WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.520 Hey everyone, welcome to the show. Great to be 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.040 here. Imagine facing death not just once, but 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.859 countless times. And each time, finding a reason 00:00:08.859 --> 00:00:12.240 to fight, to endure, to somehow come back stronger. 00:00:12.660 --> 00:00:14.619 Yeah, it's almost unbelievable when you lay it 00:00:14.619 --> 00:00:17.079 all out. That's the incredible true story we're 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:20.899 diving into today. This deep dive explores a 00:00:20.899 --> 00:00:23.899 really powerful biography, honestly. A testament 00:00:23.899 --> 00:00:26.280 to the strength of the human spirit against, 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:29.760 well, unimaginable adversity. Absolutely. It's 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:32.359 filled with moments of intense drama, profound 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:35.740 resilience and significant historical weight, 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:38.000 too. Definitely. You really feel the sweep of 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:39.840 history through his life. So if you're drawn 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.479 to stories of courage, sheer determination and 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:45.340 the will to survive against absolutely all odds, 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:47.579 please do like and subscribe for more deep drives 00:00:47.579 --> 00:00:49.840 like this one. Yeah, we appreciate that. Today, 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:52.119 we're delving into American Patriot, the life 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:54.740 and wars of Colonel Budd. And folks, the Amazon 00:00:54.740 --> 00:00:56.500 link is right there in the description. Right. 00:00:56.920 --> 00:00:59.700 This book is such a profound look at a man who 00:00:59.700 --> 00:01:02.240 lived through these huge moments in American 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.700 history. You name it, he was there, the Depression, 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:09.219 World War II, Vietnam, and then everything after. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:14.019 We'll uncover some truly remarkable aspects of 00:01:14.019 --> 00:01:16.500 his journey, kind of hinting at the deeper meanings 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:18.980 within his experiences. You know, what does it 00:01:18.980 --> 00:01:21.920 really take not just to live, but to truly persevere? 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:24.500 That's the core question, isn't it? So we'll 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:26.819 be tracing Bud Day's life from his difficult 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:30.060 childhood in Sioux City all the way to his distinguished 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:33.019 military career. We'll focus on those crucible 00:01:33.019 --> 00:01:35.579 moments, the things that really forged his character 00:01:35.579 --> 00:01:37.719 and showed that extraordinary fortitude. We'll 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:39.739 look at his early life, his time in the Marines, 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:42.400 then the Air Force, obviously his harrowing time 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:45.099 as a POW in Vietnam. Which is just staggering. 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:47.659 And then his impactful post -military life, too. 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:49.560 It didn't stop after he took off the uniform. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:51.780 Not at all. Our sources for this deep dive are 00:01:51.780 --> 00:01:54.019 excerpts from this biography, acknowledgements, 00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:57.120 the prologue, and multiple chapters covering 00:01:57.120 --> 00:01:59.840 his whole life. Our mission really is to understand 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:03.319 what made Bud Day such a compelling figure. What 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:05.700 were those foundational experiences that shaped 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:09.419 this, well, extraordinary individual? Okay, let's 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:11.360 unpack this. Starting right at the beginning, 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:14.759 those early days. Bud Day's childhood in Sioux 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:18.780 City, Iowa. It sounds like it was more than just 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:20.840 tough. It was a constant struggle, wasn't it? 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:23.439 It really was. Born in this riverside suburb, 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:25.520 which was kind of geographically separated from 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:27.759 the main part of Sioux City by these unique loose 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:29.659 hills. Right. And the rivers there, too. Yeah, 00:02:29.699 --> 00:02:32.699 the Missouri and the Big Sioux. But his early 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:35.060 life was just steeped in poverty. His father, 00:02:35.180 --> 00:02:38.759 Ed Day, often couldn't find work. So unemployment 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:40.960 was a constant issue. Chronic unemployment, yeah. