of Hanoi and Major Ducat was captured by the North Vietnamese. He died in captivity.