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{\an7}\hNarrator: THE HELICOPTER
CAME OF AGE IN VIETNAM...
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00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:08,775
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWITH ONE INVINCIBLE MACHINE
BECOMING THE SYMBOL OF THAT WAR:
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00:00:08,809 --> 00:00:10,944
{\an7}THE HUEY.
4
00:00:10,978 --> 00:00:13,347
{\an7}\h\h\h\hIT WAS THE WARHORSE
OF THE AIRBORNE CAVALRY
5
00:00:13,380 --> 00:00:15,616
{\an7}AND MEDEVAC COMPANIES.
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00:00:15,649 --> 00:00:18,418
{\an7}FOR MANY YOUNG MEN FLYING
THESE FAMOUS HELICOPTERS,
7
00:00:18,452 --> 00:00:21,188
{\an7}IT WAS A SHORT-LIVED ADVENTURE.
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00:00:21,221 --> 00:00:23,323
{\an7}Man: A HELICOPTER PILOT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN VIETNAM
9
00:00:23,357 --> 00:00:26,160
{\an7}\hWAS TWICE AS LIKELY
TO BE KILLED IN COMBAT
10
00:00:26,193 --> 00:00:27,961
{\an7}AS AN ORDINARY SOLDIER.
11
00:00:27,995 --> 00:00:29,964
{\an7}Narrator: SOME MISSIONS
\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE SO DANGEROUS
12
00:00:29,997 --> 00:00:32,900
{\an7}IT WAS BEST NOT TO THINK
TOO MUCH ABOUT THE ODDS.
13
00:00:32,933 --> 00:00:34,234
{\an7}Man: I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE
14
00:00:34,268 --> 00:00:36,570
{\an7}IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE GUTS
NOT TO GO THAN TO GO.
15
00:00:36,603 --> 00:00:39,539
{\an7}Man: THE ROTORS WERE OVER
THE OUTER PERIMETER.
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00:00:39,573 --> 00:00:42,042
{\an7}Narrator: 40 YEARS LATER
\h\hTHESE PILOTS RELIVE
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00:00:42,075 --> 00:00:44,978
{\an7}THE MOST TRAUMATIC MISSION
\h\h\h\h\hOF THEIR LIVES--
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00:00:45,012 --> 00:00:47,848
{\an7}\h\h\h\hFLYING IN TO RESCUE
OVER A HUNDRED SOLDIERS
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00:00:47,881 --> 00:00:50,050
{\an7}CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE
\h\h\h\h\hOF AN AMBUSH.
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00:00:50,083 --> 00:00:51,318
{\an7}AND TO REACH THEM,
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00:00:51,351 --> 00:00:53,753
{\an7}THEIR HUEY WOULD HAVE TO CUT
\h\h\h\hITS OWN LANDING ZONE
22
00:00:53,787 --> 00:00:55,956
{\an7}THROUGH A FOREST OF BAMBOO.
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00:00:59,293 --> 00:01:01,996
{\an7}\h\hMan: I JUST SAID TO MYSELF
I’M GONNA GET SHOT IN THE BACK.
24
00:01:02,029 --> 00:01:03,564
{\an7}AND THEN I SAID I’M GONNA
GET SHOT IN THE BACK
25
00:01:03,597 --> 00:01:05,499
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I’M GONNA LIVE
AND I’M GONNA BE A PARAPLEGIC.
26
00:01:05,532 --> 00:01:07,501
{\an7}\h\hI MEAN, ALL THIS STUFF
WAS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.
27
00:01:30,657 --> 00:01:33,560
{\an7}Narrator: VIETNAM, 1967.
28
00:01:36,163 --> 00:01:40,367
{\an7}TOM BACA AND JACK SWICKARD ARE
PILOTS IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES.
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{\an7}\h\hAS A KEEN AMATEUR CAMERAMAN,
TOM’S UNIQUE RECORD OF THE WAR
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{\an7}\h\h\hIS SHOWN HERE
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
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{\an7}THEY’VE BEEN FLYING HUEYS
\h\h\h\hIN COMBAT MISSIONS
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{\an7}FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.
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00:02:00,187 --> 00:02:03,323
{\an7}\h\hBUT BY VIETNAM STANDARDS
THEY’RE SEASONED VETERANS.
34
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{\an7}\h\hON MAY 14, 1967,
THEY WOULD SET OFF
35
00:02:10,263 --> 00:02:12,198
{\an7}ON ONE OF THE MOST EPIC
\h\h\h\hRESCUE MISSIONS
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00:02:12,232 --> 00:02:14,568
{\an7}OF THE ENTIRE VIETNAM WAR.
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{\an7}Jack: TOM, DOES THIS
\h\hMAKE YOU HOMESICK?
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00:02:29,449 --> 00:02:31,952
{\an7}\hTom: IT SURELY DOES.
IT’S A GOOD AIRCRAFT.
39
00:02:31,985 --> 00:02:33,753
{\an7}Jack: IT’S EVEN GOT THE ARMOUR
IN IT, DOESN’T IT?
40
00:02:33,787 --> 00:02:36,690
{\an7}Tom: YEAH, IT’S GOT THE ARMOUR
\h\hJUST LIKE WE HAD IN VIETNAM.
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00:02:36,723 --> 00:02:38,158
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJack: HOP IN.
Tom: NO, YOU JUMP UP THERE.
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{\an7}Jack: OK.
43
00:02:39,192 --> 00:02:40,460
{\an7}Narrator: 40 YEARS LATER,
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00:02:40,494 --> 00:02:43,197
{\an7}\h\hTHE VIETNAM VETERANS
INSPECT AN OLD FRIEND--
45
00:02:43,230 --> 00:02:44,832
{\an7}A HUEY STILL IN SERVICE
46
00:02:44,865 --> 00:02:47,468
{\an7}WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN SANTA FE.
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00:02:47,501 --> 00:02:48,969
{\an7}Tom: WE USED TO NAVIGATE,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hREMEMBER,
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00:02:49,002 --> 00:02:51,204
{\an7}JUST WITH A MAP IN OUR LAP
49
00:02:51,238 --> 00:02:54,775
{\an7}AND GOING LIKE HELL
REALLY FAST AND LOW.
50
00:02:54,808 --> 00:02:58,378
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S BASICALLY
JUST EXACTLY LIKE IT WAS.
51
00:02:58,412 --> 00:03:00,848
{\an7}YOU KNOW, IT’S A BASIC HUEY.
52
00:03:00,881 --> 00:03:04,785
{\an7}\h\hJack: NOT QUITE AS OLD
AS WE ARE, BUT PUSHING IT.
53
00:03:04,818 --> 00:03:07,954
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: TOM BACA’S CO-PILOT
ON THE MISSION THAT FATEFUL DAY
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00:03:07,988 --> 00:03:09,156
{\an7}WAS LARRY LISS.
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00:03:09,189 --> 00:03:10,857
{\an7}Tom: IS THAT LARRY LISS?
56
00:03:10,891 --> 00:03:12,292
{\an7}Larry: YEAH, I’VE BEEN CALLED IN
TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
57
00:03:12,325 --> 00:03:14,093
{\an7}Tom: WELL, I’LL BE DAMNED...
58
00:03:14,127 --> 00:03:15,996
{\an7}WE CALLED YOUR WIFE
\h\h\h\hLAST NIGHT.
59
00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:17,898
{\an7}Larry: SHE SET YOU UP.
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00:03:17,931 --> 00:03:19,399
{\an7}Tom: SHE SET US UP.
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00:03:19,433 --> 00:03:21,769
{\an7}Jack: LARRY, HOW ARE YOU?
\h\h\h\hLONG TIME NO SEE.
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00:03:21,802 --> 00:03:24,438
{\an7}Tom: I SAW YOU WALKING UP,
\h\h\hI SAID THAT’S LARRY.
63
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{\an7}HOLY COW.
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{\an7}Larry: YOU LOOK A LITTLE OLDER.
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00:03:26,606 --> 00:03:27,540
{\an7}Tom: YOU’VE AGED BETTER
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN I HAVE.
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00:03:27,574 --> 00:03:28,608
{\an7}Larry: YEAH, RIGHT.
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00:03:28,642 --> 00:03:29,643
{\an7}Tom: THIS IS AMAZING.
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00:03:29,676 --> 00:03:31,611
{\an7}I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU SINCE WHAT?
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00:03:31,645 --> 00:03:32,880
{\an7}Larry: ’69, ’70.
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00:03:32,913 --> 00:03:34,982
{\an7}Tom: I THINK...1970.
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00:03:35,015 --> 00:03:38,785
{\an7}\h\h\h\hLarry: PROBABLY.
I GOT OUT IN APRIL ’70.
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00:03:38,819 --> 00:03:41,021
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTom: I FELL IN LOVE
WITH A PROGRAM ON TELEVISION
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00:03:41,054 --> 00:03:42,856
{\an7}WHIRLYBIRDS,
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00:03:45,459 --> 00:03:47,194
{\an7}AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT
\h\h\hTHAT WOULD BE
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00:03:47,227 --> 00:03:49,796
{\an7}A GOOD THING TO DO
\hWHEN I GROW UP.
76
00:03:49,830 --> 00:03:52,733
{\an7}SO I JOINED THE ARMY AT AGE 17,
77
00:03:52,766 --> 00:03:56,470
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND SUBSEQUENTLY THEY
SELECTED ME FOR FLIGHT SCHOOL.
78
00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:06,213
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hLarry: WE WERE ON
THE CZECH-GERMAN BORDER
79
00:04:06,246 --> 00:04:07,781
{\an7}DURING A SNOWSTORM,
80
00:04:07,814 --> 00:04:10,950
{\an7}AND THIS ONE DAY THIS GUY
\h\h\h\hCAME IN IN A HUEY,
81
00:04:10,984 --> 00:04:13,653
{\an7}AND HE PUT DOWN HIS WINDOW
\h\hAND HE HAD SHORT SLEEVES
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00:04:13,687 --> 00:04:14,922
{\an7}AND HE WAS DRINKING
\h\hA CUP OF COFFEE
83
00:04:14,955 --> 00:04:17,825
{\an7}AND I WAS FREEZING MY BUTT OFF,
84
00:04:17,858 --> 00:04:21,028
{\an7}\hAND HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND
HE SAID "YOU’RE SUCH A JERK."
85
00:04:21,061 --> 00:04:23,797
{\an7}HE USED OTHER WORDS. I’M TRYING
TO KEEP IT CLEAN HERE.
86
00:04:23,830 --> 00:04:27,334
{\an7}\h"YOU’RE SUCH A JERK,"
AND I LOOKED LIKE "WHY?"
87
00:04:27,367 --> 00:04:31,671
{\an7}\h\hAND HE SAID, "LOOK AT YOU,
YOU’RE FREEZING YOUR ASS OFF,
88
00:04:31,705 --> 00:04:34,041
{\an7}IT’S SNOWING, IT’S SLEETING,
89
00:04:34,074 --> 00:04:35,642
{\an7}I’M HERE, I’M NICE AND WARM,"
90
00:04:35,675 --> 00:04:37,343
{\an7}AND HE SAID, "MAN,
YOU SHOULD SIGN UP
91
00:04:37,377 --> 00:04:39,746
{\an7}FOR HELICOPTER TRAINING."
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00:04:39,780 --> 00:04:41,649
{\an7}\h\hSO THE NEXT DAY
AT THE OFFICERS CLUB
93
00:04:41,681 --> 00:04:44,050
{\an7}THERE WAS A SIGN THAT SAYS WE’RE
LOOKING FOR HELICOPTER PILOTS,
94
00:04:44,084 --> 00:04:46,186
{\an7}SO I SAID "TAKE ME."
95
00:04:46,219 --> 00:04:47,654
{\an7}\h\hWITHIN FOUR DAYS
I WAS IN THE STATES
96
00:04:47,687 --> 00:04:50,123
{\an7}GOING THROUGH FLIGHT SCHOOL.
97
00:04:59,166 --> 00:05:01,635
{\an7}Narrator: WITH THE DESPERATE
\h\h\h\hSHORTAGE OF PILOTS,
98
00:05:01,668 --> 00:05:04,838
{\an7}THE ARMY HAS DEVISED A RAPID
\hFLIGHT-TRAINING PROGRAM--
99
00:05:04,871 --> 00:05:07,607
{\an7}FOUR MONTHS PRIMARY INSTRUCTION
AT FORT WOLTERS
100
00:05:07,641 --> 00:05:11,545
{\an7}FOLLOWED BY ADVANCED TRAINING
AT FORT RUCKER.
101
00:05:11,578 --> 00:05:14,347
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTom: WHEN I WENT TO
THE PRIMARY HELICOPTER SCHOOL,
102
00:05:14,381 --> 00:05:17,885
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE FIRST FIVE HOURS
THAT WE GOT AS INSTRUCTION
103
00:05:17,918 --> 00:05:19,720
{\an7}WAS LEARNING HOW TO HOVER.
104
00:05:19,753 --> 00:05:21,822
{\an7}THAT’S THE FIRST THING
\h\h\h\hYOU HAD TO DO.
105
00:05:21,855 --> 00:05:23,790
{\an7}YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO BE
\h\h\hREAL GOOD AT IT,
106
00:05:23,824 --> 00:05:29,263
{\an7}BUT THAT’S HOW YOU LANDED AND
YOU TOOK OFF IN A HELICOPTER.
107
00:05:29,296 --> 00:05:31,899
{\an7}Narrator: AT FLYING SCHOOL
THEY LEARN HOW HELICOPTERS
108
00:05:31,932 --> 00:05:35,068
{\an7}\h\hARE ABLE TO PERFORM
THIS EXTRAORDINARY FEAT.
109
00:05:35,101 --> 00:05:36,869
{\an7}IN A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT
110
00:05:36,903 --> 00:05:40,006
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE RAPID FLOW OF AIR
OVER THE WINGS GENERATES LIFT
111
00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,576
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHEN THE PLANE
TRAVELS FORWARD FAST ENOUGH.
112
00:05:45,679 --> 00:05:48,482
{\an7}\hIN A HELICOPTER,
ITS WINGS ROTATE.