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:43.759 Which meant the family faced evictions frequently, 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.400 moving between these small, uninsulated frame 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.120 houses with only the most basic amenities. It 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:52.000 wasn't just hardship. It was this persistent 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.840 insecurity. And his mother, Christine. She sounds 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:56.860 like she carried a huge weight. She absolutely 00:02:56.860 --> 00:02:59.500 did. A homemaker. But she also had four kids 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:01.879 from a previous marriage. And Ed, the father, 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:04.159 expected them all to work to help out. Whoa. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:07.360 So her life was just relentless labor. The biography 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.060 suggests she had a somewhat fatalistic outlook 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:12.780 and stuck very closely to traditional roles, 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:15.219 which wasn't uncommon then. Yeah. The opportunities 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:17.389 were limited. Yeah. And there's that. poignant 00:03:17.389 --> 00:03:20.370 story about his sister Joyce. She had ambitions. 00:03:20.689 --> 00:03:22.770 Yeah. Joyce wanted to go to college, which was 00:03:22.770 --> 00:03:24.770 a real beacon of hope in that environment, you 00:03:24.770 --> 00:03:27.310 know, shows her drive. But her father disapproved. 00:03:27.370 --> 00:03:30.129 Ed Day actively discouraged it. Maybe societal 00:03:30.129 --> 00:03:32.009 norms. Maybe he just thought it wasn't practical. 00:03:32.169 --> 00:03:35.030 We don't know for sure. But the tragedy is she 00:03:35.030 --> 00:03:36.969 did achieve her educational goals and then she 00:03:36.969 --> 00:03:39.389 died young. I don't know. Yeah. Another layer 00:03:39.389 --> 00:03:41.550 of hardship for Bud growing up makes you think 00:03:41.550 --> 00:03:43.490 about the dreams that got extinguished, right? 00:03:43.610 --> 00:03:47.099 And how that loss impacted him. Definitely. But 00:03:47.099 --> 00:03:49.740 amidst all that struggle, the book highlights 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:52.699 this incredible resourcefulness. Yeah. Like the 00:03:52.699 --> 00:03:55.680 mothers using cereal box cardboard to patch shoes. 00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:58.159 That detail is so telling, isn't it? It just 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:00.379 shows the depth of the poverty and the sheer 00:04:00.379 --> 00:04:03.419 ingenuity needed just to survive in Riverside. 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:05.960 Making do with literally nothing. Exactly. It 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:08.580 wasn't just mending clothes. It was maximizing 00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:12.169 every single resource. That likely instilled 00:04:12.169 --> 00:04:16.370 in Bud this profound pragmatism, you know, understanding 00:04:16.370 --> 00:04:18.949 the value of resourcefulness, a trait that pops 00:04:18.949 --> 00:04:22.089 up again and again. And somehow, young Bud had 00:04:22.089 --> 00:04:25.129 this dream of becoming a doctor, which for a 00:04:25.129 --> 00:04:27.189 Riverside boy then must have seemed completely 00:04:27.189 --> 00:04:30.269 outrageous. Absolutely audacious. The book notes 00:04:30.269 --> 00:04:32.410 even just attending college was rare in that 00:04:32.410 --> 00:04:37.149 neighborhood. So to aim for a doctor. It reveals 00:04:37.149 --> 00:04:40.250 this significant inner drive, a refusal to be 00:04:40.250 --> 00:04:42.629 limited by his circumstances. He believed in 00:04:42.629 --> 00:04:44.550 something different. How did he even start thinking 00:04:44.550 --> 00:04:47.110 that way? Reading seems key. That was pivotal. 00:04:47.290 --> 00:04:49.610 A retired police officer nearby, he got loads 00:04:49.610 --> 00:04:51.910 of discarded books and magazines because he was 00:04:51.910 --> 00:04:54.250 injured and he just told Bud, take whatever you 00:04:54.250 --> 00:04:56.790 want. Wow, what a gift. Huge. It unlocked this 00:04:56.790 --> 00:04:59.269 whole universe for him way beyond Riverside. 00:04:59.649 --> 00:05:02.189 Shows how access to information can just transform 00:05:02.189 --> 00:05:04.170 a life. He was also known as a tough kid, right? 00:05:04.230 --> 00:05:06.519 A scrapper. Didn't back down even though he was 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:08.680 small. Yeah, being from Riverside meant you might 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:11.620 get targeted. There was a stigma. And his father's 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:15.040 advice was direct. Stand up for yourself no matter 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.420 the size difference. A formative lesson. Totally. 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:21.339 It gave him this lifelong refusal to be intimidated, 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:24.920 a willingness to fight for himself. And it wasn't 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:27.579 just physical fights. It was this deep inner 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:30.439 resilience. And you see that thread running through 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.019 everything later. It absolutely foreshadows his 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:36.779 later resilience, yeah. Okay, let's move to his 00:05:36.779 --> 00:05:39.500 military beginnings. He joins the Marine Corps. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:43.199 What was that like coming from that background? 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:45.279 Well, Marine boot camp, especially the old Corps 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:47.300 version Bud went through, was designed to break 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:49.459 you down and rebuild you. Intense discipline, 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:52.750 physical, mental. For most recruits? Probably 00:05:52.750 --> 00:05:55.870 unprecedented hardship. Right. But for Bud, having 00:05:55.870 --> 00:05:58.009 already lived through the daily grind of poverty, 00:05:58.310 --> 00:06:01.069 the structured demands, while incredibly intense, 00:06:01.370 --> 00:06:03.209 might not have been the same kind of fundamental 00:06:03.209 --> 00:06:05.750 shock as for others. Though the drill instructor's 00:06:05.750 --> 00:06:07.649 greeting sounds pretty formidable. And then there 00:06:07.649 --> 00:06:09.870 was that twist of fate getting sick during training. 