AirExpo 2012 Honors Veterans, Remembers their Legacies

July is a time to honor and reflection on our personal freedoms and those who fought for it. This week in the Twin Cities, another celebration will honor the stories and bravery of veterans and dignitaries from all points in our aviation history. AirExpo 2012—July 14 and 15 at Flying Cloud Airport—brings history books to life.

The event showcases popular and historical aircraft up close on the ground and in the air as they fly in formation. As a veteran pilot, the emotions that surface when I see these decorated planes resting in the field are awesome. Beyond the coats of paint and steel plates are incredible stories of courage, conflict and reconciliation.

My story begins 40 years ago and 15,000 feet in the skies over North Vietnam when I shot down an enemy MiG-21. Before it crashed, I saw the pilot pop out with his parachute. Then, I did not think twice about his name or whether he had a family waiting at home. A pilot’s mission is very impersonal, and I was there to do my job.

Fast forward to 2004. During a visit to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, I discovered the very airplane I had flown in that Vietnam dogfight. The F4 Phantom was on display with my name and red victory star. My curiosity was provoked and set in motion a series of events that led me to write to a Vietnamese television show that reunites people who have lost touch.

I knew the odds were not in my favor, but I had to know what had happened to the other pilot in that 1972 dogfight. Incredibly, I heard back from the show’s producer within two weeks. She had found the MiG pilot and invited me to Vietnam to meet him on live television.

When Nguyen Hong My walked onto the set he greeted me with a firm handshake and words of welcome. To my amazement, he expressed desire for us to become friends. Nguyen Hong My has his own story, too. I later learned that Ho Chi Minh himself had presented him with his pilot wings, and in his culture, his defeat could have been a heavy embarrassment. But he showed strength and humbleness when he asked for my friendship.

The live interview walked through our histories and in the background scrolled pictures of our children and grandchildren. Two tough, old fighter pilots were both brought to tears on national television, thinking about how our fates could have been very different. After the interview, Nguyen Hong My invited me to his home in Hanoi to meet his family. He acted as my tour guide and we explored every museum, war memorial and tourist attraction.

Despite our backgrounds and past hostilities, our friendship continues to blossom today. Like me, Nguyen Hong My is excited to attend AirExpo 2012 as a special guest. Independence Day is an opportunity to be thankful for our loved ones. And, in my experience, even past foes. War is personal for both sides and does not come without cost.

The heroes and legends at the AirExpo have experienced both terrifying and rewarding moments. I imagine that continued interest in some of our country’s most defining points in history would rank among the rewards. This year, let’s celebrate our freedoms and ensure that the legacies of our veterans are not lost to time.