113
00:05:48,515 --> 00:05:50,584
{\an7}AS THE ROTOR BLADES SPIN
\h\h\h\hTHROUGH THE AIR,
114
00:05:50,617 --> 00:05:51,952
{\an7}THEY GENERATE LIFT,
115
00:05:51,985 --> 00:05:55,222
{\an7}EVEN WHEN THE HELICOPTER
\hIS NOT MOVING FORWARD.
116
00:06:00,694 --> 00:06:02,829
{\an7}BUT STATIONARY FLYING--
\h\h\h\h\hOR HOVERING--
117
00:06:02,863 --> 00:06:07,000
{\an7}IS MUCH HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.
118
00:06:07,033 --> 00:06:09,202
{\an7}THE PILOT HAS TO MAKE
\hCONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS
119
00:06:09,236 --> 00:06:12,673
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH BOTH HANDS AND FEET
TO KEEP THE HELICOPTER STEADY.
120
00:06:15,976 --> 00:06:18,979
{\an7}\h\hLarry: WHILE MY WHOLE CLASS
WAS ABLE TO TAKE A HELICOPTER
121
00:06:19,012 --> 00:06:21,381
{\an7}AND AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS
\hAND PICK IT UP TO A HOVER,
122
00:06:21,414 --> 00:06:25,351
{\an7}I WAS ALREADY IN THE NINTH HOUR
AND STILL COULDN’T HOVER,
123
00:06:25,385 --> 00:06:27,888
{\an7}AND YOU HAVE TO SOLO
\h\h\hIN TEN HOURS.
124
00:06:27,921 --> 00:06:31,124
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSO I COULDN’T HOVER,
SO NOW I’M BEGINNING TO PANIC
125
00:06:31,157 --> 00:06:33,426
{\an7}BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T GET
\hTHROUGH FLIGHT SCHOOL,
126
00:06:33,460 --> 00:06:37,164
{\an7}THEN YOU GO, YOU’RE BACK
\h\hON THE GROUND AGAIN,
127
00:06:37,197 --> 00:06:39,566
{\an7}AND I WAS REALLY SCARED.
128
00:06:39,599 --> 00:06:42,936
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTom: I ALWAYS HAD
A PRETTY GOOD CONTROL TOUCH,
129
00:06:42,969 --> 00:06:45,004
{\an7}AND I COULD PRETTY MUCH
\h\h\h\hGET THE AIRCRAFT
130
00:06:45,038 --> 00:06:47,941
{\an7}TO DO ANYTHING I WANTED IT TO DO
131
00:06:47,974 --> 00:06:50,376
{\an7}\h\hWITHOUT MOVING
THE CYCLIC CONTROL
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00:06:50,410 --> 00:06:53,413
{\an7}MUCH MORE THAN THE SIZE
\h\h\h\hOF A SILVER DOLLAR.
133
00:06:55,148 --> 00:06:57,083
{\an7}Narrator: THE CYCLIC
\hIS LIKE THE STICK
134
00:06:57,117 --> 00:06:59,086
{\an7}IN A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT.
135
00:06:59,119 --> 00:07:00,921
{\an7}MOVING THE CYCLIC CHANGES THE
ANGLE
136
00:07:00,954 --> 00:07:02,989
{\an7}OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES
\h\h\h\h\h\hINDIVIDUALLY
137
00:07:03,023 --> 00:07:05,192
{\an7}TO MAKE THE HELICOPTER
\hROLL TO THE SIDE...
138
00:07:05,225 --> 00:07:07,561
{\an7}OR POINT UP AND DOWN.
139
00:07:11,031 --> 00:07:13,734
{\an7}THE LEFT HAND CONTROLS
THE COLLECTIVE LEVER.
140
00:07:13,767 --> 00:07:16,570
{\an7}THIS MOVES THE HELICOPTER
\hVERTICALLY, UP OR DOWN,
141
00:07:16,603 --> 00:07:21,541
{\an7}\h\h\hBY ALTERING THE PITCH
OF THE BLADES COLLECTIVELY.
142
00:07:21,574 --> 00:07:24,277
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE FOOT PEDALS CHANGE
THE PITCH OF THE TAIL ROTOR,
143
00:07:24,311 --> 00:07:26,680
{\an7}\h\h\hALTERING THE DIRECTION
THE HELICOPTER IS POINTING--
144
00:07:26,713 --> 00:07:30,150
{\an7}A BIT LIKE A RUDDER.
145
00:07:30,183 --> 00:07:33,586
{\an7}\h\hTom: THERE WERE SOME PILOTS
THAT HAD A POOR CONTROL TOUCH
146
00:07:33,620 --> 00:07:36,123
{\an7}THAT MOVED THAT CYCLIC
\h\h\h\hAROUND A LOT,
147
00:07:36,156 --> 00:07:37,658
{\an7}AND WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN YOU DID THAT
148
00:07:37,691 --> 00:07:39,793
{\an7}WAS YOU WOULD DUMP LIFT
OUT OF THE ROTOR SYSTEM,
149
00:07:39,826 --> 00:07:41,361
{\an7}OUT OF THE ROTOR DISC,
150
00:07:41,394 --> 00:07:43,997
{\an7}SO THE BETTER YOUR CONTROL TOUCH
151
00:07:44,030 --> 00:07:48,535
{\an7}THE BETTER PERFORMANCE YOU COULD
GET OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT.
152
00:07:48,568 --> 00:07:50,136
{\an7}\h\hLarry: THEY GAVE ME
A CIVILIAN INSTRUCTOR
153
00:07:50,170 --> 00:07:52,072
{\an7}WHO FLEW AROUND WITH ME.
154
00:07:52,105 --> 00:07:53,473
{\an7}NOW IN THE AIR I WAS FINE,
155
00:07:53,506 --> 00:07:55,575
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hI JUST--WHEN I GOT
WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE GROUND
156
00:07:55,608 --> 00:07:59,412
{\an7}I COULDN’T CONTROL
\hTHE HELICOPTER.
157
00:07:59,446 --> 00:08:02,182
{\an7}SO HE GOT OUT AND SAID,
"YOU’RE NOT GONNA SOLO."
158
00:08:02,215 --> 00:08:03,750
{\an7}I SAID, "YOU HAVE TO
\h\h\hLET ME SOLO."
159
00:08:03,783 --> 00:08:05,084
{\an7}HE SAID, "YOU’RE NOT
\h\h\h\hGONNA SOLO."
160
00:08:05,118 --> 00:08:08,822
{\an7}\h\h\h\hI SAID, "YOU HAVE TO
LET ME SOLO, I’LL MAKE IT."
161
00:08:08,855 --> 00:08:09,823
{\an7}HE SAID, "NO, YOU’LL DIE."
162
00:08:09,856 --> 00:08:11,324
{\an7}I SAID, "I’LL MAKE IT."
163
00:08:11,358 --> 00:08:13,527
{\an7}SO HE SAID, "FINE, GO AHEAD,"
AND HE WALKED AWAY.
164
00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,562
{\an7}AND I PUT MY HELMET ON
165
00:08:15,595 --> 00:08:17,363
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I WENT TO PICK
THE HELICOPTER UP TO A HOVER,
166
00:08:17,397 --> 00:08:19,532
{\an7}EXCEPT I HAD WRAPPED THE CORD
AROUND MY NECK,
167
00:08:19,566 --> 00:08:21,668
{\an7}SO MY HEAD WENT BACK LIKE THIS,
168
00:08:21,701 --> 00:08:23,770
{\an7}SO I HAD TO LAY THE HELICOPTER
BACK DOWN AGAIN.
169
00:08:23,803 --> 00:08:24,904
{\an7}I STRAIGHTENED IT OUT,
170
00:08:24,938 --> 00:08:27,040
{\an7}THE TOWER SAID, "ARE YOU OK?
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE YOU OK?"
171
00:08:27,073 --> 00:08:29,075
{\an7}AND I JUST TURNED OFF
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE RADIO.
172
00:08:29,109 --> 00:08:31,678
{\an7}I JUST TOOK A DEEP BREATH,
\h\h\h\h\hI PICKED IT UP,
173
00:08:31,711 --> 00:08:36,216
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND THE HELICOPTER
WAS LIKE THIS, LIKE THIS,
174
00:08:36,249 --> 00:08:38,518
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT I GOT IT OFF,
THE FIRST TIME I CAME AROUND--
175
00:08:38,551 --> 00:08:40,019
{\an7}YOU HAVE TO DO IT THREE TIMES--
176
00:08:40,053 --> 00:08:42,889
{\an7}I ACTUALLY MADE IT AND I WAS
\h\h\hFEELING KIND OF GOOD.
177
00:08:42,922 --> 00:08:47,427
{\an7}THE SECOND TIME I CAME AROUND,
IT GOT REALLY BAD.
178
00:08:47,460 --> 00:08:51,164
{\an7}\h\hTHE THIRD TIME I CAME AROUND
I WAS HEDGE HOPPING LIKE THIS.
179
00:08:51,197 --> 00:08:54,434
{\an7}\h\h\hIT GOT THE LAST HEDGE
AND PUT THE HELICOPTER DOWN
180
00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:57,370
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND LIKE SHUT IT DOWN
AND RAN OUT OF THE HELICOPTER.
181
00:08:57,404 --> 00:09:00,874
{\an7}I DIDN’T EVEN TAKE IT
\h\h\hOFF THE RUNWAY.
182
00:09:00,907 --> 00:09:03,009
{\an7}SO I HAD SOLOED.
183
00:09:03,043 --> 00:09:06,413
{\an7}[STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPLAYING]
184
00:09:06,446 --> 00:09:09,149
{\an7}OUT OF 84, I THINK
\h\hI WAS RANKED 82,
185
00:09:09,182 --> 00:09:14,020
{\an7}SO I WAS REALLY BAD
ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
186
00:09:14,054 --> 00:09:16,523
{\an7}I WAS A BAD PILOT.
187
00:09:16,556 --> 00:09:18,224
{\an7}Narrator: AFTER EIGHT MONTHS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF TRAINING,
188
00:09:18,258 --> 00:09:19,893
{\an7}THE PILOTS GRADUATE TO FLYING
189
00:09:19,926 --> 00:09:22,595
{\an7}THE ARMY’S PRINCIPAL HELICOPTER
IN VIETNAM,
190
00:09:22,629 --> 00:09:25,499
{\an7}THE BELL UH-1, NICKNAMED "HUEY."
191
00:09:25,532 --> 00:09:27,000
{\an7}THE DISTINCTIVE ROTOR BLADES
192
00:09:27,033 --> 00:09:30,603
{\an7}WERE RENOWNED FOR THEIR STRENGTH
AND RELIABILITY IN COMBAT.
193
00:09:30,637 --> 00:09:34,107
{\an7}\h\h\h\hIT’S THE ARMY’S FIRST
JET TURBINE-ENGINED HELICOPTER,
194
00:09:34,140 --> 00:09:37,443
{\an7}FOR A NEW TYPE OF WARFARE.
195
00:09:37,477 --> 00:09:39,079
{\an7}Tom: WHEN WE GOT TO THE HUEY
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FIRST TIME,
196
00:09:39,112 --> 00:09:40,981
{\an7}WE WERE ALL IN AWE.
197
00:09:41,014 --> 00:09:42,916
{\an7}WE ALWAYS HAD THAT PICTURE
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN FRONT OF US
198
00:09:42,949 --> 00:09:45,919
{\an7}DURING OUR PRIMARY TRAINING
\h\h\h\h\h\hAT FORT WOLTERS.
199
00:09:45,952 --> 00:09:48,288
{\an7}BOY, THAT’S WHAT WE
\hREALLY WANT TO DO.
200
00:09:48,321 --> 00:09:50,223
{\an7}WE WANT TO FLY THE HUEY.
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT IS IT.
201
00:09:50,256 --> 00:09:51,991
{\an7}THAT WAS STATE OF THE ART.
202
00:09:52,025 --> 00:09:56,730
{\an7}THAT WAS THE AIRCRAFT
\h\hYOU WANTED TO FLY.
203
00:09:56,763 --> 00:09:58,732
{\an7}Jack: HERE’S THE TACTICAL
\h\h\h\hINSTRUMENT TICKET.
204
00:09:58,765 --> 00:10:00,834
{\an7}Tom: I HAD ONE JUST LIKE THAT.
205
00:10:00,867 --> 00:10:02,936
{\an7}A LICENSE TO KILL...
\h\h\h\h\hYOURSELF.
206
00:10:02,969 --> 00:10:04,204
{\an7}Larry: THAT’S RIGHT.
207
00:10:04,237 --> 00:10:05,972
{\an7}DO YOU KNOW WHAT MINE SAID
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE BACK?
208
00:10:06,005 --> 00:10:08,241
{\an7}MY INSTRUCTOR PILOT SAID,
209
00:10:08,274 --> 00:10:10,943
{\an7}"REMEMBER, YOU ARE
\hTHE WORST PILOT
210
00:10:10,977 --> 00:10:12,645
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWE EVER PUT
THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
211
00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,482
{\an7}\h\h\hYOU WILL SURELY
KILL YOURSELF FLYING.
212
00:10:15,515 --> 00:10:17,851
{\an7}\h\hPLEASE DON’T WORRY
ABOUT GETTING SHOT."
213
00:10:17,884 --> 00:10:20,320
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS ON THE BACK,
THAT’S WHAT WAS HANDED TO ME.
214
00:10:20,353 --> 00:10:22,522
{\an7}\h\h\h\hJack: THAT REALLY
ENCOURAGED YOU, DIDN’T IT?
215
00:10:22,555 --> 00:10:26,325
{\an7}Larry: BUT HE WAS RIGHT, HE WAS
TELLING ME DON’T GET ARROGANT.
216
00:10:26,359 --> 00:10:29,462
{\an7}\hNarrator: WITHIN TWO WEEKS
OF FINISHING FLYING SCHOOL,
217
00:10:29,496 --> 00:10:30,964
{\an7}THEY’RE OFF TO FLY HUEYS
218
00:10:30,997 --> 00:10:34,000
{\an7}IN COMBAT ASSAULT MISSIONS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN VIETNAM.
219
00:10:34,033 --> 00:10:37,637
{\an7}THE ROOKIE PILOTS WOULD BE LUCKY
TO SURVIVE SIX MONTHS.
220
00:10:37,670 --> 00:10:41,474
{\an7}\h\hTom: IT WAS PRETTY QUICK FROM
FLIGHT SCHOOL TO FRIGHT SCHOOL.