00:06:10.009 --> 00:06:12.470 Yeah. He contracted cat fever, had to go to the 00:06:12.470 --> 00:06:15.209 hospital, light duty, got held back several recruit 00:06:15.209 --> 00:06:17.610 classes. Which might have saved his life. Given 00:06:17.610 --> 00:06:19.930 the staggering casualties in the early Pacific 00:06:19.930 --> 00:06:23.949 campaigns. It's entirely possible. This bout 00:06:23.949 --> 00:06:26.230 of illness could have inadvertently kept him 00:06:26.230 --> 00:06:28.350 out of some of the absolute bloodiest battles 00:06:28.350 --> 00:06:31.649 of the war. Crazy how things work out. And the 00:06:31.649 --> 00:06:34.610 book mentions Doris Sorensen briefly before he 00:06:34.610 --> 00:06:36.990 enlisted. Yeah, just a hint. They hadn't known 00:06:36.990 --> 00:06:38.949 each other long, but he asked her to write to 00:06:38.949 --> 00:06:41.930 him while he was deployed. Suggests something 00:06:41.930 --> 00:06:44.589 more than casual, right? Foreshadows her huge 00:06:44.589 --> 00:06:47.389 role later. It's interesting. His father discouraged 00:06:47.389 --> 00:06:50.839 his sister's college dreams. but approved of 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.180 Budd joining the Marines. Yeah, Ed Day apparently 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:55.699 gave a nod and said it was one of the few smart 00:06:55.699 --> 00:06:58.180 things you ever did. Probably reflects the times, 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:00.500 you know. Military service seen as more traditional, 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:03.160 acceptable for a young man, maybe more practical 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:05.279 in his eyes than an education, especially for 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.019 women then. Makes sense. So Budd serves in the 00:07:08.019 --> 00:07:10.500 Pacific in World War II. The book isn't heavy 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:13.379 on combat details, but we know that theater was 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:15.519 brutal. exceptionally brutal. Island hopping 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.100 campaigns, just horrific casualty rates for the 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:20.240 Marines, fierce resistance, devastating losses. 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:23.259 Even without specifics, you know he faced immense 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:26.379 danger. But even there, his resourcefulness shines 00:07:26.379 --> 00:07:30.500 through in pretty unorthodox ways. The horrible 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:33.899 hooch, using grenades for fishing. That's an 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:36.500 incredible story. Johnston Island, not the front 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:38.920 lines, but still, he builds a makeshift whiskey 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:41.449 still? The horrible hoop. And fishes with hand 00:07:41.449 --> 00:07:44.009 grenades. Highly illegal, surely. Oh, absolutely. 00:07:44.649 --> 00:07:47.389 Dangerous, too. Using liberated grenades to stun 00:07:47.389 --> 00:07:50.370 fish for the officer's mess. Shows audacity, 00:07:50.430 --> 00:07:53.490 right? A willingness to bend, maybe break, the 00:07:53.490 --> 00:07:56.490 rules to get something done, and the secrecy. 00:07:57.129 --> 00:07:59.730 Imagine getting caught. Big risks. After the 00:07:59.730 --> 00:08:01.970 war, he heads back to Sioux City. What's his 00:08:01.970 --> 00:08:04.290 mindset? Probably like a lot of returning vets. 00:08:04.649 --> 00:08:06.610 Mixed emotions, right? Wanting to reconnect with 00:08:06.610 --> 00:08:09.230 his old life, see familiar faces. But the war 00:08:09.230 --> 00:08:11.850 changes you profoundly, so there's likely a disconnect. 00:08:12.170 --> 00:08:14.410 Eager for normalcy, but carrying that weight. 00:08:14.569 --> 00:08:16.129 And that's when things get serious with Doris, 00:08:16.129 --> 00:08:17.790 though he hesitated about the age difference. 00:08:18.050 --> 00:08:19.610 Yeah, he gets back. She's still in high school, 00:08:19.649 --> 00:08:22.870 about 17. He's 20, almost 21. That four -year 00:08:22.870 --> 00:08:24.970 gap made him pause, question if it was right. 00:08:25.350 --> 00:08:27.670 Seems thoughtful, actually. Maybe he felt more 00:08:27.670 --> 00:08:29.930 mature after the war. Shows a certain character. 00:08:30.329 --> 00:08:32.970 But they connected. And he used the GI Bill. 00:08:33.570 --> 00:08:36.809 College, then law school. Huge for someone from 00:08:36.809 --> 00:08:39.529 his background. Monumental. The GI Bill just 00:08:39.529 --> 00:08:42.330 opened doors for millions like Bud. Though the 00:08:42.330 --> 00:08:45.590 book hints these vets, having seen war, kind 00:08:45.590 --> 00:08:48.230 of shook up the traditional college scene. Disruptive. 00:08:48.269 --> 00:08:50.129 Maybe just brought a different perspective, less 00:08:50.129 --> 00:08:52.409 traditional. But Bud seized the opportunity at 00:08:52.409 --> 00:08:54.649 Morningside College, then University of South 00:08:54.649 --> 00:08:56.889 Dakota Law School. Really focused. And worked 00:08:56.889 --> 00:08:59.889 multiple jobs, too. Including dangerous ones. 00:09:00.090 --> 00:09:01.970 Yeah, GI Bill helped, but didn't cover everything. 00:09:02.509 --> 00:09:04.570 Car payments, living expenses, he works tough 00:09:04.570 --> 00:09:07.929 jobs, stockyards, meatpacking plants, shows that 00:09:07.929 --> 00:09:09.909 incredible work ethic, that grit to provide. 