Sir, you earned the right to be as emotional as you want anytime, anywhere.

Love the St. Christopher story. May your Mom Rest In Peace.

Huey pilot, 68th AHC, Bien Hoa, 68-69.. My story is very similar to his story.. My mother draped the Miraculous Medal around my neck.. I too never turned down a mission.. It helped too that our church was right across the street from our home.. My mother never mentioned it but I am sure she spent a lot of time over there.. I needed all the help I could get..

@mrwest5552

15 күн бұрын

@barsoom43 - Thank You for your Service there.🇺🇸 Question : did you or others on your ship crew drip fuel into the sand filled cookie tin, place an empty tin on top to boil water for coffee per: Robert Mason ?

@barsoom43

15 күн бұрын

@@mrwest5552 Huey's had several fuel cell drains on the belly... What we did sometimes was fill a can with sand and wet it with fuel.. take an old style beer can opener and puncture across the top of the can to make little spikes sticking up.. Then light the JP-4 and set a can of food on top of the impromptu heater and warm the contents.. Had to be careful with that because we could get a scramble notice at any moment and have to pull pitch.. so there you'd be with a hot can and half warmed food.. Mostly, I ate my C's cold but I do have a picture of one of those little heaters.

@mrwest5552

15 күн бұрын

@@barsoom43 - thank you for your reply Sir - Mason's was largely the same recollection. cookie tins and army instant coffee, no sleep, engine shut down on the top of a knoll having flown all night, ate their cookies drank their coffee sittin' in the seat. back when i was young dumb and full of cum U.S. Forest Service brought on aux fire crews and i humped. we weren't given much beyond water so when a Forest Service crew gave up their old rats we thought it was payday. 🇺🇸

@raymondfryar1533

12 күн бұрын

Glad you made it back for your sake and mom's. Thanks for your sacrifice.

@barsoom43

12 күн бұрын

@@raymondfryar1533 Thank you.. Later in life, I turned my flight skills into more productive work as an air ambulance pilot for a major university hospital program.. flew over 5K medical flights in 26 years.

To you, good sir, and all those who served with the integrity with which you did, whether they came back alive or not, we thank you.

God Bless. I was a CW2 pilot in 4 corps in 69/70. Glad we both made it back.

@jackharle1251

18 күн бұрын

Thank you, Brother

Chopper Pilots were life savers. Lima Platoon, A Co., 1/26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Oct. 1, 1966- Oct. 1,1967. To all my dear pals, who gave all.

@jackharle1251

18 күн бұрын

Thank you, Brother

As a 11B I was amazed at the bravery, skill and tenaciousness of the ”Chopper” pilots.

Such a heartfelt interview from a good man. It tugged on my heartstrings

What an incredible story that was! 🙏🇺🇸.

Well done, Sir. Family is everything and family isn't always blood connected.

Thank you for sharing your story..Thank you for serving.

Very emotional story, thank you for sharing. I was a Marine stationed there near the DMZ in 1967-68 during the TET OFFENSIVE. I’ll never forget it.

@Buce-ku9vx

20 күн бұрын

What division, battalion, company, squad were you in troop?

@Combat556

20 күн бұрын

@@Buce-ku9vx HQ Co. 4th Marines, Communications

Emotional 🙏 Salute... They called... He hauled..

My husband was there in the infantry. He was a lucky one that made it home.

Thank you for your service and for those who served with you and after you. God Bless.

Welcome home and thank you so much for your service.❤️🇺🇸

My mom gave me a Saint Christopher’s medal to wear when I went to fly in the air force. I served and I am still here and will be 80 in September

@jayr5331

13 күн бұрын

Thank you for your sacrifice. It is very much appreciated. Thanks again.

@THEELTOPIAN1909

8 күн бұрын

THANK YOU!!!

@johnashep109

6 күн бұрын

Do you still wear the saint Christopher

@ellisandrews440

5 күн бұрын

@@johnashep109 Whenever I travel I wear it. As a matter of fact I just came back from. two week trip and wore it all the time

@patfromamboy

2 күн бұрын

What is a St. Christopher’s medal?

Mr, You are a true hero!

brilliant record Sir - thank you for sharing it for the future to learn

I never called anyone a hero But you sire are one, l've hear lot of helicopter pilots stories from Vietnam ,and there's no doubts of your heroic deeds while there. All in all its one of the best and happiest Vietnam stories I've heard. Mom prays are blessing. Thank you sir 🙏

Welcome home Brother.

