We used to fly cover for some of these extractions and the willingness to sacrifice by Jolly Green crews still amazes me...

[video:youtube]chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvRcP4go-eg[/video]

"That others may live"

That's what it's all about.

I looked this up to make sure i had it correct.......
"A total of 179 Air Force Crosses were awarded to airmen fighting in the Vietnam War. Many of these were awarded to men assigned to Air Rescue."

Those guys had gigantic brass cojones for sure, we did some escort for them as well and they went where angels fear to tread.

I'd like to believe that angels were along for the ride.......

Humbling. I have no higher respect for those that put their lives at risk for their fellow Americans.

Thank you for that, Woody.

The last couple of minutes pretty much define what our fight for freedom is really for.

Unfortunnately, some of our resident socialists/Progressives don't get it. After all, someone may garner "excessive" profits and thereby keep the downtrodden masses in poverty.

Gen. Ritchie IS a hero.

Ed

My father Cmsgt William Vargas USAF ret., was a Pararescueman (PJ) for over
25years. He did the first rescue extraction in Vietnam , as well as the first
open water recovery of a space satellite, Discoverer 25. His last four years
of service were as the Commandant of the Pararescue school at Kirtland AFB
in Albuquerque,NM. He retired with some of our nations highest decorations
including the Legion of Merit,Air Force Cross, and Bronze Star. He was a true
American hero, but to me just dad. I grew with house full of PJs all over the
world. They are truly some of our finest and bravest. Sadly he passed away a
year ago, and is deeply missed our and the Pararescue family.

A hand salute to a fine man Sir.

Very sorry for your loss.

I'll second that! Not many LOM handed out. Less than 250 IIRC, since the inception of that award.

I've run PJ's through our Urban Rifle Course and I've always been impressed with their abilities.

BTW, welcome to the 'Fire!

Ed

WOW ! you must be very proud..will certainly add your Dad's name to my list I toast every Memorial Day..What they did under a hail of gunfire is and always will be legend in my book! Thank you for that bit of family history...

Outstanding......makes you have to clear your throat and blink your eyes. Great Americans, how lucky we truly are to have people like these to represent us and inspire us.

A salute to all of those who served and especially those brave souls who went in harm's way to save the lives of their fellow me. May the good Lord watch over all of them.

Thanks for the post woody!

Outstanding story!

God Bless those men.

Mike

Thank you one and all, ground or air, all for one, one for all!

The most wrenching thing I did back then was to write down what the pilot and I believed were his last words to his family from a pilot we couldn't get out. One of the choppers that was working the extraction took a lot of fire from what looked like 50 cal guns. No one got hit but I still marvel that the thing could fly looking like swiss cheese.

Saw a few of those episodes during the live fire exercise is SE Asia. Big Balls.

FlyboyFlem....I emailed this to my BIL who is retired Master Sgt from the Air Force. My BIL tells me he was working on the airfield at the time Brig Gen Ritchie shot down his first MIG. My BIL says " I was just a 19 year old kid then and watched him fly victory rolls over the airfield ". My BIL last duty station was Kirtland AFB and he took us through the PJ school. That was a lot of fun. The guys that make it through that school are some real studs.

Dust or pollen or something in the air this AM. Thanks for a great post, and a great thread. The greatest generation sired some worthy descendants, for sure.

This is really the way it went down...check this out, gives me goose bumps!

[video:youtube]chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ATcN-Wgz1U[/video]

Another great one......will forward to my BIL.......you made his day with the Steve Ritchie youtube......Thanks.

Agreed, and well said Mr. Lee.

Gunner

That is one amazing rescue mission talk about pucker factor and getting it done!

coolpapabill sorry to hear about the loss of your father and thank you to you and your family for the sacrifices they have made!

Here is an official picture of a PJ......coolpapabills Dad...

coolpapabill will have to chime in and supply info for the above picture.

Picture is an official USAF photo circa 1963 of a PJ in full open water
jump gear. My dad had over 100 open water ocean jumps and 600
total jumps while in Pararescue.

Bill, your Dad looks like a serious fellow....just the kind that you want on your side.

If you look at photos of modern day PJs the equipment has come a long way, but the heart and bravery of the men is still the same. Miss you dad.

The Jolly Green crews went where few of us ventured and are legends in their own right, no doubt about it.

With that said it was my general observation that chopper crews from all branches vied in their own way and on their own turf for "Balls of the Year Award" when it was called for, and that calling came often. If the stories were collected, written and published you'd need a truck to haul it home.