221
00:10:45,378 --> 00:10:46,980
{\an7}Narrator: FRESH OUT
\h\hOF FLIGHT SCHOOL,
222
00:10:47,013 --> 00:10:49,015
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE NEW PILOTS
ARRIVING IN VIETNAM
223
00:10:49,048 --> 00:10:52,952
{\an7}COME TO A DIVIDED COUNTRY.
224
00:10:52,986 --> 00:10:56,523
{\an7}THEIR ROLE IS TO FLY HUEYS FROM
THEIR BASES IN SOUTH VIETNAM
225
00:10:56,556 --> 00:11:00,960
{\an7}\h\h\hIN THE WAR AGAINST
COMMUNIST NORTH VIETNAM.
226
00:11:00,994 --> 00:11:03,163
{\an7}\h\hTHE COMBAT ASSAULT
HELICOPTER COMPANIES
227
00:11:03,196 --> 00:11:05,665
{\an7}\hUSE THESE POWERFUL
AND ROBUST MACHINES
228
00:11:05,698 --> 00:11:08,167
{\an7}TO INSERT TROOPS ON THE GROUND.
229
00:11:16,409 --> 00:11:18,544
{\an7}Jack: IF YOU WERE GOING
\h\h\h\hTO BE IN A WAR,
230
00:11:18,578 --> 00:11:21,714
{\an7}\h\h\hFLYING TURNED OUT TO BE
A MUCH BETTER WAY TO FIGHT IT
231
00:11:21,748 --> 00:11:25,752
{\an7}\h\h\hTHAN BEING ON THE GROUND
WITH THE MUD AND THE LEECHES.
232
00:11:30,523 --> 00:11:34,460
{\an7}\h\hWE LIVED IN A VILLA
IN DOWNTOWN BIEN HOA.
233
00:11:34,494 --> 00:11:36,896
{\an7}SO I COMMUTED TO THE WAR
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEACH DAY.
234
00:11:41,768 --> 00:11:44,571
{\an7}Jack: TO THIS RIGHT?
235
00:11:44,604 --> 00:11:47,273
{\an7}THIS WAS NOT EVEN A ROAD.
236
00:11:47,307 --> 00:11:48,675
{\an7}Narrator: 40 YEARS LATER,
237
00:11:48,708 --> 00:11:51,277
{\an7}TOM, LARRY AND JACK
RETURN TO BIEN HOA,
238
00:11:51,311 --> 00:11:52,913
{\an7}THE SMALL TOWN WHERE
THEY WERE STATIONED,
239
00:11:52,946 --> 00:11:55,348
{\an7}JUST OUTSIDE SAIGON.
240
00:11:55,381 --> 00:11:56,449
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTom: THAT’S
THE SECOND FIELD FORCE
241
00:11:56,482 --> 00:11:58,150
{\an7}HEADQUARTERS BUILDING
\h\h\h\h\hRIGHT THERE.
242
00:11:58,184 --> 00:11:59,852
{\an7}OK.
243
00:11:59,886 --> 00:12:01,855
{\an7}THAT’S WHERE I LIVED
\h\h\h\hMY SECOND...
244
00:12:01,888 --> 00:12:05,191
{\an7}REMEMBER WHEN I TOOK A PICTURE
OFF OF THE BALCONY,
245
00:12:05,225 --> 00:12:07,394
{\an7}\h\h\hI WAS SHOOTING DOWN
ON THAT ROAD RIGHT THERE.
246
00:12:07,427 --> 00:12:08,862
{\an7}OK?
247
00:12:18,004 --> 00:12:20,440
{\an7}Jack: WOW, THINGS CHANGE
IN 40 YEARS, DON’T THEY?
248
00:12:25,011 --> 00:12:29,249
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
ONE IN EVERY 18 HELICOPTER
PILOTS NEVER MADE IT HOME.
249
00:12:29,282 --> 00:12:32,318
{\an7}BUT AS THE SURVIVORS CLOCKED UP
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF FLYING
250
00:12:32,352 --> 00:12:34,221
{\an7}IN LESS THAN A YEAR,
251
00:12:34,254 --> 00:12:37,758
{\an7}IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR THEM
\h\hTO BECOME BATTLE-HARDENED.
252
00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,564
{\an7}IN NINE MONTHS LARRY LISS WENT
\h\hFROM BEING A HOPELESS ROOKIE
253
00:12:44,597 --> 00:12:46,199
{\an7}TO A MAVERICK ACE
254
00:12:46,232 --> 00:12:49,569
{\an7}WHO WAS PREPARED TO PUT HIS NECK
ON THE LINE TO SAVE OTHERS.
255
00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:52,772
{\an7}ONE DAY HE WAS FLYING
\h\hAN UNARMED VIP HUEY
256
00:12:52,805 --> 00:12:55,741
{\an7}WHEN HE SAW ANOTHER HELICOPTER
CRASH LAND.
257
00:12:55,775 --> 00:12:59,279
{\an7}DESPITE HIS OWN HELICOPTER BEING
TOTALLY UNEQUIPPED FOR COMBAT,
258
00:12:59,312 --> 00:13:01,381
{\an7}LARRY’S INSTINCT WAS TO FLY IN
259
00:13:01,414 --> 00:13:05,418
{\an7}AND SAVE THE CREW FROM CAPTURE
BY THE VIET CONG.
260
00:13:05,451 --> 00:13:07,954
{\an7}Larry: WE GOT IN REALLY QUICK,
EVERYBODY JUMPED IN,
261
00:13:07,987 --> 00:13:09,522
{\an7}WE BEAT IT OUT OF THERE
262
00:13:09,555 --> 00:13:13,426
{\an7}\h\h\hAND EVERYBODY’S YELLING
AND SCREAMING FOR JOY, YOU KNOW,
263
00:13:13,459 --> 00:13:15,661
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND WE LANDED THEM
AND I SHUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN.
264
00:13:15,695 --> 00:13:18,398
{\an7}WE DIDN’T TAKE ANY HITS
\hOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
265
00:13:18,431 --> 00:13:21,067
{\an7}\h\h\hA COUPLE OF HOURS LATER
I WAS IN FRONT OF MY COMMANDER
266
00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:22,835
{\an7}WHO BASICALLY CHEWED ME OUT
267
00:13:22,869 --> 00:13:27,073
{\an7}FOR GOING AND PULLING
\h\h\h\hTHESE PEOPLE OUT.
268
00:13:27,106 --> 00:13:29,775
{\an7}I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND
\hWHY HE WAS SO UPSET.
269
00:13:29,809 --> 00:13:32,845
{\an7}\h\hAND HE WAS UPSET BECAUSE
I DISOBEYED A DIRECT ORDER
270
00:13:32,879 --> 00:13:34,581
{\an7}AND WRITTEN ORDERS,
271
00:13:34,614 --> 00:13:37,517
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I SAID, "OK,
BUT WE SAVED THESE PEOPLE."
272
00:13:37,550 --> 00:13:40,053
{\an7}AND HE COULDN’T HEAR IT,
\h\hHE COULDN’T HEAR IT,
273
00:13:40,086 --> 00:13:41,554
{\an7}\hSO BASICALLY HE SAID,
"IF YOU EVER DO IT AGAIN
274
00:13:41,587 --> 00:13:44,356
{\an7}I’LL GET YOU THROWN OUT
\h\h\h\h\hOF THE ARMY."
275
00:13:44,390 --> 00:13:46,959
{\an7}Narrator: ONLY A WEEK LATER,
\h\h\h\h\hIT’S EASTER SUNDAY
276
00:13:46,993 --> 00:13:48,995
{\an7}AND LARRY LISS’S FUTURE
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE ARMY
277
00:13:49,028 --> 00:13:52,331
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ABOUT TO BE
IN EVEN GREATER JEOPARDY.
278
00:13:52,365 --> 00:13:55,568
{\an7}HIS FLYING BUDDY, TOM BACA,
\h\h\hHAS JUST 12 DAYS TO GO
279
00:13:55,601 --> 00:13:58,871
{\an7}BEFORE HIS TOUR OF DUTY IS OVER.
280
00:13:58,905 --> 00:14:01,674
{\an7}SO HE’S GIVEN WHAT SEEMS
LIKE AN EASY ASSIGNMENT:
281
00:14:01,708 --> 00:14:04,311
{\an7}TO TRANSPORT A CHAPLAIN
\h\h\h\hTO EASTER SERVICES.
282
00:14:04,344 --> 00:14:05,979
{\an7}Tom: THEY WERE TAKING IT
\h\h\hKIND OF EASY ON ME
283
00:14:06,012 --> 00:14:08,081
{\an7}AND NOT FLYING ME TOO HARD.
284
00:14:08,114 --> 00:14:10,350
{\an7}SO, EASTER SUNDAY THEY SAID,
\h\h\h\h\h\hWELL, YOU GO OUT
285
00:14:10,383 --> 00:14:12,886
{\an7}AND FLY THE STAFF CHAPLAIN
\h\h\h\hWITH CAPTAIN LISS,
286
00:14:12,919 --> 00:14:15,321
{\an7}AND SO WE DID.
287
00:14:18,658 --> 00:14:21,027
{\an7}Larry: THERE WAS LIKE A CALL,
\h\hCOULD YOU FLY WITH TOM BACA
288
00:14:21,060 --> 00:14:22,562
{\an7}BECAUSE NOBODY’S AROUND TO FLY,
289
00:14:22,595 --> 00:14:24,130
{\an7}\h\h\hEVERYBODY’S LIKE
TAKING OFF ON SUNDAY,
290
00:14:24,163 --> 00:14:26,332
{\an7}AND I SAID SURE, I’LL GO.
291
00:14:26,366 --> 00:14:28,134
{\an7}SUNDAY’S FINE, YOU KNOW.
292
00:14:28,167 --> 00:14:30,703
{\an7}MILK RUN. THEY CALL THEM
\h\h\hMILK RUNS, RIGHT?
293
00:14:43,683 --> 00:14:46,886
{\an7}\h\hTom: I HAD A VIP AIRCRAFT,
I THINK IT WAS A BASIC HUEY,
294
00:14:46,919 --> 00:14:49,555
{\an7}AND I HAD A COUPLE
\h\hOF INDIVIDUALS
295
00:14:49,589 --> 00:14:51,391
{\an7}THAT WANTED TO FLY WITH US
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT DAY
296
00:14:51,424 --> 00:14:53,192
{\an7}IN ADDITION TO THE CHAPLAIN
297
00:14:53,226 --> 00:14:56,329
{\an7}JUST TO SEE THE COUNTRY.
298
00:14:56,362 --> 00:14:58,331
{\an7}THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE
GETTING INTO THAT DAY,
299
00:14:58,364 --> 00:15:00,833
{\an7}AND OF COURSE WE DIDN’T EITHER.
300
00:15:06,372 --> 00:15:08,808
{\an7}AS LARRY AND TOM WAIT
\h\h\h\hFOR THE CHAPLAIN,
301
00:15:08,841 --> 00:15:11,077
{\an7}\h\h\hTHEY HEAR ABOUT A GROUP
OF SOLDIERS OUT IN THE JUNGLE
302
00:15:11,110 --> 00:15:13,012
{\an7}WHO NEED RESCUING.
303
00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:20,153
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hA COMPANY OF SOME
100 SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS
304
00:15:20,186 --> 00:15:22,055
{\an7}LED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES
305
00:15:22,088 --> 00:15:24,958
{\an7}HAS BEEN RAIDING THE COMMUNIST
SUPPLY LINES FROM THE NORTH
306
00:15:24,991 --> 00:15:27,861
{\an7}ALONG THE INFAMOUS
HO CHI MINH TRAIL.
307
00:15:31,130 --> 00:15:33,966
{\an7}THEIR MISSION HAS GONE
\h\h\h\h\hBADLY WRONG.
308
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,269
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAMBUSHED BY
THE NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY,
309
00:15:36,302 --> 00:15:38,304
{\an7}THEY’RE HOPELESSLY OUTNUMBERED
AND RADIO FOR HELP.
310
00:15:38,337 --> 00:15:41,740
{\an7}[GUNFIRE]
311
00:15:47,313 --> 00:15:49,282
{\an7}ANOTHER HUEY RACED
\h\hTO THE RESCUE.
312
00:15:49,315 --> 00:15:52,952
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON BOARD,
SPECIAL FORCES MEDIC JIM DOPP.
313
00:15:52,985 --> 00:15:54,386
{\an7}FLYING OVER THE SCENE,
314
00:15:54,420 --> 00:15:59,125
{\an7}HE WAS HORRIFIED BY WHAT HE SAW
OUT THE HUEY DOOR.
315
00:15:59,158 --> 00:16:01,560
{\an7}Jim: IT WAS REALLY,
REALLY DENSE COVER,
316
00:16:01,594 --> 00:16:04,363
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND THERE WERE
SOME TALL TREES THERE.
317
00:16:04,397 --> 00:16:06,532
{\an7}I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY WERE GOING
TO TRY TO SET THAT THING DOWN,
318
00:16:06,566 --> 00:16:10,003
{\an7}\h\hBUT IN THE MEANTIME THEY WERE
GOING TO DROP ME DOWN ON A ROPE.
319
00:16:10,036 --> 00:16:13,006
{\an7}Narrator: JUST AS JIM WAS ABOUT
TO LAUNCH HIMSELF OUT THE DOOR,
320
00:16:13,039 --> 00:16:16,943
{\an7}\h\hTHE TAIL ROTOR
CLIPPED A BRANCH.
321
00:16:16,976 --> 00:16:18,444
{\an7}Jim: WHEN HE HIT THE TREE,
322
00:16:18,478 --> 00:16:21,448
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE HELICOPTER
REALLY STARTED TO BUCK.
323
00:16:21,481 --> 00:16:24,317
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND I THOUGHT
WE WERE JUST CRASHING.
324
00:16:24,350 --> 00:16:25,651
{\an7}YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE GROUND
325
00:16:25,685 --> 00:16:27,453
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHICH WAY YOU’RE GOING TO RUN
326
00:16:27,487 --> 00:16:30,056
{\an7}WHEN YOU HIT THE GROUND.
327
00:16:30,089 --> 00:16:32,725
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU TRY TO WATCH
IF YOU CAN SEE ANY OF THE FIRE,
328
00:16:32,758 --> 00:16:34,059
{\an7}\h\h\hIF YOU CAN SEE
ANY OF THE FLASHES.