Yes Sir you will see him one day and..He'll thank you for trying to save him!..God Bless You Sir..

Beautiful story sir! We all owe your family our gratitude ❤

Absolutely incredible. Thank you for your service to America.

Thanks for ur service! Tears flowing!!

Thanks for your service please remember you did your best!!! Everyone please remember the ones that didn’t make it back home!! Thanks67 was my year

Thank you for serving and doing your best. You didn't waver sir! Glad you made it home. Salute!

Thank you for telling us your story. I'm very touched and inspired. I've heard that real heroes never consider themselves heroes, they just do what is needed to be done. How amazing you are still that "hero" willing to go back if needed! Thank you for being you!

@bradleymiller7375

28 күн бұрын

@robert, AMEN!!

@jasoncharles8651

26 күн бұрын

Right on brother.

@MySingleName

23 күн бұрын

You say “inspired”, but have you done anything with that inspiration? Such as something as small as, donations to a veterans centre that helps to fight homelessness when they come home. Or something as big as joining the military yourself to make that change

And Go Your Way In Safety. St Christopher goes with me everywhere. Glad he was with you. God Bless You. 52 years wearing a POW-MIA bracelet

Thank you for sharing your experience, your service and your passing on the heritage with your grandson!

I know so many Vietnam vets. Most just didn't want to discuss their experiences, but I could feel how it weighed on them. I'm so glad that through these projects, the vets are finally able to express their thoughts. Thank you.

God Bless this amazing soldier and his family. We are very grateful for your service to our nation. ❤

You are indeed a hero, sir. God bless you.

Thank you for sharing! GB

My mom didn't know I was coming home either. I miss my mom

I flew my first tour in the Central Highlands, (II Corps), been to lz english a few times, LZ Bong Son, Oasis, Dak To. I can't remember all of those FSB's. I went down in my loach,(OH-6a) near Oasis I think it was. RVN- 7-/71/72. Now I flew a wheelchair. Scouts out.

Beautiful survival story!

Welcome home Brother. We were there and wearing our St Christopher medals at about the same time. I went over in Feb 72 and came home the end of Jan 73. My grandmother had a medal blessed by the bishop of her church and told me to wear it, that it would protect me . . . We saw a bunch of action that spring with the Easter Invasion, the stand downs and all, troops were going home everywhere but those of us the flew just changed units and flew special forces or ARVN support. Although many around me got shot up, my helicopter never took a hit. I tell the story on occasion but never heard anyone else with the same story. Thanks for sharing . . .

Amazing story. God bless you, Sir.

An extremely touching story that catches your voice in throat. War is not for good people, but unfortunately bad people start wars and good people have to end them.

You did what I had thought seriously about doing. Some guys coming back from being in country talked me out of it. I graduated VFMA in '70.

Thank you for your service, sir. My son’s father in law was a Cobra pilot in Vietnam. Both of you are heroes!

God bless this man.

Very touching to say the least

Wow very powerful story, god bless you Mr French

All Good SIR.......Thank You......and your Family......FOR EVERYTHING !!!

Oh mate, your the best of the best

Thank you Sir..

Welcome home Sir. Thank you for sharing your story.

March 30th 1972 I was 11 years old,it was the year I got saved and Baptized

Steven is of Croatian descent

"Pickle, soon as that door opens we are gonna be FIRST in line!" No wonder he survived with clever moves like that one!!

i done 30 days as a door gunner on a UH-1 HUEY, around pleiku, pla-Durang, ankhe, ba Mettuit, tew a wah. 4th div.

Brings back old memories.

Thanks for your story. You are a veteran HERO in my book. Thanks for your service. God Bless you.

I can sleep without a care. How do I thank you for your service. How do I thank all who are in service. WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

You ARE a hero!! Dont think otherwise. God bless you and welcome home❤❤❤

SIr i could not hold back my tears when you went home and gave your mom back her necklace. Thank you for your service.

Wow! What a great man and great storyteller. Thank you for your service you are an inspiration to myself and I'm sure meant others as well.

Very emotional story for all who heard it. Thank you Sir

Amazing video

Like some off the other respondents here, I too was WOPA. Class 69-1, Nam 69-70 Ist Cav. I also had, and still have and carry, a St. Christopher medal. I used to tell guys over there that I wasn't superstitious - but that medal was what kept the main rotor blades on .... (LOL). Welcome home, Brother.

