WEBVTT

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(upbeat music)
(cockpit closing)

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^- It was December 9th, 1972,

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^I was captured on the 10th, 30 hours later.

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- Two was the first night of the

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^Linebacker Two Operation, B-52s striking Hanoi and Haiphong.

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But I was in the first one to get shot down.

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^(jet engines humming)

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^(calming music)

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- It's always especially present

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for me to be with the men who kept their honor

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^as we lived in the hardships of incarceration in Vietnam.

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^(calming music)

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^- I'm struck every year by, how many people show up

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^to remember and honor these heroes.

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It truly has been an honor over the last two years to be,

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again, a humble steward of this tradition.

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- It's frankly, humbling.

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You don't get into this business for the,

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for the glory.

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I'm hoping that it ends up being hopefully inspiring

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to recognize the sacrifices of the people who went before.

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And, if nothing else, so you can be proud of your country

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for a reason that is very easy to be proud of.