329
00:16:34,093 --> 00:16:36,062
{\an7}YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN
330
00:16:36,095 --> 00:16:39,065
{\an7}SO THAT YOU’RE NOT
RUNNING TOWARD IT.
331
00:16:39,098 --> 00:16:41,701
{\an7}\hTHE GUY FLYING IT
MOVED US UP AND AWAY
332
00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:45,972
{\an7}AND SET DOWN ON A HIGHWAY MAYBE
A KILOMETER FROM WHERE WE WERE.
333
00:16:46,005 --> 00:16:47,940
{\an7}HE PUT THE HELICOPTER DOWN THERE
334
00:16:47,974 --> 00:16:52,111
{\an7}\h\hBECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS
GOING TO CRASH OTHERWISE.
335
00:16:52,144 --> 00:16:55,314
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
\h\h\hAFTER A QUICK INSPECTION
OF THE BADLY DAMAGED TAIL ROTOR,
336
00:16:55,348 --> 00:16:58,885
{\an7}THE PILOT RISKS FLYING
THE HUEY BACK TO CAMP.
337
00:16:58,918 --> 00:17:01,954
{\an7}DESPITE HIS NARROW ESCAPE,
\h\hJIM DOPP IS DETERMINED
338
00:17:01,988 --> 00:17:06,459
{\an7}\h\h\hTO GO BACK TO SAVE
THE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND.
339
00:17:06,492 --> 00:17:09,862
{\an7}HE APPROACHES THE ONLY OTHER
HELICOPTER AT CAU SONG BE--
340
00:17:09,896 --> 00:17:13,733
{\an7}\hTOM AND LARRY’S
UNARMED VIP HUEY.
341
00:17:13,766 --> 00:17:15,568
{\an7}Larry: THE FIRST THOUGHT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS LIKE,
342
00:17:15,601 --> 00:17:18,337
{\an7}\hOH, GOODY, LIKE,
COME ON LET’S GO.
343
00:17:18,371 --> 00:17:21,507
{\an7}THE SECOND THOUGHT
\h\hWAS THIS IS BAD,
344
00:17:21,541 --> 00:17:24,677
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE THIS IS NOT
MY HELICOPTER, THERE’S NO GUNS.
345
00:17:24,710 --> 00:17:28,380
{\an7}I DON’T REMEMBER EVER FLYING
IN AN AIRCRAFT WITHOUT GUNS,
346
00:17:28,414 --> 00:17:34,420
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSO THIS WAS...
YOU FEEL NUDE SOMEHOW,
347
00:17:34,453 --> 00:17:35,688
{\an7}BUT I DIDN’T GIVE IT
\hA SECOND THOUGHT.
348
00:17:35,721 --> 00:17:39,291
{\an7}I SHOULD HAVE, BUT I DIDN’T.
349
00:17:39,325 --> 00:17:40,960
{\an7}Tom: WE WERE THE ONLY
\h\h\h\hHELICOPTER THERE,
350
00:17:40,993 --> 00:17:42,394
{\an7}AND THEY NEEDED OUR HELP
351
00:17:42,428 --> 00:17:45,965
{\an7}AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
\h\hNOT GONNA SAY NO,
352
00:17:45,998 --> 00:17:47,700
{\an7}I MEAN, WE WEREN’T GONNA SAY NO.
353
00:17:47,733 --> 00:17:50,469
{\an7}[HELICOPTER ENGINE STARTING]
354
00:17:52,672 --> 00:17:54,908
{\an7}Narrator: AGAIN LARRY LISS
\h\h\h\h\h\hFINDS HIMSELF
355
00:17:54,941 --> 00:17:58,678
{\an7}IN AN UNARMED VIP HELICOPTER
\h\h\hNOT MEANT FOR COMBAT,
356
00:17:58,711 --> 00:18:02,181
{\an7}\h\h\h\hHEADING TO A LANDING ZONE
IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIREFIGHT.
357
00:18:02,214 --> 00:18:04,717
{\an7}MORE THAN 30 SOLDIERS
\h\hHAVE ALREADY DIED,
358
00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:08,320
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND A HUNDRED MORE
ARE IN DESPERATE STRAITS.
359
00:18:34,747 --> 00:18:36,716
{\an7}Larry: MY REMEMBRANCE
\h\h\h\hOF THIS THING
360
00:18:36,749 --> 00:18:39,085
{\an7}WAS WE KNEW EXACTLY
\hWHERE WE HAD TO GO
361
00:18:39,118 --> 00:18:41,320
{\an7}AND WE FLEW AT ALTITUDE
\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR A LITTLE BIT,
362
00:18:41,354 --> 00:18:43,756
{\an7}THEN WE GOT RIGHT DOWN
\h\h\h\h\hON THE DECK
363
00:18:43,789 --> 00:18:47,126
{\an7}AND WE DIDN’T KNOW THAT WE
WERE GONNA RUN INTO BAMBOO
364
00:18:47,159 --> 00:18:48,494
{\an7}WHEN WE DID.
365
00:18:58,170 --> 00:19:00,139
{\an7}Narrator: AS THEY APPROACH
\h\h\h\hTHE LANDING ZONE,
366
00:19:00,172 --> 00:19:03,175
{\an7}\h\h\hTHEY FLY LOW, KEEPING
THE FUSELAGE ALONG THE TRAIL
367
00:19:03,209 --> 00:19:07,613
{\an7}\h\hAND THE ROTORS JUST ABOVE
THE TALL TREES ON EITHER SIDE.
368
00:19:07,647 --> 00:19:10,016
{\an7}Jim: GENERALLY THEY’LL COME DOWN
2, 3, 4 FEET OFF THE GROUND
369
00:19:10,049 --> 00:19:12,285
{\an7}AND YOU JUST JUMP THE HELL OUT.
370
00:19:12,318 --> 00:19:16,589
{\an7}THAT’S THE NORMAL WAY TO INSERT.
371
00:19:16,622 --> 00:19:20,025
{\an7}IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE
\h\h\h\hTHERE WAS NO LZ,
372
00:19:20,059 --> 00:19:24,463
{\an7}\h\hTHERE WAS JUST THIS
REALLY HEAVY VEGETATION.
373
00:19:24,497 --> 00:19:26,566
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTom: WE LOOKED DOWN
AND WE COULDN’T SEE THE TROOPS
374
00:19:26,599 --> 00:19:29,302
{\an7}BECAUSE OF THE BAMBOO
AND THE THICK VEGETATION,
375
00:19:29,335 --> 00:19:32,038
{\an7}AND THEY SAID, OH, YOU’RE
\hRIGHT OVER US RIGHT NOW,
376
00:19:32,071 --> 00:19:33,839
{\an7}CAN YOU LAND?
377
00:19:33,873 --> 00:19:35,508
{\an7}LARRY AND I ARE LOOKING
\h\h\h\h\h\hAT ALL THIS STUFF
378
00:19:35,541 --> 00:19:38,210
{\an7}AND SAID, WELL, WE CAN TRY.
379
00:19:42,314 --> 00:19:44,283
{\an7}Narrator: THE SITUATION
\h\h\h\h\hIS DESPERATE.
380
00:19:44,316 --> 00:19:47,119
{\an7}BUT GLIMPSING A VERY NARROW
\h\h\hOPENING IN THE BAMBOO,
381
00:19:47,153 --> 00:19:50,123
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTOM AND LARRY DECIDE
THE ONLY WAY OF GETTING DOWN
382
00:19:50,156 --> 00:19:53,092
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIS TO CREATE
THEIR OWN LANDING ZONE.
383
00:19:53,125 --> 00:19:55,027
{\an7}THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO USE
THE ROTOR BLADES
384
00:19:55,061 --> 00:19:57,564
{\an7}TO CUT THROUGH 40 FEET
\h\h\h\h\h\hOF BAMBOO.
385
00:19:57,596 --> 00:20:00,632
{\an7}IT’S AN ACTION THAT COULD EASILY
LEAD TO DISASTER.
386
00:20:00,666 --> 00:20:03,002
{\an7}EVEN IN THE FAMOUSLY
\h\h\h\hROBUST HUEY.
387
00:20:05,204 --> 00:20:07,239
{\an7}Larry: I HAD A SENSE THAT
\hWE COULD CUT THE BAMBOO.
388
00:20:07,273 --> 00:20:09,675
{\an7}I DIDN’T KNOW HOW LONG
THE BLADES WOULD LAST,
389
00:20:09,709 --> 00:20:11,644
{\an7}BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO DO IT.
390
00:20:11,677 --> 00:20:16,715
{\an7}THE ONLY OTHER WAY WAS TO LEAVE,
AND YOU HAD TO TAKE THE SHOT.
391
00:20:18,617 --> 00:20:22,454
{\an7}Narrator: TOM TAKES THE CONTROLS
AND DESCENDS INTO THE BATTLE.
392
00:20:24,990 --> 00:20:28,227
{\an7}THE BLADES START TO SLICE
\h\h\hTHROUGH THE CANOPY.
393
00:20:28,260 --> 00:20:30,062
{\an7}Tom: WE STARTED DOWN
THROUGH THE BAMBOO,
394
00:20:30,096 --> 00:20:31,631
{\an7}AND IT WASN’T REAL THICK,
395
00:20:31,664 --> 00:20:34,200
{\an7}BUT, I MEAN, IT WAS
DAMAGING THE BLADES,
396
00:20:34,233 --> 00:20:37,536
{\an7}AND IT WAS PRETTY NOISY
GOING DOWN THROUGH THAT.
397
00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:40,807
{\an7}WE WERE A LAWNMOWER, BASICALLY,
IS WHAT WE WERE DOING.
398
00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,842
{\an7}Narrator: THE HUEY’S
\h\h\h\hROTOR BLADES
399
00:20:42,875 --> 00:20:45,511
{\an7}HAVE A STRONG LEADING EDGE
\h\h\hOF STAINLESS STEEL.
400
00:20:45,544 --> 00:20:47,379
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE REST IS
AN ALUMINUM HONEYCOMB
401
00:20:47,413 --> 00:20:50,516
{\an7}WRAPPED IN A LAYER
\h\hOF THIN STEEL.
402
00:20:50,549 --> 00:20:53,285
{\an7}THIS BAMBOO IS TOUGH.
403
00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:55,822
{\an7}JUST ONE CHUNK RIPPED
OUT OF A BLADE’S EDGE
404
00:20:55,855 --> 00:20:58,324
{\an7}\h\h\h\hCOULD UNBALANCE
THE WHOLE ROTOR SYSTEM.
405
00:20:58,357 --> 00:21:00,359
{\an7}DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE
\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE BLADE
406
00:21:00,392 --> 00:21:02,361
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD RUIN
THE AERODYNAMIC SURFACE
407
00:21:02,394 --> 00:21:07,399
{\an7}\h\h\hAND CAUSE THE HUEY
TO FALL OUT OF THE SKY.
408
00:21:07,433 --> 00:21:09,969
{\an7}Tom: I DID SOME TEMPORARY DUTY
\h\hAT THE BELL HELICOPTER PLANT
409
00:21:10,002 --> 00:21:12,671
{\an7}AS A PRODUCTION TEST PILOT,
410
00:21:12,705 --> 00:21:15,942
{\an7}AND I USED TO LOVE TO WALK
\h\hTHROUGH THE FACTORIES.
411
00:21:15,975 --> 00:21:17,477
{\an7}[TAPPING]
412
00:21:17,510 --> 00:21:21,080
{\an7}I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MOST
\h\h\h\hIMPORTANT EMPLOYEES
413
00:21:21,113 --> 00:21:22,481
{\an7}OF BELL HELICOPTER
414
00:21:22,515 --> 00:21:26,219
{\an7}WAS A LITTLE GUY THAT WENT ALONG
IN THE BLADE SHOP
415
00:21:26,252 --> 00:21:28,621
{\an7}AND TAPPED ON THE BLADES
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO MAKE SURE
416
00:21:28,654 --> 00:21:33,459
{\an7}\h\hTHAT THERE WERE NO VOIDS
IN THE HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE.
417
00:21:33,492 --> 00:21:36,996
{\an7}I KNEW THAT AS LONG
\hAS I DIDN’T DAMAGE
418
00:21:37,029 --> 00:21:38,697
{\an7}THE STAINLESS STEEL LEADING EDGE
419
00:21:38,731 --> 00:21:41,100
{\an7}I’D BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
420
00:21:41,133 --> 00:21:42,835
{\an7}Narrator: YET TOM’S MAIN CONCERN
421
00:21:42,868 --> 00:21:44,837
{\an7}IS HIS MACHINE’S
ACHILLES’ HEEL--
422
00:21:44,870 --> 00:21:47,840
{\an7}THE DELICATE TAIL ROTOR.
423
00:21:47,873 --> 00:21:49,842
{\an7}Tom: THERE WAS JUST NO ROOM.
424
00:21:49,875 --> 00:21:52,444
{\an7}\h\h\h\hYOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND
THIS TRAIL WE WERE LANDING ON
425
00:21:52,478 --> 00:21:54,113
{\an7}WAS JUST ABOUT WIDE ENOUGH
426
00:21:54,146 --> 00:21:57,416
{\an7}FOR THE FUSELAGE OF THAT HUEY
TO GO DOWN INTO.
427
00:21:57,449 --> 00:22:00,319
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hMY MARGIN OF ERROR
ON KNOCKING THAT TAIL ROTOR OFF
428
00:22:00,352 --> 00:22:05,357
{\an7}WAS MAYBE ABOUT A 20-DEGREE,
\h\h\h\h15 OR 20-DEGREE TURN
429
00:22:05,391 --> 00:22:07,159
{\an7}IN EITHER DIRECTION.
430
00:22:07,193 --> 00:22:09,128
{\an7}IT WAS THAT NARROW.
431
00:22:10,596 --> 00:22:12,832
{\an7}Narrator: THE HUEY’S TAIL ROTOR
IS ITS RUDDER--
432
00:22:12,865 --> 00:22:15,334
{\an7}VITAL TO MAINTAINING CONTROL.
433
00:22:16,969 --> 00:22:18,904
{\an7}Tom: HAD WE LOST
THAT TAIL ROTOR,
434
00:22:18,938 --> 00:22:21,741
{\an7}WE’D HAVE LOST THE AIRCRAFT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR SURE.