Happy Memorial Day everyone 🦅

Welcome Home Brother from another Nam Vet, Chu Lai 68-69 1st MAW MAG 12. Liked your story.

I wore my st. Christopher since 1970 and still have it on had replaced the chain a few times it also brought me back home ! Dang it just brought tears to my eyes! It’s the enamel Irish green! Semper fi!

Very moving video; thank you Stephen Franich for your service and your valor.

Many thanks for your service and sharing the story!

Thank you for your service, sir. God bless you.

Nam vet. This is slightly off topic and more than a little stupid and juvenile, but you might get a giggle out of it. I am sure that you remember the standard greeting when you met someone over there (at least among enlisted troops) of "SHORT!", followed by announcing how many days left before you rotated. So "short, 93 days" was how it went. I was in a shitter, on base somewhere in the Delta, just reading the graffiti on the walls, when I saw "short, 364 days, and it feels like I just got here yesterday! Stupid, I know, but it cracked me up then, and I still remember it 50+ years later!

Thank you for everything you did and thank you for sharing your story

Very awesome. Thanks for your service!

Love the story. Here's another one. This was in 1968, south of Da Nang a ways. One of the guys in my unit carried a Lucky Eddy's Rabbit Foot on his dog tag chain. He got chided for it from time to time, but he was respected enough to where the guys knew to back off when need be. The guy's first name was Doug. We came under an ambush and Doug got shot in the chest. The hole needed to be plugged up and one of the guys yanked the Rabbit's foot off Doug's chain and stuffed it into the entry hole. Back at basecamp, doc's said it probably saved his life.

THis is Gold. Thank you!

Thank you for the story and welcome home, Sir.

Thanks for all your service. And especially those that never came home. Salute and respect…

Wow. That brought tears to my eyes. I was Infantry in the 80’s, never deployed. Much respect.

@stevet8121

24 күн бұрын

You would have if ordered to, so you deserve a big thank you!

@lowandslow3939

23 күн бұрын

@@stevet8121 I was begging to go, but there was nothing going on and nowhere to go. I was also very young and naive.

@stevet8121

23 күн бұрын

@@lowandslow3939 Every good combat soldier is young and naive. It's what makes them good combat soldiers. I'm 75 and was young and naive during the Vietnam era but missed seeing action.

@lowandslow3939

23 күн бұрын

@@stevet8121 Well, we both wrote the check, but Uncle Sam didn’t cash it.

@stevet8121

23 күн бұрын

@@lowandslow3939 Amen, brother!

Thank you brother, I was a tunnel rat and the copters saved my ass a few times .I LOVE MY FLAG

Awesome story. Thank you for sharing.

This was an amazing story. Thank you for sharing and your service.

Thank you for your service. You are all hero’s in my book.

Thank you for sharing your story .. Thank you for your service ✌️

great story

Thank you for your stories and service Mr. Franich. St. Christopher came full circle.

This mans story has me in tears.

Thank you for your service and thank you for the story..... God bless

Thank you for your service sir

Impressive. Thanks for what you did.

Thanks for your service in vietnam. Mom's are great, they love you no matter what, an can embarrase you. I could never get over on my mom.

Good man. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for your story.

Thank you for your service

Thank You, Sir, For Your Beautiful Story & Your Service! How Could It Not Be Emotional! I'm Glad You & Your Friend Came Home, & Your Grandson! A Dear Friend Of Mine Was A Dustoff Pilot & Instructor Who Also Served In Vietnam In Those Last Years... When The Gulf War Was To Begin, Rick Was Still Serving & He Was One Of The 600+ Americans Who Died During That Very Brief War....He Was Killed In Training With His Night Vision.... I Never Got Over It, It Felt Like I Had Lost My Brother, Who Also Served In Vietnam! It Is So Very Important That Veterans, From Whatever Era, Share Your Stories, Your Experience & Your Wisdom For Future Generations & To Know The Sacrifices That You Have Made! God🙏Bless You!🇺🇸

Thank you for your Service.

Excellent, thanks for posting this, War is Hell, Thank You for your service, All gave Some, Some gave All

SO INTERESTING, HERO

Thank you

Great story Sir . Welcome home and thank you for your service .

Wonderful story. Thank you.

You are a hero. Thank you for sharing.

Wow, incredible story, thank you for your service SIR.