00:09:10.210 --> 00:09:12.350 Doris's mother sounds like she played a key role. 00:09:12.470 --> 00:09:14.830 She did. Apparently had a very direct, insightful 00:09:14.830 --> 00:09:17.870 chat with Doris about Bud's feelings. Basically 00:09:17.870 --> 00:09:20.669 gave her a blessing, affirmed his love, that 00:09:20.669 --> 00:09:23.350 likely solidified things for them. They got married 00:09:23.350 --> 00:09:25.850 in December 46, shortly after her mom passed 00:09:25.850 --> 00:09:27.929 away. Their early married life shows bits of 00:09:27.929 --> 00:09:30.139 his personality, too. Handling the chivalry, 00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:33.120 their simple first Christmas. Right, the chivalry, 00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:36.179 that noisy newlywed tradition. But apparently 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:40.340 handled it with quiet, firm resolve. Calm, decisive, 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:43.580 didn't get flustered. And that first Christmas, 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:47.259 not much money, just talking. It highlights their 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:49.919 connection, finding contentment in each other, 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:53.059 not stuff. Then the incident at Frank Work's 00:09:53.059 --> 00:09:55.960 store. Catching a burglar who had ties to his 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:59.009 past. That's a powerful story. The burglar was 00:09:59.009 --> 00:10:01.450 the brother of a schoolmate from Riverside. A 00:10:01.450 --> 00:10:03.990 personal conflict there. But Bud's commitment 00:10:03.990 --> 00:10:06.769 to the law, to doing what's right, won out over 00:10:06.769 --> 00:10:09.169 those connections. Shows his core principles. 00:10:09.549 --> 00:10:12.230 But then a big setback. Denied a Marine Corps 00:10:12.230 --> 00:10:14.809 Reserve Commission. Because it's something from 00:10:14.809 --> 00:10:16.870 the past. Yeah, that jeep theft incident back 00:10:16.870 --> 00:10:18.809 in Hawaii during the war came back to bite him. 00:10:18.870 --> 00:10:20.950 Denied the commission. For someone with his service 00:10:20.950 --> 00:10:24.210 record, that was a huge blow. Devastating. Frank 00:10:24.210 --> 00:10:26.429 Work remembers him vowing to get serious. Yes, 00:10:26.490 --> 00:10:28.809 apparently Bud wrote on a napkin, promising to 00:10:28.809 --> 00:10:31.129 buckle down. Frank Work believed in him, saw 00:10:31.129 --> 00:10:33.730 his potential, but it was a real moment of reckoning 00:10:33.730 --> 00:10:36.330 for Bud, a turning point. And frustratingly, 00:10:36.330 --> 00:10:38.009 he couldn't get called up for the Korean War 00:10:38.009 --> 00:10:41.009 either, despite trying. Right. His National Guard 00:10:41.009 --> 00:10:43.470 unit wasn't activated, and when he tried to volunteer 00:10:43.470 --> 00:10:46.590 repeatedly, he got rebuffed. For someone trained, 00:10:46.809 --> 00:10:49.509 experienced, wanting to serve, must have been 00:10:49.509 --> 00:10:52.710 incredibly frustrating. Sidelined. The third 00:10:52.710 --> 00:10:54.470 time trying to get back into service, basically. 00:10:54.649 --> 00:10:58.149 And he ends up joining the Air Force in 51. Why 00:10:58.149 --> 00:11:00.750 the Air Force? Well, the Air Force was expanding 00:11:00.750 --> 00:11:03.070 rapidly because of Korea. They needed pilots 00:11:03.070 --> 00:11:05.950 badly. His prior experience, his determination 00:11:05.950 --> 00:11:08.429 to fly, which the Marines had denied him, likely 00:11:08.429 --> 00:11:10.830 made him a good candidate. It was his path into 00:11:10.830 --> 00:11:13.690 the air. His early time at Goodfellow AFB sounds 00:11:13.690 --> 00:11:16.389 more positive, though. Even before flight training. 00:11:16.629 --> 00:11:18.269 Yeah, while waiting for a training slot, they 00:11:18.269 --> 00:11:20.899 actually gave him substantive work. Legal advisor, 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:23.279 trainer, he got recognized early, earned a good 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:25.860 officer efficiency report in ER, set a good trajectory. 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:28.259 But Doris had a tough adjustment in West Texas. 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:31.159 Oh, yeah. Big contrast to Iowa. Basic housing, 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:34.240 the relentless heat, dust, insects. Yeah. It 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:36.559 was challenging for her. Highlights the sacrifices 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:38.679 military families make, right? Definitely. Then 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:41.159 flight training at Moody AFB. That culture sounds 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:43.620 intense. Flying into thunderstorms. The faint 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:46.700 heart. Huh. Yeah, that saying. It sums up the 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:49.039 attitude. Pushing boundaries, bravado, taking 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:52.620 calculated risks, even in severe weather. Attracted 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:54.580 a certain type of person to flying back then. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:57.139 And Bud's skills really started showing there. 00:11:57.240 --> 00:12:00.159 Intuitive genius. His instructor saw it quickly. 00:12:00.730 --> 00:12:02.870 More than just technically good, he had this 00:12:02.870 --> 00:12:06.230 innate feel for flying, almost instinctive. That 00:12:06.230 --> 00:12:08.830 natural talent plus the training really set him 00:12:08.830 --> 00:12:11.289 apart. Which maybe helped in that first near 00:12:11.289 --> 00:12:14.049 fatal incident, the T -33 fire. Yeah. Those sucker 00:12:14.049 --> 00:12:16.490 doors. Absolutely. Those auxiliary air intakes, 00:12:16.629 --> 00:12:19.309 risky design, engine fire on takeoff, flames 00:12:19.309 --> 00:12:22.370 near the main fuel tank, disaster. But Bud reacted 00:12:22.370 --> 00:12:25.350 incredibly fast. What did he do? Counterintuitively, 00:12:25.350 --> 00:12:27.710 he kept the nose down to maintain airspeed instead 00:12:27.710 --> 00:12:29.750 of pulling up like you might instinctively do. