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Air Force Vietnam Vet COL Rich Buickerood
Episode 3340 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Air Force Vietnam Vet COL Rich Buickerood. The featured story is titled: Voices of Veterans: Colonel Rich Buickerood Shares His Story of Service in the United States Air Force. It appeared on the Gilmer Mirror website and was submitted by the editor.
The editor reported that Colonel Rich Buickerood’s remarkable story is a powerful reminder of the courage, dedication, sacrifice, and greatness of America’s Vietnam Veterans. Featured in the Texas Veterans Land Board’s Voices of Veterans Oral History Program, Buickerood shares the story of his journey from a New Jersey college student to a United States Air Force pilot who served during the Vietnam War.
The first member of his family to attend college, Buickerood enrolled at Rutgers University and joined Air Force ROTC almost by chance. What began as an elective ultimately became a lifelong commitment to serving his country. Commissioned in 1965, he entered the demanding world of Air Force pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, where many aspiring pilots faced intense challenges and some were forced to wash out.
As the Vietnam War escalated, Buickerood found himself heading to Southeast Asia. Like many young Vietnam Veterans, he approached his mission with confidence, determination, and a deep sense of duty and patriotism. He described his generation as young and confident, believing they were prepared to do the job their country had asked them to do.
One of the most dramatic moments of Colonel Buickerood’s Vietnam service came on Easter Sunday, 1968, near Saigon. His unit was called to support American forces under attack. A rescue helicopter sent to evacuate the troops was shot down, placing even more lives in danger. Buickerood and his fellow airmen provided critical air support, dropping bombs and conducting strafing runs while remaining over the target until they were nearly out of fuel.
Their courageous actions helped save numerous American lives, earning Buickerood his first Distinguished Flying Cross.
Colonel Rich Buickerood’s story represents the extraordinary bravery of the Vietnam Veteran generation. These American heroes answered their nation’s call, faced unimaginable danger, and served with honor, courage, and sacrifice. Their legacy deserves our deepest respect, gratitude, and remembrance. We salute Colonel Buickerood and every Vietnam Veteran who served America during the Vietnam War.
Listen to episode 3340 and discover more about the career of Air Force Vietnam Vet COL Rich Buickerood.
