American Warriors

The year was 1941, and just like so many other Americans at that time, Elmer "Jack" Hetzel felt it was his duty as an American to join the military and do his part to in the war against Nazi Germany. He didn't let the fact that he only had a 3rd grade education stop him either. Assigned to the 511th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, he received credit for participating in 5 major battles. After the war, he chose to re-enlist and continued to serve for a total of 20 years in the US Army and despite his lack of formal education, retired as a professor of military science at Texas A&M University. During (and after) those years of teaching he also served in ministry as a Christian missionary to the armed forces in Europe. At the age of 99, he received an honorary high school diploma AND an honorary doctorate. Dr. Jack Hetzel has authored 12 books and continues to preach and teach today at 102 years of age. www.americanwarriors.com

The year was 1941, and just like so many other Americans at that time, Elmer "Jack" Hetzel felt it was his duty as an American to join the military and do his part to in the war against Nazi Germany. He didn't let the fact that he only had a 3rd grade education stop him either. Assigned to the 511th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, he received credit for participating in 5 major battles. After the war, he chose to re-enlist and continued to serve for a total of 20 years in the US Army and despite his lack of formal education, retired as a professor of military science at Texas A&M University. During (and after) those years of teaching he also served in ministry as a Christian missionary to the armed forces in Europe. At the age of 99, he received an honorary high school diploma AND an honorary doctorate. Dr. Jack Hetzel has authored 12 books and continues to preach and teach today at 102 years of age. www.americanwarriors.com

Episodes in this series: Part 1 | MayDay : https://rumble.com/v3rx950-col.-james-ray-part-1-mayday.html Part 2 | No Where To Run : https://rumble.com/v3uku1i-col.-james-ray-part-2-no-where-to-run.html Part 3 | Resistance : https://rumble.com/v3ulmk6-col.-james-ray-part-3-resistance.html Part 4| Not Forgotten : https://rumble.com/v3wijb4-col.-james-ray-part-4-not-forgotten.html Part 5 | Return With Honor : https://rumble.com/v3ynbm7-col.-james-ray-part-5-return-with-honor.html In this special American Warriors mini-series, James Ray shares vivid and terrifying details of torture, brainwashing, and the heroic subversive resistance efforts of American POW's in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Part 5: The war in Vietnam finally comes to an end and the prisoners are released. James Ray walked out of the Hanoi Hilton as a free man on February 12, 1973 having spent 6 years, 9 months and 4 days as a POW. In the 50 years since, James has learned to forgive those who tortured him and found peace through faith in God. www.americanwarriors.com

This is Part 4 of 5. Part 1 | MayDay : https://youtu.be/PpuLEJFLIHE Part 2 | No Where to Run: https://youtu.be/LB6xukY6Yz0 Part 3 | Resistance : https://youtu.be/P5X10mFkGBg In this special American Warriors mini-series, James Ray shares vivid and terrifying details of torture, brainwashing, and the heroic subversive resistance efforts of American POW's in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Part 4: The war drags on, years go by and life goes on around the world. The American prisoners were kept in complete isolation from all news of the outside world except what the communists wanted to tell them. 3-and-a-half years went by before Ray received any mail communication from his family and even that was censored by the communists. The on-going abuse and isolation forced the American prisoners to dig deep into their mental emotional and spiritual resources to survive...Then, a rescue attempt by US Army Green Berets became a historic turning point for the American prisoners. www.americanwarriors.com

This is Part 3 of 5. Part 1 | MayDay : https://youtu.be/PpuLEJFLIHE Part 2 | No Where to Run: https://youtu.be/LB6xukY6Yz0 In this special American Warriors mini-series, James Ray shares vivid and terrifying details of torture, brainwashing, and the heroic subversive resistance efforts of American POW's in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Part 3: In the face of overwhelming abuse and propaganda brainwashing, Ray and his fellow American prisoners had to be mentally and emotionally resourceful to sabotage and subvert the extreme efforts of their captors. Devising a secret coded method of communication, the Americans were able to pass along information, keep records of the names of those imprisoned, and provide much needed encouragement to help each other survive. www.americanwarriors.com