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.179 precise control, decisive action. He became the 00:12:33.179 --> 00:12:35.899 first and apparently the only pilot to ever survive 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:38.740 that specific failure in a T -33. Incredible. 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:41.220 But probably not the kind of recognition he wanted. 00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:43.539 Exactly. Gained him attention, but yeah. Then 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:46.340 came Strategic Air Command, SAC, at Bergstrom 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:49.320 AFB. Different vibe from training. Very different. 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:52.659 SAC was known for being highly structured, rigid 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:55.600 bureaucracy. Sometimes clashed with the more, 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:58.850 uh... Freewheeling attitudes of the experienced 00:12:58.850 --> 00:13:01.809 WWII and Korean War pilots. And those older guys 00:13:01.809 --> 00:13:03.929 could be a bit dismissive of younger pilots like 00:13:03.929 --> 00:13:06.409 Bud. A definite hierarchy. And then another near 00:13:06.409 --> 00:13:09.889 -death experience. In the F -84 this time, that 00:13:09.889 --> 00:13:12.789 plane had a bad rep. Notorious. Challenging, 00:13:12.789 --> 00:13:15.570 treacherous flying characteristics. Pilots even 00:13:15.570 --> 00:13:18.029 wrote songs about how unreliable it was. Just 00:13:18.029 --> 00:13:20.470 underscores the dangers early jet pilots faced 00:13:20.470 --> 00:13:22.870 constantly. Flying machines with known flaws. 00:13:23.289 --> 00:13:26.960 Followed by deployment to Japan. Shitose. Flying 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.559 those F -84s near the Soviet border. High states, 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:32.139 Cold War stuff. Extremely tense, perilous work. 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:34.340 Flying armed jets along the border, constant 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:36.379 threat of Soviet bombers violating airspace. 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:38.620 U .S. pilots had authority to engage. He was 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:40.899 right on the front line. Any mission could escalate 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:43.679 instantly. Meanwhile, Doris, back at Bergstrom, 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.659 had that experience with the Officer's Wives 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:48.860 Club. Yeah, found it a bit formal, maybe cliquey. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:52.279 Strict protocols. It wasn't entirely welcoming, 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.840 apparently. Made her resolve that when they got 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:57.500 to England later, she'd be more inclusive. Shows 00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:59.799 her own growth. And England did become a favorite 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:03.000 posting for them. But still facing challenges. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.299 Financial responsibilities. Yeah, even in England, 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:09.639 life wasn't simple. Bud was supporting his parents 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:11.659 and Doris's father, whose business was failing. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.559 Big responsibility. And they decided to adopt. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:18.539 Yes. A huge, life -changing decision. They adopted 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:21.080 their son, Stephen, from a German orphanage in 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:24.399 1957. A really profound and joyous moment for 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:26.279 them. But England was also where he had another 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:29.519 miraculous escape. An F -84 explosion this time. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.679 Right after a near crash. He was really living 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:34.059 on the edge. Seriously. First, the near crash 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:36.860 landing at Wethersfield in 0 -0 visibility. Just 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:38.759 exceptional piloting, though. Maybe he should 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:41.250 have bailed out. But then the catastrophic F 00:14:41.250 --> 00:14:43.590 -84 explosion right after takeoff from Woodbridge. 00:14:43.789 --> 00:14:46.730 Much worse. And his reaction? Remarkably calm, 00:14:46.750 --> 00:14:48.850 apparently, during the emergency itself. Just 00:14:48.850 --> 00:14:52.190 focus. He ejected incredibly low right as it 00:14:52.190 --> 00:14:55.350 exploded. It's amazing he survived, but badly 00:14:55.350 --> 00:14:59.490 injured. Miraculous survival. Ejected low. Explosion 00:14:59.490 --> 00:15:02.289 almost simultaneous. Severe injuries, including 00:15:02.289 --> 00:15:05.490 a powdered ankle. The surgeon told him flat out, 00:15:05.570 --> 00:15:08.330 you'll never fly again. Devastating for a pilot. 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:12.419 But Bud's response. Simple, defiant. Well, I'm 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:15.059 going to try. Just speaks volumes about his will, 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:18.659 right? Refusal to accept limits, that core determination. 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:21.919 And Major McCarthy's comment that God was saving 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.679 him for something special. That stuck with Bud. 