In this episode, John Pighini and Scott Gearen sit down to recount stories of John's career in uniform — from flying combat rescue missions over Laos and Thailand during the Vietnam War, to becoming the founding Pararescuemen at the classified JSOC unit known as Det 4 NAFCOS (later known as the 24th STS). John recounts:
Flying 100+ combat missions in the Jolly Green Giant, picking up downed pilots under fire, and earning the Silver Star.
Lima Sites and what life was really like in Udorn and NKP during the Vietnam War
Being hand-selected by a general to establish Pararescue's presence within JSOC alongside Delta Force and SEAL Team Six
A harrowing helicopter crash on a training mission when a C-130's tire clipped their rotor blades on a darkened runway.
How he fought to define Pararescue's combat identity — pushing for CQB training, combat medicine, and independence from the aircraft commander
John's story is one of a man who was voted "least likely to succeed" and went on to shape the modern Pararescue career field — driven by the motto: "That Others May Live."
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