This is Part 2 of 5. Part 1 | MayDay: https://youtu.be/PpuLEJFLIHE In this special American Warriors mini-series, James Ray shares vivid and terrifying details of torture, brainwashing, and the heroic subversive resistance efforts of American POW's in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Part 2: On his first night as a prisoner of war, (then) Lt. James Ray, was interrogated by his captors. Refusing to cooperate or provide any information, he suffered hours of the infamous Vietnamese "Rope Torture." In this episode, Col. Ray describes the hideous details of the torture method and what he did to resist their attempts to extract tactical information from him. www.americanwarriors.com

May 8, 1966 was the day that changed the course of his life. (Then) USAF Pilot Lt. James Ray started his day disappointed that, due to poor weather over his assigned target, he would not be able to fly that day. After requesting to switch targets with a different pilot, he was given a highly dangerous bombing mission deep inside North Vietnam. While the mission was ultimately successful, Ray's F-105 Thunderchief was shot down and he ejected in hostile territory where he was captured just minutes later. In this special American Warriors mini-series, James Ray shares vivid and terrifying details of torture, brainwashing, and the heroic subversive resistance efforts of American POW's in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. www.americanwarriors.com

May 8, 1966 was the day that changed the course of his life. (Then) USAF Pilot Lt. James Ray started his day disappointed that, due to poor weather over his assigned target, he would not be able to fly that day. After requesting to switch targets with a different pilot, he was given a highly dangerous bombing mission deep inside North Vietnam. While the mission was ultimately successful, Ray's F-105 Thunderchief was shot down and he ejected in hostile territory where he was captured just minutes later. In this special American Warriors mini-series, James Ray shares vivid and terrifying details of torture, brainwashing, and the heroic subversive resistance efforts of American POW's in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. www.americanwarriors.com

May 8, 1966 was the day that changed the course of his life. (Then) USAF Pilot Lt. James Ray started his day disappointed that, due to poor weather, he would not be able to fly that day. After requesting to switch flights with a different pilot, he was given a highly dangerous bombing mission deep inside North Vietnam. While the mission was ultimately successful, Ray's F-105 Thunderchief was shot down and he ejected in hostile territory where he was captured just minutes later. In this special American Warriors mini-series, James Ray shares vivid and terrifying details of torture, brainwashing, and the heroic subversive resistance efforts of US POW's in the infamous Hanoi Hilton.

The sea captivated him at an early age and Buddy knew the United States Navy was for him. He was stationed in the bridge, steering the ship and assisting in navigation. With what some would call luck - and the grace of the Navy electing not to send him despite his voluntary offer to go, he sailed the seas of the Mediterranean instead around Vietnam. He didn't see war despite volunteering and served faithfully and loyally. After the service he fell in the love with the bagpipes and began the arduous journey of learning the challenging instrument. Today, he still plays and performs Amazing Grace during veteran funeral ceremonies in Central Oregon. "It's an honor to play for my fellow veterans," he says.

The sea captivated him at an early age and he knew the United States Navy was for him. Buddy was stationed in the bridge, steering the ship and assisting in navigation. But with some luck - and the grace of the Navy electing not to send him despite his voluntary offer - he avoided the Vietnam conflict and instead sailed the seas of the Mediterranean. He didn't see war but he served faithfully and loyally. After the service he fell in the love with the bagpipes and began the arduous journey of learning the challenging instrument. Today, he still plays and performs Amazing Grace during veteran funeral ceremonies in Central Oregon. "It's an honor to play for my fellow veterans," he says.

Part 2 of 2 Lt Col Mike Cole is currently serving with the 731st Tactical Airlift Squadron out of Colorado Springs. Our team had the privilege of interviewing him at the 2023 Rose City Airfest in Tyler Texas. Mike has served 29 years and will retire in September of 2023.

Lt Col Mike Cole is currently serving with the 731st Tactical Airlift Squadron out of Colorado Springs. Our team had the privilege of interviewing him at the 2023 Rose City Airfest in Tyler Texas. Mike has served 29 years and will retire in September of 2023.

Lt Col Mike Cole is currently serving with the 731st Tactical Airlift Squadron out of Colorado Springs. Our team had the privilege of interviewing him at the 2023 Rose City Airfest in Tyler Texas. Mike has served 29 years and will retire in September of 2023.