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:27.320 Deeply. Became a cornerstone of his belief system. 00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:29.580 Gave him this sense of purpose. That his life 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:32.039 had meaning beyond just survival. Probably gave 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:33.820 him immense strength later on. Interestingly, 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:36.519 the Pentagon analysis of the crash noted both 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:38.840 correct and incorrect pilot actions. Standard 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:41.620 procedure, right. Analyze to learn, improve safety. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.860 Highlights the complexity. Even in survival, 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:46.279 there are always lessons. But despite the crash, 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:49.600 the injuries, his ERs afterwards were exceptional. 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:52.600 Recommending early promotion. Incredible, isn't 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:54.720 it? Shows his resilience, his dedication. His 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:56.840 superiors still held him in incredibly high regard. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:02.299 But then, ROTC duty in St. Louis. That sounds 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:04.700 like a career setback for a fighter pilot. Yeah, 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:06.600 generally seen that way. Instructing college 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:10.039 kids. Not the cockpit. Right. A detour. Potentially 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:12.519 hindering advancement. Understandably disappointing 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:15.259 for him. Felt grounded. So during that time, 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:18.379 he and Doris start a real estate business. Yeah. 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:21.740 Always planning ahead. Very practical. Recognized 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:23.659 the risks of flying. Wanted financial security 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:25.879 for the family. Started the Armed Forces Land 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:28.480 Corporation. Bought and renovated houses back 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.460 in Sioux City, including his childhood home. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.779 Planned to eventually retire there. Maybe bud 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:35.720 practice law. Shows their foresight. Strong roots. 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:39.090 He also aced Armed Forces Staff College. Graduated 00:16:39.090 --> 00:16:41.789 outstanding, even met Admiral John S. McCain 00:16:41.789 --> 00:16:44.490 Sr. there. Significant achievement. Validated 00:16:44.490 --> 00:16:46.490 his leadership, strategic thinking, and yeah, 00:16:46.529 --> 00:16:48.450 that early connection with McCain Sr. is fascinating, 00:16:48.710 --> 00:16:50.350 given his later relationship with John McCain 00:16:50.350 --> 00:16:53.549 Jr. But then another non -flying job? Niagara 00:16:53.549 --> 00:16:56.669 Falls. Despite his record, it's baffling. Must 00:16:56.669 --> 00:16:59.129 have been deeply frustrating. Highly qualified 00:16:59.129 --> 00:17:02.049 pilot, needed pilots, gets an admin role, but 00:17:02.049 --> 00:17:04.470 his passion for flying was so strong. He kept 00:17:04.470 --> 00:17:07.890 flying anyway. Over 30 hours a month. Test pilot 00:17:07.890 --> 00:17:10.970 instructor. Accumulated almost 5 ,000 flying 00:17:10.970 --> 00:17:14.069 hours. Just wouldn't give it up. Again, stellar 00:17:14.069 --> 00:17:16.369 ratings, recommendations for early promotion, 00:17:16.650 --> 00:17:18.970 even in that role. And during this time, he kind 00:17:18.970 --> 00:17:21.369 of reconciles with his deceased father. Gains 00:17:21.369 --> 00:17:24.589 a new perspective. Yeah. Seems as he matured, 00:17:24.589 --> 00:17:26.750 faced his own challenges, he gained a deeper 00:17:26.750 --> 00:17:28.609 appreciation for what his father went through. 00:17:28.809 --> 00:17:32.680 That posthumous understanding, respect. Part 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:35.680 of personal growth. Then Luke AFB in Phoenix, 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:39.500 1967. Yeah. Right before Vietnam. Doris wasn't 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:41.720 keen on Arizona initially. Understandable, coming 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:44.140 from green Iowa to the desert landscape. Just 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:46.180 another adjustment military spouses make, right? 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:48.619 Small detail, but relatable. So he arrives in 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:50.400 Vietnam at the peak of his career. Senior major, 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:53.279 expected promotion soon. Reputation for macho 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:55.700 and intellect. And one of only two lawyer fighter 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:58.180 pilots in the Air Force then. Yeah, he was quite 00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:00.319 a figure. Highly respected, unique skill set. 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:02.829 But his initial job there. Scheduling? Seriously? 