On June 24, 1972, U.S. Air Force Captain David B. Grant was flying a mission couple posing for picturefrom Thailand into conflict-ridden North Vietnam when his F-4 Phantom took a direct hit and exploded. The fuselage was separating when both Grant and his “back-seater,” Bill, ejected through the fireball. They
This afternoon, I had the honor of visiting Colonel John Dramesi, Vietnam Prisoner Of War and author of the Code of Honor, with several friends.
William “Bill” Talley was eating lunch in the cafeteria at his senior living center one day in June when a man walked up to him. This was the man’s greeting: “Hey, I’m Jim Null. I remember when you got shot down.” U.S. Air Force pilots Talley, 88, and Null, 77, were
“If it doesn’t touch me, it won’t happen.” Walt Eckes is no stranger to hardship; nor is he a stranger to happiness. Walt, simply put, is a realist. We recently had the pleasure of a wonderful visit with Walt and his lovely wife of 44 years, Dolores, in their comfortable
TO THE WORLD, the photo of his family greeting the Air Force officer after his return from a North Vietnamese camp symbolized the joy of a nation leaving an ugly war. To him, the scene was and remains a lie. His older daughter is racing to meet him, arms outstretched,