Timestamp: 01:35:35 – 01:41:58
Topic: Expressing gratitude to the pilots, aircrews, and ground personnel who saved Operation Tailwind
Gary Michael Rose: “What do you say to a group of people that saved your life? What do you say to a group of people that knowingly flew into areas that had some very sophisticated anti-aircraft weaponry? I mean, there were times I really, honestly believe that we on the ground in Laos were probably physically safer than the air crews…
I am only alive right now because of those men who flew those aircraft and those ground crews that were there 24/7 ready to refuel and rearm them… I don’t know how you say thank you to so many people that saved your life.
I feel like I’m a custodian for this. For all the people that didn’t get recognized that should have, for all the ones that didn’t come back, or the ones that came back broken either mentally or physically. It’s not my medal, but it’s our medal.”