435
00:22:21,774 --> 00:22:24,010
{\an7}\hNarrator: BOTH PILOTS KEEP
THEIR HANDS ON THE CONTROLS
436
00:22:24,043 --> 00:22:27,813
{\an7}IN CASE ONE OF THEM IS SHOT.
437
00:22:27,847 --> 00:22:30,483
{\an7}\hLarry: THAT’S SOMETHING YOU
LEARN, BUT I NEVER REALLY DID.
438
00:22:30,516 --> 00:22:32,084
{\an7}I MEAN, EVERY MISSION
\h\h\h\h\hI EVER FLEW
439
00:22:32,117 --> 00:22:34,820
{\an7}OR EVERY COMBAT MISSION I EVER
FLEW, I KIND OF STAYED CLOSE,
440
00:22:34,854 --> 00:22:36,989
{\an7}\h\hBUT I DON’T REMEMBER
EVER STAYING THAT CLOSE,
441
00:22:37,022 --> 00:22:38,290
{\an7}’CAUSE THAT WAS REAL,
442
00:22:38,324 --> 00:22:40,426
{\an7}\h\h\hTHAT WAS LIKE REALLY,
THAT WAS A LITTLE TOO CLOSE,
443
00:22:40,459 --> 00:22:44,296
{\an7}AND EITHER ONE OF US COULD HAVE
GOTTEN IT, EITHER ONE OF US.
444
00:22:48,434 --> 00:22:52,004
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
\hAS SOON AS THEY TOUCH DOWN,
THE FIRST WOUNDED ARE LOADED.
445
00:22:52,037 --> 00:22:55,507
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTOM, LARRY AND JIM
FACE A SHOCKING SCENE.
446
00:22:55,541 --> 00:22:59,645
{\an7}[GUNFIRE]
447
00:22:59,678 --> 00:23:02,848
{\an7}\h\h\h\hJim: YOU SAW PEOPLE
TAKING ROUNDS ON THE GROUND.
448
00:23:02,882 --> 00:23:04,150
{\an7}\h\h\hTHERE WERE PEOPLE
THAT WERE TRYING TO MOVE
449
00:23:04,183 --> 00:23:05,918
{\an7}TOWARD THE HELICOPTER
450
00:23:05,951 --> 00:23:08,687
{\an7}THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT.
451
00:23:08,721 --> 00:23:14,227
{\an7}IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST INTENSE
COMBAT THAT I WAS EVER IN,
452
00:23:14,260 --> 00:23:18,164
{\an7}DIRECTLY EXPOSED
\hTO SMALL ARMS.
453
00:23:18,197 --> 00:23:19,865
{\an7}I WAS SCARED.
454
00:23:28,641 --> 00:23:34,147
{\an7}Tom: THAT’S VERY REPRESENTATIVE
OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
455
00:23:34,179 --> 00:23:38,183
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
FOUR DECADES LATER, THE CREWS
RETURN TO THE LANDING ZONE.
456
00:23:38,217 --> 00:23:41,987
{\an7}IT LOOKS AS CHALLENGING TODAY
AS IT DID THEN.
457
00:23:42,021 --> 00:23:46,058
{\an7}Larry: THIS IS WHAT IT WAS, BUT
THE WHOLE ROAD WAS LIKE THIS.
458
00:23:46,091 --> 00:23:52,297
{\an7}\hTom: THERE WAS A LOT OF BAMBOO
WITH A DIAMETER ABOUT LIKE THIS.
459
00:23:52,331 --> 00:23:55,000
{\an7}AND SOME OF IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
A LITTLE BIT THICKER.
460
00:23:55,034 --> 00:23:58,337
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hLarry: IT COULD HAVE BEEN,
THOUGH, LIKE THE EDGES UP THERE.
461
00:23:58,370 --> 00:23:59,771
{\an7}Tom: LIKE THE EDGES UP HERE.
462
00:23:59,805 --> 00:24:03,108
{\an7}Larry: IT WAS DEFINITELY LIKE
THAT, HANGING OVER THE ROAD.
463
00:24:03,142 --> 00:24:05,411
{\an7}Tom: YOU COULD HEAR, YOU COULD
HEAR THE ROTOR BLADES
464
00:24:05,444 --> 00:24:09,548
{\an7}\h\h\hCHOPPING THROUGH THAT,
IT WAS JUST LIKE A BUZZ SAW.
465
00:24:09,581 --> 00:24:10,816
{\an7}\h\h\hLarry: SOUNDED
LIKE A WEED WHACKER.
466
00:24:10,849 --> 00:24:13,819
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTom: YEAH, LIKE
A WEED WHACKER, EXACTLY.
467
00:24:13,852 --> 00:24:16,321
{\an7}Larry: IT WAS AMAZING ’CAUSE
\hTHE END OF THE PERIMETER,
468
00:24:16,355 --> 00:24:19,091
{\an7}THEY WERE LAYING HERE
\h\h\hAND LAYING HERE.
469
00:24:19,124 --> 00:24:22,828
{\an7}\h\h\hAND THE ENEMY FORCES
WERE NO MORE THAN 25 YARDS
470
00:24:22,861 --> 00:24:25,464
{\an7}AND YOU COULD SEE THEM
\h\h\h\h\hSHRINKING...
471
00:24:25,497 --> 00:24:27,032
{\an7}SHRINKING THE PERIMETER.
472
00:24:27,066 --> 00:24:29,602
{\an7}SO IT WAS LIKE ON BOTH SIDES,
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
473
00:24:34,239 --> 00:24:36,341
{\an7}Narrator: THEY PICK UP
\h\h\hSIX CASUALTIES.
474
00:24:36,375 --> 00:24:40,012
{\an7}OTHER WOUNDED ARE PINNED DOWN
BY THE NORTH VIETNAMESE.
475
00:24:43,415 --> 00:24:45,784
{\an7}AFTER THREE MINUTES
UNDER INTENSE FIRE,
476
00:24:45,818 --> 00:24:49,388
{\an7}\h\hTOM AND LARRY DECIDE
THEY HAVE TO LIFT OFF.
477
00:24:56,528 --> 00:24:58,163
{\an7}TOM PULLS THE HELICOPTER
\h\h\h\h\h\hSTRAIGHT UP
478
00:24:58,197 --> 00:25:00,533
{\an7}OVER 40 FEET OF VEGETATION.
479
00:25:00,566 --> 00:25:02,835
{\an7}\h\h\hHE NEEDS TO FOLLOW
THE TRACK HE CAME IN ON,
480
00:25:02,868 --> 00:25:04,737
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSO HE SPINS
THE HELICOPTER AROUND
481
00:25:04,770 --> 00:25:06,839
{\an7}AND HEADS BACK TO THE CAMP.
482
00:25:13,178 --> 00:25:16,214
{\an7}ON THE 15-MINUTE RIDE
\hBACK TO CAU SONG BE,
483
00:25:16,248 --> 00:25:19,418
{\an7}TOM AND LARRY RECEIVE ANOTHER
\h\h\h\hDESPERATE RADIO MESSAGE--
484
00:25:19,451 --> 00:25:22,054
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHOSE LEFT BEHIND
ARE COMPLETELY PINNED DOWN
485
00:25:22,087 --> 00:25:25,157
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBY AN EVER LARGER
NORTH VIETNAMESE FORCE.
486
00:25:25,190 --> 00:25:29,861
{\an7}\hTHE ENTIRE COMPANY OF OVER
100 MEN NOW NEEDS RESCUING.
487
00:25:29,895 --> 00:25:33,298
{\an7}\hTO SAVE THEM ALL, THE PILOTS
WILL HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL TRIPS
488
00:25:33,332 --> 00:25:37,269
{\an7}BACK TO AN INCREASINGLY HOT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLANDING ZONE.
489
00:25:37,302 --> 00:25:38,904
{\an7}Larry: SEE YOU DON’T HAVE
\hA CHANCE TO PLAY IT OUT
490
00:25:38,937 --> 00:25:44,042
{\an7}ON THE FIRST TIME AROUND, ’CAUSE
YOU DON’T KNOW HOW BAD IT IS.
491
00:25:44,076 --> 00:25:46,745
{\an7}\hTHE SECOND TIME AROUND
YOU KNOW HOW BAD IT IS,
492
00:25:46,779 --> 00:25:48,547
{\an7}AND THEN YOU KNOW
\hTHE POSSIBILITY
493
00:25:48,580 --> 00:25:53,051
{\an7}OF CONTINUOUS EXISTENCE
494
00:25:53,085 --> 00:25:56,188
{\an7}\h\h\h\hIS THE ODDS ARE
SHRINKING DRAMATICALLY.
495
00:25:56,221 --> 00:25:57,355
{\an7}IT DOESN’T TAKE A GENIUS
496
00:25:57,389 --> 00:26:00,859
{\an7}TO FIGURE OUT THE PERIMETER
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAS TO SHRINK,
497
00:26:00,893 --> 00:26:03,763
{\an7}AND ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE TO
BE LEFT WITH NO PERIMETER
498
00:26:03,796 --> 00:26:07,767
{\an7}AND ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE TO BE
LEFT WITH LITTLE OR NO ODDS.
499
00:26:09,435 --> 00:26:11,704
{\an7}Narrator: THE PILOTS FACE
\h\h\h\hA BLEAK DECISION--
500
00:26:11,737 --> 00:26:14,540
{\an7}\h\hTO RETURN SEEMS
VIRTUALLY SUICIDAL,
501
00:26:14,573 --> 00:26:17,743
{\an7}\hYET NOT TO RETURN MEANS
ABANDONING THEIR COMRADES
502
00:26:17,776 --> 00:26:20,445
{\an7}TO ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH.
503
00:26:23,482 --> 00:26:24,750
{\an7}Tom: THIS IS VANGUARD ONE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON GUARD.
504
00:26:24,783 --> 00:26:26,918
{\an7}IS THERE ANYONE UP
ON THIS FREQUENCY?
505
00:26:26,952 --> 00:26:29,621
{\an7}Narrator: TOM CALLS FOR BACKUP
\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE EMERGENCY CHANNEL
506
00:26:29,655 --> 00:26:32,791
{\an7}FOR ANY AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA
THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP.
507
00:26:32,825 --> 00:26:36,095
{\an7}SUDDENLY HE HEARS
A FAMILIAR VOICE.
508
00:26:36,128 --> 00:26:38,797
{\an7}Man: THIS IS THUNDERBIRD 5-ALPHA
TO VANGUARD ONE, I COPY.
509
00:26:38,831 --> 00:26:41,267
{\an7}Narrator: WARRANT OFFICER
\hGRADE ONE JACK SWICKARD
510
00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:44,303
{\an7}IS FROM TOM’S FORMER UNIT,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE 118th.
511
00:26:44,336 --> 00:26:48,407
{\an7}HE’S ALSO FROM TOM’S HOMETOWN,
ALBUQUERQUE.
512
00:26:51,143 --> 00:26:53,512
{\an7}Tom: I KNEW JACK WAS
\h\hA VERY GOOD PILOT,
513
00:26:53,545 --> 00:26:57,416
{\an7}SO I WAS VERY GLAD
THAT HE WAS THERE.
514
00:26:57,449 --> 00:27:01,086
{\an7}Narrator: JACK TOUCHES DOWN ON
THE DIRT STRIP AT CAU SONG BE.
515
00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:02,521
{\an7}TOM QUICKLY FILLS HIM IN
516
00:27:02,554 --> 00:27:06,491
{\an7}ON THE DIRE SITUATION
\hAT THE LANDING ZONE.
517
00:27:06,525 --> 00:27:10,095
{\an7}THEY WORK OUT A PLAN TO GO BACK.
518
00:27:10,129 --> 00:27:13,165
{\an7}\hJack: AND I SAID, WELL,
I’VE GOT TWO MACHINE GUNS,
519
00:27:13,198 --> 00:27:15,834
{\an7}I SAID WHY DON’T I LEAD IN?
520
00:27:15,868 --> 00:27:18,437
{\an7}AND HE SAID, WELL, THAT’S GREAT.
521
00:27:18,470 --> 00:27:19,771
{\an7}I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE
522
00:27:19,805 --> 00:27:22,808
{\an7}IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE GUTS
NOT TO GO THAN TO GO.
523
00:27:22,841 --> 00:27:26,511
{\an7}\hI JUST COULD NOT TURN DOWN
PEOPLE WHO WERE IN TROUBLE,
524
00:27:26,545 --> 00:27:28,814
{\an7}WHO WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE
\h\h\h\h\hOF PULLING OUT.
525
00:27:28,847 --> 00:27:31,883
{\an7}Narrator: FLYING THAT DAY
\hWITH JACK IS AL CROTEAU,
526
00:27:31,917 --> 00:27:35,287
{\an7}AN AVIONICS ENGINEER OUT TO SEE
VIETNAM FROM THE AIR
527
00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,924
{\an7}\h\h\hON HIS DAY OFF
FROM GROUND DUTIES.
528
00:27:38,957 --> 00:27:42,861
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAl:
I WAS EXPECTING TO BE SITTING
BACK THERE WITH MY CAMERA
529
00:27:42,895 --> 00:27:46,031
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND TAKING PICTURES
AT EVERY SPOT THAT WE LANDED.
530
00:27:46,064 --> 00:27:50,869
{\an7}AND HAVING JUST A GREAT CALM,
WONDERFUL SUNDAY.
531
00:27:50,903 --> 00:27:54,473
{\an7}Jack: I KNEW AL HAD NOT REALLY
COME ON A MISSION
532
00:27:54,506 --> 00:27:56,541
{\an7}TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT.
533
00:27:56,575 --> 00:27:59,144
{\an7}I SAID, "AL, YOU DON’T HAVE
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO GO IN WITH US
534
00:27:59,178 --> 00:28:00,646
{\an7}IF YOU DON’T WANT TO,"
535
00:28:00,679 --> 00:28:04,249
{\an7}AND HE SAID, "NO, I’M
\h\hGOING IN WITH YOU."
536
00:28:04,283 --> 00:28:06,652
{\an7}Al: I TRUSTED JACK.
537
00:28:06,685 --> 00:28:09,688
{\an7}\h\h\hI HAD ALL THE CONFIDENCE
IN THE WORLD IN JACK’S ABILITY.