His father hunted bandits and fought in the Marine Corps during World War 1. When World War 2 started Robert enlisted, inspired by his fathers service and duty to country. After joining the Navy he spent his wartime deployment in the Pacific Theatre aboard an APc and LSI.

PART 2 Wrapping up our interview with LT Cody Brown, he shares about his experiences as the EA-18G Growler Demo Team leader, plus his thoughtful reaction to hearing a speech at the Rose City Airfest by a Vietnam era pilot who was shot down and spent 7 yrs as a POW. WATCH PART 1: https://youtu.be/3heqZoOCpV4

PART 2 Wrapping up our interview with LT Cody Brown, he shares about his experiences as the EA-18G Growler Demo Team leader, plus his thoughtful reaction to hearing a speech at the Rose City Airfest by a Vietnam era pilot who was shot down and spent 7 yrs as a POW. WATCH PART 1: https://youtu.be/3heqZoOCpV4

PART 2 Wrapping up our interview with LT Cody Brown, he shares about his experiences as the EA-18G Growler Demo Team leader, plus his thoughtful reaction to hearing a speech at the Rose City Airfest by a Vietnam era pilot who was shot down and spent 7 yrs as a POW. WATCH PART 1: https://youtu.be/3heqZoOCpV4

You’ve seen it in exciting movies, but US Navy Lieutenant Cody Brown lives it—the danger and excitement of flying off the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan. His plane—the EA-18 Growler, an electronic attack aircraft. In part 1, Cody shares what it's like being part of a brotherhood of pilots and team.

Part 1 of 2 He never planned on becoming a fighter pilot, but his search for a career with a brotherhood type of community lead him to Naval Aviation. Cody Brown is an actively serving Lieutenant in the US Navy and he sat down with AW Director Bradley Lanphear during the 2023 Rose City Airiest in Tyler, Texas to talk about his experience as a pilot and flying the EA-18 Growler, Electronic Attack aircraft.

He never planned on becoming a fighter pilot, but his search for a career with a brotherhood type of community lead him to Naval Aviation. Cody Brown is an actively serving Lieutenant in the US Navy and he sat down with AW Director Bradley Lanphear during the 2023 Rose City Airiest in Tyler, Texas to talk about his experience as a pilot and flying the EA-18 Growler, Electronic Attack aircraft.

His wrap sheet is one of honor and courage, the medals on his chest prove that. After 4000 hours in combat flight and more than 400 combat missions in two wars, Joe McPhail, to this day, is the oldest living F4U Corsair pilot. Having served 2 deployments to the Pacific during WWII and one to the Korean War, McPhail's two Distinguished Flying Crosses represent a legacy of fighting for American in the air. In Part 2, we hear about his close air support missions in Okinawa during WWII, and his return to Korea to support ground troops at the Chosin Reservoir. "I lost many friends," he says, but he survived ten months and 100 missions in combat in his Corsair. After his service he continued to fly privately and accrued what would become 17,000 + hours flying.

Young Marine Corp pilot Joe McPhail was commissioned and went active duty just 3 days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Quickly his unit was graduated and the fleet of Grumman F4F Wildcats deployed to the Pacific theatre where they waited out the nerve-wracking aerial Japanese bombardments. His second deployment to Okinawa, now outfitted with the state-of-the-art F4U Corsair, focused on air to ground support and aerial combat. He received two confirmed kills in that 10-month deployment. In 1950, he was recalled and sent to North Korea to fight the Chinese and North Koreans in the unforgiving terrain of the Chosin Reservoir. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross and numerous air medals, and at 102 years old is the oldest living F4U Corsair pilot remaining. This is Part 1 of his story.

His wrap sheet is one of honor and courage, the medals on his chest prove that. After 4000 hours in combat flight and more than 400 combat missions in two wars, Joe McPhail, to this day, is the oldest living F4U Corsair pilot. Having served 2 deployments to the Pacific during WWII and one to the Korean War, McPhail's two Distinguished Flying Crosses represent a legacy of fighting for American in the air. In Part 2, we hear about his close air support missions in Okinawa during WWII, and his return to Korea to support ground troops at the Chosin Reservoir. "I lost many friends," he says, but he survived ten months and 100 missions in combat in his Corsair. After his service he continued to fly privately and accrued what would become 17,000 + hours flying.