00:18:03.109 --> 00:18:05.650 Seems crazy, right? A senior major combat pilot 00:18:05.650 --> 00:18:07.369 stuck in a non -operational scheduling role. 00:18:07.670 --> 00:18:10.009 Huge underutilization. Must have felt like a 00:18:10.009 --> 00:18:12.869 dead end. Fortunately, that changed. He gets 00:18:12.869 --> 00:18:15.509 picked to command Operation Commando Sabre. The 00:18:15.509 --> 00:18:18.349 Mistys. Top secret stuff. Now that was more like 00:18:18.349 --> 00:18:21.309 it. Flying F -100Fs as forward air controllers 00:18:21.309 --> 00:18:25.009 FACs over North Vietnam, specifically Route Pack 00:18:25.009 --> 00:18:28.009 1. Which was? The northernmost, most heavily 00:18:28.009 --> 00:18:31.630 defended area, bordering China. Intense anti 00:18:31.630 --> 00:18:34.569 -aircraft fire. Their FAC missions were incredibly 00:18:34.569 --> 00:18:37.670 dangerous, but vital. And their tactics. Hit 00:18:37.670 --> 00:18:40.710 my smoke. Sounds aggressive. Very. Unique and 00:18:40.710 --> 00:18:42.930 daring. Instead of just directing strikes to 00:18:42.930 --> 00:18:45.269 coordinates, they'd fly low, mark targets with 00:18:45.269 --> 00:18:47.089 their own smoke rockets, and then tell the fighters, 00:18:47.230 --> 00:18:49.849 hit my smoke. Allowed for more precision. Much 00:18:49.849 --> 00:18:51.829 more. Especially on moving or hidden targets, 00:18:52.009 --> 00:18:54.769 often caused huge secondary explosions, confirming 00:18:54.769 --> 00:18:58.150 good hits. High risk, high reward. Bud was Misty 00:18:58.150 --> 00:19:00.589 1, the first commander. What was his leadership 00:19:00.589 --> 00:19:02.829 like in that unit? He commanded with experience, 00:19:03.269 --> 00:19:05.750 bluntness, but also deep concern for his pilots. 00:19:06.130 --> 00:19:08.029 Earned immediate respect from the volunteers, 00:19:08.210 --> 00:19:10.880 like Misty 2, Bill Douglas. They saw his... skill, 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:13.880 his courage, prioritize the mission and his men's 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:15.779 safety, something he said he learned in the Marines. 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:18.099 These missions sound terrifying. Flying into 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:21.000 hot zones, no formal flight plans, relying on 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.380 skill and nerve. The guy in the back seat, the 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:26.859 pit. Absolutely crucial role. Eyes and ears, 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:29.920 spotting targets, guiding strikes, navigating 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.880 constant danger, minimal armament on their F 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:35.299 -100Fs, but they'd engage enemy positions directly 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:37.660 if needed. Required incredible coordination, 00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:41.029 bravery. And their planes got hit often. Yeah. 00:19:41.150 --> 00:19:44.009 Bud became known as a magnet ass. Yeah. Yeah. 00:19:44.049 --> 00:19:46.789 The nickname reflected reality. His plane seemed 00:19:46.789 --> 00:19:48.910 to attract more than its share of enemy fire. 00:19:48.990 --> 00:19:51.130 But his reaction telling Doris, remember, that's 00:19:51.130 --> 00:19:54.170 the name of the game. Just stoic acceptance of 00:19:54.170 --> 00:19:56.269 the extreme risk. He was also developing Air 00:19:56.269 --> 00:19:58.450 Force doctrine for these jet FACs while leading 00:19:58.450 --> 00:20:01.119 them. Right. His experience, the misty tactics, 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:03.660 they provided valuable lessons, shaped future 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:06.160 Air Force operations, shows his forward -thinking 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:08.900 commitment beyond just flying sorties. But then, 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:11.740 tragically, his run ends. Shot down near Vin 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:14.500 Lin, what happened immediately? Ejected at high 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:17.160 speed. Got thrown against the canopy. Broken 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:20.559 arm, dislocated knee, eye injury. Lands in a 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:24.140 heavily bombed area. Immediate thought. Survival. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:27.500 Evasion. Race against the gomers, as he called 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:29.740 them, to get rescued. His initial treatment by 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:33.440 militia sounds horrific. Paraded, mocked, crude 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:37.220 medical care. Brutal. Dehumanizing. Paraded through 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:40.740 villages. Ridicule. Then this French -speaking 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:43.880 Vietnamese doctor gives him rudimentary, agonizing 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:46.920 care for his broken arm. Just intense physical 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.920 pain and psychological distress right off the 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:51.470 bat. Then interrogation. He refused to talk. 00:20:51.609 --> 00:20:54.309 Immediately. Led to beatings, torture, like being 00:20:54.309 --> 00:20:56.990 hung upside down. Showed that inner fortitude 00:20:56.990 --> 00:20:59.309 right from the start, sticking to the code of 00:20:59.309 --> 00:21:01.700 conduct despite being injured, captured. And 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:04.079 he decided he had to escape, knowing the torture 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.400 would only get worse. An incredibly courageous 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:09.339 decision. Realized his condition, knew the torture 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:11.440 would escalate, felt he couldn't withstand it 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:13.799 indefinitely without potentially breaking. The 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:16.380 risk of escape seemed preferable to that. A desperate 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:19.380 gamble. The escape itself. Crawling through rice 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:22.359 paddies, extreme pain, constantly hiding. It's 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:24.880 almost unimaginable. An absolute ordeal. Broken 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:28.750 arm, dislocated knee. crawling for days. Constant 00:21:28.750 --> 00:21:31.630 pain, exhaustion, near -captures multiple times. 