Here's a story about a real Air Force warrior: Guy Garruthers (might have spelling wrong) used to fly co-pilot for me on Eastern DC-9s. He graduated from the academy third in his class and was so brilliant he was given the option to work with Dr. Edward Teller, the father of the Hydrogen Bomb. He declined - he wanted to fly fighters in Viet Nam.
Fast forward to Viet Nam. Guy is shot down on a mission and comes home to heal and get some R&R in Tampa. Goes back to Nam, and although one hand was not totally healed, talks his way back into the cockpit.
Two weeks after he left home, his wife is confronted by two Air Force officers at her front door informing her that her husband was shot down. She laughed, and told them that she was well aware of that, and furthermore he had already been home, and left two weeks ago.
Their reply was, "We know Mrs. Garruthers, he was shot down again."
Guy spent 5 1/2 years in the Hanoi Hilton. He was a strapping guy, and never gave an inch and as a result he had the ****** tortured out of him for 5 1/2 years. He never gave in. His wife was very active with the wives groups of prisoners.
Eastern Air Lines had a fantastic policy in which we offered any returning POW a job at Eastern, and as a consequence we wound up with over a dozen of these incredible heroes flying our aircraft.
Guy's story was featured in Reader's Digest about 25 years ago. Thanks to all of you guys who served and kept us safe.
Michael, have a long, joyful and healthy retirement - you earned it pal!
Now if Roberta shows up on this thread, I'm going to buy a ticket to Italia and go over and slap the $hit out of him!