538
00:28:09,721 --> 00:28:12,324
{\an7}SO I WAS GOING FOR THE RIDE.
539
00:28:12,357 --> 00:28:13,825
{\an7}WHATEVER CAME UP, CAME UP.
540
00:28:13,859 --> 00:28:15,160
{\an7}I HAD, THAT WAS IT.
541
00:28:15,194 --> 00:28:18,030
{\an7}NO FEAR. LET’S GO.
542
00:28:18,063 --> 00:28:19,865
{\an7}Narrator: BUT AFTER
\h\hTHE FIRST TIME IN
543
00:28:19,898 --> 00:28:21,500
{\an7}TOM HAS SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS
544
00:28:21,533 --> 00:28:24,236
{\an7}\hABOUT THE STATE
OF HIS HELICOPTER.
545
00:28:24,269 --> 00:28:26,371
{\an7}Tom: I KIND OF LOOKED UP
\h\h\h\h\hAT THE BLADES,
546
00:28:26,405 --> 00:28:30,576
{\an7}AND I KIND OF WENT, I WONDER IF
I REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE.
547
00:28:30,609 --> 00:28:32,077
{\an7}\h\h\hI WONDER IF I NEED
TO SHUT THIS THING DOWN
548
00:28:32,110 --> 00:28:33,244
{\an7}AND TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE.
549
00:28:33,278 --> 00:28:35,313
{\an7}BUT WE DIDN’T HAVE TIME.
550
00:28:41,420 --> 00:28:43,956
{\an7}Narrator: THEY TAKE OFF
\hWITH JACK IN THE LEAD.
551
00:28:46,692 --> 00:28:48,727
{\an7}Pilot: OK, HERE WE GO.
\h\hWE’RE FOLLOWING YOU.
552
00:28:53,832 --> 00:28:55,901
{\an7}Narrator: THEY HURTLE
LOW THROUGH THE TREES,
553
00:28:55,934 --> 00:28:58,804
{\an7}ALONG THE NARROW TRAIL
\h\hTO THE LANDING ZONE.
554
00:29:02,007 --> 00:29:04,543
{\an7}\h\hJack: WE WERE ABLE TO DROP
THE FUSELAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT
555
00:29:04,576 --> 00:29:07,579
{\an7}OVER THE ROAD, A LITTLE BIT
\h\h\h\hUNDER THE TREE LINE,
556
00:29:07,613 --> 00:29:10,616
{\an7}AND KEEP THE ROTORS
ABOVE THE TREE LINE.
557
00:29:10,649 --> 00:29:12,117
{\an7}WE WENT AS FAST AS WE COULD.
558
00:29:12,150 --> 00:29:15,320
{\an7}\h\h\hTRYING TO MAINTAIN
THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE.
559
00:29:15,354 --> 00:29:17,056
{\an7}WE DIDN’T WANT THEM
\hTO HEAR US COMING,
560
00:29:17,089 --> 00:29:21,594
{\an7}SO IF WE WERE LOW THEY WOULDN’T
HEAR US TILL THE LAST MINUTE.
561
00:29:21,627 --> 00:29:25,731
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
\hJACK HOPES THEIR ARRIVAL
IS INTIMIDATING THE ENEMY.
562
00:29:25,764 --> 00:29:28,200
{\an7}Jack: YOU KNOW, A HUEY
MAKES A LOT OF NOISE,
563
00:29:28,233 --> 00:29:31,203
{\an7}\hPARTICULARLY WHEN IT’S
ABOUT 30 FEET ABOVE YOU,
564
00:29:31,236 --> 00:29:33,939
{\an7}IT’S SHUDDERING AND YOU’RE
HEARING THE ENGINE NOISE,
565
00:29:33,972 --> 00:29:35,574
{\an7}\h\h\hYOU’RE HEARING
THE BLADES WHACKING,
566
00:29:35,607 --> 00:29:38,610
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND I WAS HOPING
IT WOULD THROW OFF THE AIM
567
00:29:38,644 --> 00:29:41,147
{\an7}OF ANYBODY WHO MIGHT BE
\hTEMPTED TO FIRE AT US.
568
00:29:46,985 --> 00:29:50,589
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
\h\h\hJUST AS TOM DID BEFORE,
JACK HAS TO CHOP HIS OWN SPACE
569
00:29:50,622 --> 00:29:53,291
{\an7}\hTHROUGH THE BAMBOO
FOR A LANDING ZONE.
570
00:29:53,325 --> 00:29:56,495
{\an7}HE CARVES HIS OWN
\h48-FOOT CIRCLE.
571
00:29:58,964 --> 00:30:00,365
{\an7}Jack: I HAD NEVER
\hDONE IT BEFORE.
572
00:30:00,399 --> 00:30:03,802
{\an7}I HAD NICKED A FEW LEAVES
\h\hIN EARLIER OPERATIONS,
573
00:30:03,835 --> 00:30:07,872
{\an7}BUT I HAD NEVER CONSCIOUSLY
\h\h\h\hLOWERED THE AIRCRAFT
574
00:30:07,906 --> 00:30:12,210
{\an7}\h\hDOWN THROUGH TREES
CUTTING MY WAY DOWN.
575
00:30:12,244 --> 00:30:14,213
{\an7}WE KEPT IT VERY, VERY STILL.
576
00:30:14,246 --> 00:30:17,983
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hDID NOT WANT TO HIT
LARGER BRANCHES THAN WE HAD TO.
577
00:30:18,016 --> 00:30:20,619
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hDIDN’T WANT TO HIT
THE WIDER PART OF THE BAMBOO,
578
00:30:20,652 --> 00:30:24,422
{\an7}WHICH IS VERY, VERY STRONG.
579
00:30:24,456 --> 00:30:28,860
{\an7}\hI DIDN’T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT
ROTOR BLADE WAS GOING TO TAKE.
580
00:30:28,894 --> 00:30:30,763
{\an7}Narrator: AS THE BLADES
\h\h\h\hHIT THE BAMBOO,
581
00:30:30,796 --> 00:30:32,498
{\an7}TOM KNOWS THEY’RE TAKING DAMAGE
582
00:30:32,531 --> 00:30:36,735
{\an7}THAT COULD COMPROMISE
THEIR ABILITY TO FLY.
583
00:30:36,768 --> 00:30:38,870
{\an7}\h\hTom: WE COULD HEAR
THE BLADES WHISTLING
584
00:30:38,904 --> 00:30:41,874
{\an7}RIGHT AFTER WE LANDED.
585
00:30:41,907 --> 00:30:43,909
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
BOTH HELICOPTERS ARE DOWN.
586
00:30:43,942 --> 00:30:46,912
{\an7}BUT THERE’S NO TIME TO WORRY
ABOUT DAMAGE TO THE BLADES.
587
00:30:46,945 --> 00:30:49,414
{\an7}THERE’S PANIC ON THE GROUND.
588
00:30:49,448 --> 00:30:51,083
{\an7}Man: FIRE!
589
00:30:51,116 --> 00:30:52,517
{\an7}[BULLETS WHIZZING]
590
00:30:52,551 --> 00:30:55,087
{\an7}Al: PEOPLE STARTED
HANDING ME BODIES,
591
00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,223
{\an7}\h\hAND THESE WERE VIETNAMESE
SOLDIERS WHO HAD BEEN SHOT,
592
00:30:58,256 --> 00:31:02,160
{\an7}AND WE STARTED LOADING THEM
\h\h\h\hINTO THE HELICOPTER.
593
00:31:04,162 --> 00:31:08,299
{\an7}AND I LOOKED DOWN AND THERE WAS
THIS ONE VIETNAMESE SOLDIER
594
00:31:08,333 --> 00:31:11,870
{\an7}WHO UNFORTUNATELY
HAD LOST HIS HEAD.
595
00:31:11,903 --> 00:31:17,175
{\an7}AND I SAID TO MYSELF, WELL,
I NEED A RIFLE OR SOMETHING
596
00:31:17,209 --> 00:31:20,546
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTO PROTECT MYSELF
IF THE HELICOPTER GOES DOWN,
597
00:31:20,579 --> 00:31:22,081
{\an7}SO I GRABBED THE CARBINE,
598
00:31:22,114 --> 00:31:24,950
{\an7}\h\hWIPED HIS BRAINS
OFF OF THE CARBINE,
599
00:31:24,983 --> 00:31:27,752
{\an7}\h\h\hAND I FELT A LITTLE BIT
MORE SECURE THAT IF WE WENT DOWN
600
00:31:27,786 --> 00:31:32,958
{\an7}AT LEAST I HAD SOMETHING THAT
I COULD USE TO DEFEND MYSELF.
601
00:31:32,991 --> 00:31:36,394
{\an7}Narrator: TOM AND JACK SIGNAL
TO EACH OTHER TO LIFT OFF.
602
00:31:38,997 --> 00:31:41,199
{\an7}\h\hLarry: AT THE MOMENT
I TURNED IT INTO A GAME,
603
00:31:41,233 --> 00:31:46,438
{\an7}WHICH IS I THINK HOW I HANDLED
THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING.
604
00:31:46,471 --> 00:31:49,607
{\an7}I SAID TO MYSELF, OK, IF WE CAN
GET IN AND OUT,
605
00:31:49,641 --> 00:31:52,677
{\an7}THEN THE SCORE IS 15-0,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW,
606
00:31:52,711 --> 00:31:56,081
{\an7}WE PULL 15 PEOPLE OUT,
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY GOT NOBODY.
607
00:31:56,114 --> 00:31:58,149
{\an7}\h\hTHEN WE CAME IN
FOR THE SECOND PASS.
608
00:31:58,183 --> 00:32:00,919
{\an7}IF WE GET IN AND OUT,
\h\hTHE SCORE IS 30-0,
609
00:32:00,952 --> 00:32:03,721
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’RE WINNING,
AND I ALSO SAID TO MYSELF
610
00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:08,660
{\an7}\h\h\hIF I DIE NOW,
SO THE SCORE’S 30-1.
611
00:32:08,693 --> 00:32:12,564
{\an7}\hNOT GOOD THAT I’M DEAD,
BUT IT’S NOT A BAD COUNT,
612
00:32:12,597 --> 00:32:19,037
{\an7}SO I’M SMILING ABOUT IT NOW, BUT
SOMEHOW IT PUT ME IN A GAME,
613
00:32:19,070 --> 00:32:22,340
{\an7}IT HAD ME BE MORE AGGRESSIVE.
614
00:32:30,382 --> 00:32:34,820
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
TIME AND AGAIN THE PILOTS RETURN
TO RESCUE THE TRAPPED SOLDIERS.
615
00:32:45,163 --> 00:32:47,165
{\an7}Tom: EACH TRIP IN,
AS WE’RE GOING IN,
616
00:32:47,199 --> 00:32:50,502
{\an7}\h\hI’M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW MUCH DAMAGE I HAD TAKEN
617
00:32:50,535 --> 00:32:52,837
{\an7}ON THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES,
618
00:32:52,871 --> 00:32:54,673
{\an7}HOW MUCH FUEL I HAD
\h\hON THE AIRCRAFT,
619
00:32:54,706 --> 00:32:57,509
{\an7}\hHOW MANY PEOPLE
COULD I TAKE OUT.
620
00:33:04,649 --> 00:33:06,618
{\an7}Narrator: THE CONFINES
\h\hOF THE APPROACH PATH
621
00:33:06,651 --> 00:33:08,253
{\an7}\hHAVE REPEATEDLY
FORCED THE PILOTS
622
00:33:08,286 --> 00:33:10,522
{\an7}INTO THE SAME NARROW FUNNEL.
623
00:33:10,555 --> 00:33:13,158
{\an7}\h\hTHEY’VE MADE THEMSELVES
EASY AND PREDICTABLE TARGETS
624
00:33:13,191 --> 00:33:15,360
{\an7}FOR THE NORTH VIETNAMESE.
625
00:33:19,164 --> 00:33:21,133
{\an7}Tom: I GOT TO TELL YOU
WE WERE ALL STRESSED.
626
00:33:21,166 --> 00:33:24,336
{\an7}I MEAN, THIS WAS DIFFICULT.
627
00:33:24,369 --> 00:33:27,005
{\an7}EACH TIME WE TOOK PEOPLE OUT
\h\hAND CAME BACK TO GET MORE,
628
00:33:27,038 --> 00:33:29,674
{\an7}THERE WERE LESS TROOPS
\h\h\h\hON THE GROUND
629
00:33:29,708 --> 00:33:33,445
{\an7}TO DEFEND THE LANDING ZONE.
630
00:33:33,478 --> 00:33:36,014
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THE DEFENSE PERIMETER MADE
\hBY THE AMBUSHED COMPANY
631
00:33:36,047 --> 00:33:40,018
{\an7}IS NOW SO CLOSE IT’S UNDERNEATH
THE SWEEP OF THE ROTOR BLADES.
632
00:33:40,051 --> 00:33:42,287
{\an7}\h\h\hFOR THOSE SCRAMBLING
TO GET ON THE HELICOPTERS,
633
00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:44,355
{\an7}THERE’S NO PLACE TO HIDE.
634
00:33:44,389 --> 00:33:47,092
{\an7}Jack: AT ONE POINT THE SOLDIERS
WHO HAD BEEN ON BOARD
635
00:33:47,125 --> 00:33:50,729
{\an7}OR WHO WERE CLIMBING ABOARD,
IF THEY CAME ACROSS A BODY,
636
00:33:50,762 --> 00:33:53,865
{\an7}I SAW THEM THROW IT
\h\hOFF TO THE SIDE.
637
00:33:53,899 --> 00:33:56,368
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hWE DIDN’T PUT
ANY OF THE DEAD ON BOARD.
638
00:33:56,401 --> 00:33:58,570
{\an7}THAT WAS ROOM FOR THE LIVING.
639
00:33:58,603 --> 00:34:01,239
{\an7}WE NEEDED TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.
640
00:34:04,643 --> 00:34:06,712
{\an7}Tom: WE WERE JUST AMAZED.
641
00:34:06,745 --> 00:34:10,082
{\an7}THEY WERE SHOOTING PEOPLE
\hGETTING ON THE AIRCRAFT,
642
00:34:10,115 --> 00:34:12,184
{\an7}BUT THEY WEREN’T SHOOTING US.
643
00:34:12,217 --> 00:34:13,919
{\an7}AND WE WERE JUST WAITING.
