Monday October 5th, 1970
…exactly 50 years ago today.

The first real-time (2:18am H-Hour) Full Profile was flown on this day (but with abbreviated flight time) with all aircraft and Green Berets aboard.

I was, by no means, the biggest man. In fact, I was second shortest. The shortest raider was also the oldest NCO, Master Sergeant Galen “Pappy” Kittleson. Pappy was no stranger to combat. Pappy and I had several things in common. We were both short and stocky built. We both grew up on a farm in the Midwest. In World War II, Pappy was the youngest man in the raid on the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines. I was the youngest man on this raid, 25 years junior to Pappy.

[John Gargus’ book The Son Tay Raid: American POWs in Vietnam Were Not Forgotten, on page 24, explains a little about me being the youngest raider.]

Pappy was a quiet man, but always knew what he was doing. He made history on the Son Tay Raid as the only American soldier to be on four POW raids. Pappy was well respected by everyone.

[On a side note, Pappy visited my family after he retired. In his hometown of Toeterville, Iowa, he started a group called the Alamo Scouts. It was for kids that were considering the military or kids who could just use some direction in their life. Pappy suggested to my daughter to come to his summer camp to see if she would like the military. Sadly, Pappy died a couple of months before Hana was able to attend his training camp. I attended Pappy’s funeral and it was amazing how many men that had been in Pappy’s Alamo Scout group attended to show their love and respect for him. There were doctors, military men, an FBI agent and many, many friends and family. Pappy had left an impact on a lot of people. Ross Perot paid for his headstone listing many of his accomplishments. At Pappy’s funeral, someone asked me if I was Pappy’s son—I was truly honored to receive that compliment! Pappy was a true American Hero!]

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.