644
00:34:13,952 --> 00:34:17,055
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hWE JUST THOUGHT,
OH, THAT’S JUST ANY SECOND.
645
00:34:17,088 --> 00:34:20,525
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
AMID THE FLYING BULLETS, LARRY
LEAVES TOM AT THE CONTROLS
646
00:34:20,559 --> 00:34:23,195
{\an7}AND JUMPS OUT.
647
00:34:23,228 --> 00:34:25,230
{\an7}Larry: PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING
TO GET ON,
648
00:34:25,263 --> 00:34:28,399
{\an7}AND WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO COME
BACK AGAIN, AND I GOT OUT.
649
00:34:28,433 --> 00:34:30,769
{\an7}AND I SHOVED THREE
OR FOUR PEOPLE ON,
650
00:34:30,802 --> 00:34:34,773
{\an7}AND JUST SAID TO MYSELF "I’M
GONNA GET SHOT IN THE BACK."
651
00:34:34,806 --> 00:34:36,408
{\an7}YOU KNOW, AND THEN I SAID I’M
\h\hGONNA GET SHOT IN THE BACK,
652
00:34:36,441 --> 00:34:38,276
{\an7}\h\hAND I’M GONNA LIVE AND
I’M GONNA BE A PARAPLEGIC.
653
00:34:38,310 --> 00:34:41,079
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hALL THIS STUFF
WAS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.
654
00:34:46,818 --> 00:34:48,787
{\an7}\h\hTom: I MEAN, HE’S GOT
AN INFANTRY BACKGROUND,
655
00:34:48,820 --> 00:34:50,588
{\an7}SPECIAL FORCES BACKGROUND,
656
00:34:50,622 --> 00:34:53,625
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND SO, YOU KNOW,
HE WAS A HARD-CHARGING GUY
657
00:34:53,658 --> 00:34:56,828
{\an7}AND HE GOT OUT WITH HIS AR-15,
658
00:34:56,861 --> 00:34:57,929
{\an7}I THINK THAT’S WHAT
\hYOU WERE CARRYING.
659
00:34:57,963 --> 00:34:58,897
{\an7}Larry: CAR 15.
660
00:34:58,930 --> 00:35:00,098
{\an7}Tom: CAR 15.
661
00:35:00,131 --> 00:35:03,801
{\an7}AND HE WAS OUT THERE FIGHTING.
662
00:35:03,835 --> 00:35:05,203
{\an7}AND I WAS JUST SITTING THERE,
663
00:35:05,236 --> 00:35:08,239
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAITING TO DIE
AND HOLDING ON TO THE CONTROLS.
664
00:35:08,273 --> 00:35:10,175
{\an7}Al: YOU TOLD ME THERE WERE
\h\h\hBULLETS FLYING BY ME
665
00:35:10,208 --> 00:35:12,977
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I DIDN’T KNOW
UNTIL YOU TOLD ME THAT.
666
00:35:13,011 --> 00:35:14,880
{\an7}I SAID I DON’T REMEMBER
\h\hBULLETS FLYING BY ME.
667
00:35:14,913 --> 00:35:18,316
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hI JUST REMEMBER THROWING
PEOPLE ON, PUSHING PEOPLE OFF.
668
00:35:18,350 --> 00:35:20,552
{\an7}I DON’T REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE.
669
00:35:25,824 --> 00:35:29,594
{\an7}\h\hJack: WHEN YOU WERE PULLING
PEOPLE OUT OF A HOT SITUATION
670
00:35:29,628 --> 00:35:33,799
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND YOU WERE
THE LAST AIRCRAFT TO GO IN,
671
00:35:33,832 --> 00:35:38,437
{\an7}\h\h\h\hMOST OF THE FOLKS ARE GOING
TO JUMP ON BOARD YOUR AIRCRAFT.
672
00:35:38,470 --> 00:35:41,840
{\an7}Al: I HAD TO PUSH PEOPLE
\h\h\hOFF THE HELICOPTER
673
00:35:41,873 --> 00:35:44,008
{\an7}BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVERWEIGHT.
674
00:35:44,042 --> 00:35:47,445
{\an7}AND IF WE HAD ADDED PEOPLE
\h\hWE WOULD HAVE CRASHED.
675
00:35:47,479 --> 00:35:50,215
{\an7}IT WAS SIMPLE MATHEMATICS.
676
00:35:52,183 --> 00:35:54,152
{\an7}Narrator: JACK’S HELICOPTER
\h\h\h\hHAS THE EXTRA WEIGHT
677
00:35:54,185 --> 00:35:56,621
{\an7}OF MACHINE GUNS AND AMMUNITION.
678
00:35:56,655 --> 00:36:00,025
{\an7}LARRY AND TOM’S TOTALLY UNARMED
HELICOPTER IS LIGHTER,
679
00:36:00,058 --> 00:36:02,894
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSO IT CAN TAKE
MORE PEOPLE ON BOARD.
680
00:36:02,927 --> 00:36:06,764
{\an7}\hTom: ON THE LAST TRIP OUT, I
THINK I HAD 22 ON THE AIRCRAFT.
681
00:36:09,167 --> 00:36:12,037
{\an7}\h\hTHERE WAS AT LEAST ONE
ON THE LANDING GEAR SKID,
682
00:36:12,070 --> 00:36:14,105
{\an7}BECAUSE THAT’S THE ONLY PLACE
HE COULD GET.
683
00:36:14,139 --> 00:36:16,141
{\an7}AND LARRY LISS WAS ACTUALLY
\h\h\h\h\hHOLDING ON TO HIM
684
00:36:16,174 --> 00:36:18,743
{\an7}FOR PART OF THAT TRIP BACK.
685
00:36:18,777 --> 00:36:22,314
{\an7}Larry: I REACHED OUT AND HELD
THESE GUYS BY LIKE THIS PART,
686
00:36:22,347 --> 00:36:25,183
{\an7}THESE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GUYS,
\h\h\h\hI WAS HOLDING THEM,
687
00:36:25,216 --> 00:36:27,485
{\an7}AND YOU COULD SEE IN THEIR EYES
688
00:36:27,519 --> 00:36:31,156
{\an7}THAT THEY WERE ELATED
\h\hTHAT THEY GOT OUT,
689
00:36:31,189 --> 00:36:33,992
{\an7}AND THEY WERE SCARED TO DEATH
\h\h\h\hTHAT THEY WOULD FALL OFF.
690
00:36:34,025 --> 00:36:36,060
{\an7}BUT THEY HUNG ON.
691
00:36:36,094 --> 00:36:38,430
{\an7}\h\h\hTHEY HUNG ON, IT WAS
LIKE REALLY, IT WAS GREAT.
692
00:36:41,599 --> 00:36:44,669
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTom: THAT’S THE MOST I EVER
CARRIED ON A HUEY WAS 22 PEOPLE.
693
00:36:44,703 --> 00:36:46,505
{\an7}AN, I MEAN, THEY WOULDN’T ALL
EVEN FIT INSIDE.
694
00:36:46,538 --> 00:36:50,042
{\an7}THAT’S WHY LARRY WAS
HOLDING ON TO A FEW.
695
00:36:50,075 --> 00:36:53,011
{\an7}BUT THEN WE WERE WORRIED
\hTHAT IF I GOT SHOT...
696
00:36:53,044 --> 00:36:54,512
{\an7}Larry: HOW COULD I GET
\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE CONTROLS?
697
00:36:54,546 --> 00:36:56,281
{\an7}Tom: HE HAD TO BE
\hON THE CONTROLS,
698
00:36:56,314 --> 00:37:00,385
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSO ONCE THE FELLOWS
ON THE SKIDS WERE, YOU KNOW,
699
00:37:00,418 --> 00:37:03,821
{\an7}THEY WERE SITUATED WHERE THEY
COULD HOLD ON TO STUFF,
700
00:37:03,855 --> 00:37:05,490
{\an7}\hLARRY GOT BACK
ON THE CONTROLS,
701
00:37:05,523 --> 00:37:08,459
{\an7}WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, GOOD.
702
00:37:10,895 --> 00:37:12,563
{\an7}Narrator: BUT NOW THERE’S
\h\h\h\h\hANOTHER PROBLEM.
703
00:37:12,597 --> 00:37:18,103
{\an7}A HUEY OVERLOADED WITH 22 MEN
CANNOT GO STRAIGHT UP.
704
00:37:18,136 --> 00:37:22,040
{\an7}TO TAKE OFF IT NEEDS A RUNWAY
JUST LIKE A REGULAR AIRPLANE.
705
00:37:22,073 --> 00:37:25,443
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHIS IS KNOWN
AS A RUNNING TAKEOFF.
706
00:37:25,477 --> 00:37:30,615
{\an7}\h\h\hTHIS DEMONSTRATION SHOWS HOW
THE HELICOPTER SKIMS THE GROUND.
707
00:37:30,648 --> 00:37:34,318
{\an7}AS IT GAINS SPEED, MORE AIR
MOVES THROUGH THE ROTOR DISK
708
00:37:34,352 --> 00:37:36,154
{\an7}AND THE BLADES BECOME
\h\h\hMORE EFFICIENT,
709
00:37:36,187 --> 00:37:39,057
{\an7}HELPING LIFT THE AIRCRAFT
\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO THE SKY.
710
00:37:39,090 --> 00:37:41,426
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE POINT AT WHICH
THE AIRCRAFT STARTS TO FLY
711
00:37:41,459 --> 00:37:44,262
{\an7}IS KNOWN AS TRANSLATIONAL LIFT.
712
00:37:50,301 --> 00:37:55,540
{\an7}Tom: IT WOULD TAKE, OH, I WOULD
HAVE TO SAY AT LEAST 50 YARDS.
713
00:37:55,573 --> 00:37:57,175
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hWE COULD GET
INTO TRANSLATIONAL LIFT
714
00:37:57,208 --> 00:37:58,543
{\an7}ABOUT OVER THERE.
715
00:37:58,576 --> 00:38:01,746
{\an7}\h\hMAYBE JUST ANOTHER
10 OR 15 FEET BEYOND.
716
00:38:01,780 --> 00:38:05,350
{\an7}YOU MIGHT BOUNCE THE SKIDS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA FEW TIMES,
717
00:38:05,383 --> 00:38:10,321
{\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT ONCE WE HIT THERE,
THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO COME UP.
718
00:38:15,393 --> 00:38:17,362
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIF YOU DIDN’T FLY
THE AIRCRAFT CORRECTLY,
719
00:38:17,395 --> 00:38:19,364
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hYOU COULD LOSE
THAT TRANSLATIONAL LIFT
720
00:38:19,397 --> 00:38:22,166
{\an7}AND DROP BACK DOWN
\hINTO THE TREES.
721
00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:26,805
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSO YOU HAD TO HAVE
A REALLY GOOD CONTROL TOUCH.
722
00:38:31,209 --> 00:38:35,780
{\an7}YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY SWEATING
GETTING OUT OF IT THAT LAST TIME
723
00:38:35,814 --> 00:38:39,284
{\an7}BECAUSE I DIDN’T KNOW IF WE WERE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
724
00:38:39,317 --> 00:38:41,619
{\an7}IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD
\h\h\hTO HAVE TO STAY BUT...
725
00:38:41,653 --> 00:38:42,787
{\an7}Jack: WELL, YEAH, BECAUSE WE
WOULD HAVE HAD TO COME BACK
726
00:38:42,821 --> 00:38:45,657
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hA SIXTH TIME
TO PULL YOU GUYS OUT.
727
00:38:48,359 --> 00:38:51,696
{\an7}\hNarrator: LOW ON FUEL, WITH
DAMAGED BLADES AND OVERLOADED,
728
00:38:51,729 --> 00:38:54,065
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE FIFTH TRIP
HAS TO BE THEIR LAST.
729
00:38:54,098 --> 00:38:57,001
{\an7}JACK LIFTS OFF FIRST.
730
00:38:57,035 --> 00:38:59,604
{\an7}Al: AS WE’RE TAKING OFF,
\h\h\h\h\h\hI LOOK DOWN,
731
00:38:59,637 --> 00:39:01,305
{\an7}AND IN ONE OF THESE
\h\h\hCIRCULAR PITS
732
00:39:01,339 --> 00:39:05,143
{\an7}THERE WAS ONE VIETNAMESE SOLDIER
HOLDING THE GROUND.
733
00:39:05,176 --> 00:39:06,911
{\an7}AND I SAID TO MYSELF,
734
00:39:06,945 --> 00:39:10,282
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOH, MY GOD,
WE’VE LEFT SOMEONE BEHIND.
735
00:39:13,017 --> 00:39:17,755
{\an7}TO THIS DAY THAT’S ALL I CAN SEE
IS THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL
736
00:39:17,789 --> 00:39:21,126
{\an7}\h\h\hSTANDING HIS GROUND
AND PROTECTING OUR LIVES.
737
00:39:21,159 --> 00:39:24,262
{\an7}AND WE’RE LEAVING HIM THERE,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I’VE...
738
00:39:24,295 --> 00:39:26,497
{\an7}NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT.
739
00:39:36,875 --> 00:39:39,077
{\an7}Narrator: LATER INTELLIGENCE
\hREVEALED THE MASSIVE SIZE
740
00:39:39,110 --> 00:39:42,580
{\an7}OF THE ENEMY FORCE
\hTHEY HAD FACED.
741
00:39:42,614 --> 00:39:44,749
{\an7}\h\hJim: THIS WAS A WHOLE HELL
OF A LOT MORE THAN A PLATOON
742
00:39:44,782 --> 00:39:46,150
{\an7}OR EVEN A COMPANY.
743
00:39:46,184 --> 00:39:49,154
{\an7}THEY LATER IDENTIFIED IT
AS PROBABLY A BATTALION
744
00:39:49,187 --> 00:39:51,523
{\an7}OF THE 273rd REGIMENT...
745
00:39:51,556 --> 00:39:54,459
{\an7}A BATTALION OF 500-600 GUYS.
746
00:40:06,704 --> 00:40:09,574
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THEY BRING THE SURVIVORS
\h\hBACK TO CAU SONG BE.
747
00:40:09,607 --> 00:40:12,076
{\an7}NOW THE ADRENALIN RUSH
\h\h\h\h\h\hWEARS OFF.
748
00:40:12,110 --> 00:40:13,845
{\an7}THEY HAVE HARDLY A MOMENT
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO TAKE STOCK
749
00:40:13,878 --> 00:40:15,747
{\an7}OF WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED.
750
00:40:18,616 --> 00:40:22,753
{\an7}\h\h\hLarry: WHEN I CHECKED
MY WEAPONS, THEY WERE EMPTY.
751
00:40:22,787 --> 00:40:27,025
{\an7}AND TO THIS DAY I DON’T
\h\hREMEMBER FIRING THEM.
752
00:40:27,058 --> 00:40:28,693
{\an7}I MEAN, I KNOW I DID,
\h\hI MIGHT HAVE DONE,
753
00:40:28,726 --> 00:40:31,696
{\an7}\h\h\hI MIGHT HAVE FIRED THEM
WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT,
754
00:40:31,729 --> 00:40:34,365
{\an7}BUT I DON’T REMEMBER
\h\h\h\hFIRING THEM.
755
00:40:34,399 --> 00:40:36,468
{\an7}THEY WERE JUST EMPTY.
756
00:40:38,870 --> 00:40:41,439
{\an7}Narrator: DESPITE BEING
PERILOUSLY LOW ON FUEL,
757
00:40:41,472 --> 00:40:45,676
{\an7}\hTHEY’RE ANXIOUS TO HEAD HOME
TO BIEN HOA BEFORE NIGHTFALL,
758
00:40:45,710 --> 00:40:47,845
{\an7}UNAWARE OF THE FULL EXTENT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF DAMAGE
759
00:40:47,879 --> 00:40:51,816
{\an7}THE BAMBOO HAS INFLICTED
\hON THEIR ROTOR BLADES.
760
00:40:51,849 --> 00:40:53,784
{\an7}Tom: WHEN THOSE BLADES
\h\h\h\h\hARE SPINNING
761
00:40:53,818 --> 00:40:56,821
{\an7}YOU CAN’T SEE THOSE BLADES,
762
00:40:56,854 --> 00:41:01,525
{\an7}YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T SEE
THE DAMAGE THAT’S DONE.
763
00:41:01,559 --> 00:41:03,728
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: WHEN THEIR
COMMANDING OFFICER FINDS OUT,
764
00:41:03,761 --> 00:41:07,598
{\an7}\hTHEIR REPUTATIONS MAY BE
AS DAMAGED AS THE BLADES.
765
00:41:19,677 --> 00:41:21,812
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTom: IT SEEMED LIKE
IT TOOK FOREVER TO GET BACK
766
00:41:21,846 --> 00:41:25,616
{\an7}\h\hBECAUSE WE’RE WAITING FOR
THE LOW FUEL LIGHT TO COME ON.
767
00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:28,520
{\an7}AND FORTUNATELY THAT BLADE
\h\h\h\hJUST KEPT TURNING
768
00:41:28,553 --> 00:41:30,688
{\an7}AND IT KEPT LIFTING
\h\hAND IT WAS NOISY
769
00:41:30,722 --> 00:41:34,292
{\an7}AND IT WAS WHISTLING,
BUT IT WAS DOING ITS JOB.
770
00:41:39,664 --> 00:41:42,967
{\an7}WE GOT THE LOW FUEL LIGHT
DURING THE SHUTDOWN.
771
00:41:45,269 --> 00:41:47,404
{\an7}Narrator: THEY JUST MAKE IT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBACK TO BASE.
772
00:41:47,438 --> 00:41:49,573
{\an7}FIVE TRIPS TO THE FIREFIGHT.
773
00:41:49,607 --> 00:41:52,076
{\an7}OVER 100 MEN SAVED.
774
00:41:57,715 --> 00:41:59,817
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTom: THAT’S
THE MISSION DAY THERE.
775
00:41:59,851 --> 00:42:01,019
{\an7}10.7 HOURS.
776
00:42:01,052 --> 00:42:03,521
{\an7}I DON’T REMEMBER FLYING
\h\h\h\hTHAT MUCH THAT DAY,
777
00:42:03,554 --> 00:42:06,023
{\an7}BUT I GUESS WE DID, YOU KNOW.
778
00:42:06,057 --> 00:42:07,692
{\an7}Larry: ABSOLUTELY.
779
00:42:07,725 --> 00:42:09,260
{\an7}\h\h\h\hJack: I CAN REMEMBER
THE TIME OF DAY WE GOT BACK,
780
00:42:09,293 --> 00:42:12,997
{\an7}\hBECAUSE WHEN I LANDED
IT WAS JUST BEYOND DUSK.
781
00:42:13,031 --> 00:42:16,234
{\an7}IT WAS STARTING TO TURN DARK,
AND I GOT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT
782
00:42:16,267 --> 00:42:17,835
{\an7}AND I WENT TO INSPECT
\h\h\h\h\hTHE ROTORS.
783
00:42:17,869 --> 00:42:20,572
{\an7}AND IT WAS TOO DARK TO SEE THEM
WITHOUT A FLASHLIGHT.
784
00:42:20,605 --> 00:42:22,740
{\an7}Larry: OURS, IT LOOKED LIKE
\h\hA GIANT CAT HAD TAKEN IT
785
00:42:22,774 --> 00:42:27,445
{\an7}AND SCRAPED THE COVER OFF AND
UNDERNEATH WAS THE HONEYCOMB.
786
00:42:27,478 --> 00:42:28,746
{\an7}SO ALL ALONG THE ROTOR BLADES
787
00:42:28,780 --> 00:42:30,715
{\an7}IT LOOKED LIKE SOME BIG MONSTER
HAD DONE THAT.
788
00:42:30,748 --> 00:42:33,684
{\an7}Jack: THAT AIRCRAFT WAS A MESS.
789
00:42:33,718 --> 00:42:35,053
{\an7}Narrator: THAT EVENING,
790
00:42:35,086 --> 00:42:36,754
{\an7}AS SENIOR RANKING OFFICER
\h\h\h\h\hIN THE MISSION,
791
00:42:36,788 --> 00:42:40,191
{\an7}LARRY IS CALLED INTO THE SECOND
FIELD FORCE HEADQUARTERS.
792
00:42:40,224 --> 00:42:42,293
{\an7}\hA MAJOR REMINDS HIM
OF THE STANDING ORDERS
793
00:42:42,326 --> 00:42:46,096
{\an7}NOT TO FLY VIP AIRCRAFT
INTO COMBAT SITUATIONS.
794
00:42:46,130 --> 00:42:50,868
{\an7}HE DEMANDS TO KNOW HOW LARRY
\h\h\hBROKE HIS HELICOPTER.
795
00:42:50,902 --> 00:42:53,772
{\an7}Larry: HE JUST ABSOLUTELY
\h\h\h\hFREAKED OUT ON ME.
796
00:42:53,805 --> 00:42:55,874
{\an7}RATHER THAN A COMMANDER
\h\h\h\h\h\hSAYING WAY TO GO,
797
00:42:55,907 --> 00:42:58,176
{\an7}AND BY THE WAY, WE’LL GET
\h\hYOUR HELICOPTER FIXED,
798
00:42:58,209 --> 00:43:01,946
{\an7}IT WAS, YOU KNOW, LARRY LISS,
YOU’RE A DIRT BAG,
799
00:43:01,979 --> 00:43:03,681
{\an7}YOU DON’T FOLLOW ORDERS.
800
00:43:03,714 --> 00:43:05,482
{\an7}HE SAID TO ME YOU’RE NOT
\h\hTHE KIND OF OFFICER
801
00:43:05,516 --> 00:43:08,185
{\an7}WE WANT IN THE ARMY.
802
00:43:08,219 --> 00:43:10,822
{\an7}\h\h\h\hHE’S JUST YELLING AND
SCREAMING AT ME, AND I SMILED.
803
00:43:10,855 --> 00:43:12,857
{\an7}\hI DID SOMETHING
AND HE PUSHED ME.
804
00:43:12,890 --> 00:43:14,759
{\an7}AND I WENT FLYING
OVER A CHAIR.
805
00:43:14,792 --> 00:43:17,228
{\an7}AND IN THOSE DAYS I THINK IT WAS
A BIG MISTAKE TO PUSH ME,
806
00:43:17,261 --> 00:43:19,630
{\an7}BECAUSE I BOUNCED BACK UP
\h\h\h\h\hAND PUNCHED HIM.
807
00:43:19,664 --> 00:43:24,736
{\an7}AND THEN ALL THESE STAFF PEOPLE
JUMPED IN AND PULLED US APART.
808
00:43:24,769 --> 00:43:29,674
{\an7}AND THEN THE GENERAL
\h\hCAME ON THE SCENE.
809
00:43:29,707 --> 00:43:31,876
{\an7}AND THE GENERAL SAID,
810
00:43:31,909 --> 00:43:35,913
{\an7}"IT WAS A BAD THING THAT YOU DID
DISOBEYING A DIRECT ORDER,
811
00:43:35,947 --> 00:43:37,549
{\an7}IT WAS A GREAT THING
\h\h\h\hTHAT YOU DID
812
00:43:37,582 --> 00:43:38,983
{\an7}DISOBEYING A DIRECT ORDER."
813
00:43:39,016 --> 00:43:40,618
{\an7}General: VERY GOOD.
814
00:43:40,651 --> 00:43:43,287
{\an7}\h\hLarry: HE SAID, "LOOK, WHAT
YOU GUYS DID WAS EXCEPTIONAL.
815
00:43:43,321 --> 00:43:45,089
{\an7}EXTRAORDINARY."
816
00:43:51,796 --> 00:43:53,731
{\an7}Narrator: IN ONE OF THE MOST
\h\hHEROIC HELICOPTER MISSIONS
817
00:43:53,764 --> 00:43:55,432
{\an7}OF THE VIETNAM WAR.
818
00:43:55,466 --> 00:43:59,503
{\an7}TOM, LARRY, JACK AND AL
RESCUED OVER 100 PEOPLE,
819
00:43:59,537 --> 00:44:02,373
{\an7}SURROUNDED BY 500
\hENEMY SOLDIERS.
820
00:44:02,406 --> 00:44:04,675
{\an7}THEY PUSHED THE HUEY
\h\h\hTO ITS LIMIT.
821
00:44:04,709 --> 00:44:06,844
{\an7}THEY PUT THEIR OWN LIVES
\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE LINE.
822
00:44:06,878 --> 00:44:09,814
{\an7}AND THEY SURVIVED.
823
00:44:09,847 --> 00:44:13,184
{\an7}FOR AL CROTEAU, MEETING TOM
AND LARRY FOR THE FIRST TIME
824
00:44:13,217 --> 00:44:17,455
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSINCE THEY FLEW THAT LAST
MISSION ON EASTER SUNDAY 1967
825
00:44:17,488 --> 00:44:22,760
{\an7}GIVES HIM THE CHANCE TO LAY
\h\hONE LAST GHOST TO REST.
826
00:44:22,793 --> 00:44:24,295
{\an7}Al: I AM JUST SO HAPPY
827
00:44:24,328 --> 00:44:27,698
{\an7}THAT I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLARRY AND TOM.
828
00:44:27,732 --> 00:44:29,534
{\an7}BUT I’M EVEN MORE THRILLED
829
00:44:29,567 --> 00:44:33,604
{\an7}AT THE FACT THAT YOU PICKED UP
THAT ONE LAST SOLDIER.
830
00:44:33,638 --> 00:44:38,910
{\an7}I HAVE WORRIED ABOUT THAT ONE
LAST SOLDIER FOR 40 YEARS.
831
00:44:38,943 --> 00:44:42,146
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND FINALLY YOU HAVE PUT IT
TO REST, THAT YOU DID SAVE HIM.
832
00:44:42,180 --> 00:44:45,383
{\an7}AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THAT SO MUCH.
833
00:44:45,416 --> 00:44:49,987
{\an7}Larry: YOU’RE WELCOME. THERE WAS
NOBODY ALIVE WHEN WE LEFT, OK?
834
00:44:50,021 --> 00:44:51,890
{\an7}Al: I KNOW. THANK YOU.
835
00:44:53,024 --> 00:44:54,959
{\an7}Tom: I DON’T REALLY
\h\h\hBELIEVE I KNEW
836
00:44:54,992 --> 00:44:56,827
{\an7}WHAT A THING WE HAD PULLED OFF
837
00:44:56,861 --> 00:44:58,930
{\an7}UNTIL AFTER I GOT BACK,
838
00:44:58,963 --> 00:45:02,133
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND PEOPLE WERE
TALKING ABOUT IT AT THE BAR
839
00:45:02,166 --> 00:45:03,968
{\an7}BEFORE I EVEN GOT TO THE BAR.
840
00:45:04,001 --> 00:45:07,505
{\an7}\h\hAND I SAID, HMM, IT MUST
HAVE BEEN GREAT, YOU KNOW.
841
00:45:07,538 --> 00:45:10,708
{\an7}IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING
\h\hTHAT I CAN BE PROUD OF.
842
00:45:10,741 --> 00:45:12,810
{\an7}AND THEN I WENT HOME
\h\hTWO WEEKS LATER
843
00:45:12,843 --> 00:45:15,212
{\an7}AND I WENT LOOKING FOR GIRLS.
844
00:45:15,246 --> 00:45:16,614
{\an7}Jack: DID YOU FIND ANY?
845
00:45:16,647 --> 00:45:19,917
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTom: YES, I FOUND ONE,
AND I’M STILL MARRIED TO HER.
846
00:45:34,165 --> 00:45:36,200
{\an7}Narrator: FOR THEIR HEROISM,
847
00:45:36,234 --> 00:45:40,071
{\an7}TOM, JACK AND LARRY WERE AWARDED
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS,
848
00:45:40,104 --> 00:45:42,707
{\an7}AND AL, THE AIR MEDAL.
849
00:45:46,344 --> 00:45:50,915
{\an7}\h\h\hAS FOR THE HUEY,
BETWEEN 1959 AND 1976
850
00:45:50,948 --> 00:45:55,352
{\an7}MORE THAN 9,000 WERE PRODUCED,
\h\hMANY STILL IN SERVICE TODAY.
851
00:45:55,386 --> 00:45:57,822
{\an7}IT STILL HOLDS THE RECORD
852
00:45:57,855 --> 00:46:00,157
{\an7}AS THE MOST WIDELY USED
HELICOPTER IN THE WORLD.
103213
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