00:21:31.930 --> 00:21:34.289 His knowledge of the terrain from flying helped, 00:21:34.450 --> 00:21:37.089 but physically, it was monumental. And he even 00:21:37.089 --> 00:21:39.869 witnessed a U .S. bombing run nearby. Dangerously 00:21:39.869 --> 00:21:43.049 close. The irony, right? Trying to evade the 00:21:43.049 --> 00:21:46.089 enemy, almost taken out by friendly fire, must 00:21:46.089 --> 00:21:48.809 have been terrifying, underscores the chaos. 00:21:49.130 --> 00:21:52.069 But after nearly three weeks... He was recaptured. 00:21:52.109 --> 00:21:54.289 Their reaction must have been furious. Oh, absolutely. 00:21:54.490 --> 00:21:56.089 He debated them for that long. It was a huge 00:21:56.089 --> 00:21:58.609 embarrassment, a major loss of face for the North 00:21:58.609 --> 00:22:01.529 Vietnamese Army. Recapture meant intense anger, 00:22:01.609 --> 00:22:03.809 desire for retribution. Return to the same hole. 00:22:03.970 --> 00:22:06.910 More beatings, threats. Yes. Brutal treatment 00:22:06.910 --> 00:22:09.309 upon recapture, beatings, threats. Even a pistol 00:22:09.309 --> 00:22:11.670 held to his head. But even then, his defiance, 00:22:11.670 --> 00:22:13.869 shouting back, his spirit just wouldn't break. 00:22:14.109 --> 00:22:16.490 And finally, a real meal after three weeks on 00:22:16.490 --> 00:22:19.089 the run. Seems small, but underscores the profound 00:22:19.089 --> 00:22:21.829 deprivation. That first meager meal must have 00:22:21.829 --> 00:22:24.029 been immense relief, a stark reminder of basic 00:22:24.029 --> 00:22:26.150 needs. Then transferred to a more formal POW 00:22:26.150 --> 00:22:29.210 camp. Hearing another American, Major Norris 00:22:29.210 --> 00:22:31.869 Overly. Must have been profound. Hearing another 00:22:31.869 --> 00:22:34.970 American voice after weeks of isolation, brutality, 00:22:35.390 --> 00:22:39.150 a glimmer of hope, connection. Knowing he wasn't 00:22:39.150 --> 00:22:42.390 alone anymore. Then arrival in Hanoi. Hillo Prison. 00:22:42.690 --> 00:22:46.730 The Hanoi Hilton. Put in room 18. known for torture 00:22:46.730 --> 00:22:49.970 yeah that marked a new even more harrowing chapter 00:22:49.970 --> 00:22:53.730 room 18 was notorious systematic physical and 00:22:53.730 --> 00:22:56.750 psychological torture was the norm there a definite 00:22:56.750 --> 00:22:59.130 escalation and there he meets lieutenant commander 00:22:59.130 --> 00:23:02.230 john mccain who was in terrible shape severely 00:23:02.230 --> 00:23:05.069 injured very poor condition bud's first impression 00:23:05.069 --> 00:23:07.750 was that mccain was actually dying just highlights 00:23:07.750 --> 00:23:10.410 the brutal reality the physical toll but they 00:23:10.410 --> 00:23:12.869 develop a close friendship despite differences 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:15.839 McCain talked a lot. Yeah, McCain was apparently 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.079 quite talkative. Despite different backgrounds, 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:20.819 personalities, that shared suffering forged a 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:23.279 deep bond. Though McCain's relationship with 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:25.940 their other cellmate, a SSEC pilot, was apparently 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:28.380 more strained. Different service cultures, maybe? 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:30.359 Could be. What about the Tet Offensive back in 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:32.420 Vietnam? Did that change things in the camps? 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:34.920 Tet was a military disaster for the North Vietnamese, 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:37.779 but a huge political victory in terms of shifting 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:40.980 U .S. public opinion. Inside the camps, that 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:43.140 likely contributed to a long -term reassessment 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:46.000 by their captors, though immediate changes weren't 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.099 always obvious. And news from home via the camp's 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:52.599 CBS system. Often bad news. Anti -war protests. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:56.259 Yeah. Hearing about protests, draft card burnings, 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:58.299 negative statements from prominent Americans. 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:01.640 It was deeply demoralizing, often infuriating 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.819 for the POWs. They're enduring hell, and it felt 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:07.160 like their sacrifice wasn't supported, even opposed. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:09.980 Created a painful disconnect, probably reinforced 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:12.380 their sense of duty. Overly gets released early 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:14.160 in the sink release program. He carried letters 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:16.900 out. Yes, a dictated letter from Budd to Doris, 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:19.720 and a note written and signed by McCain. Overly's 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:21.819 release was complex for those left behind hope, 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:24.980 but maybe anxiety too. For Doris, getting that 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:27.779 direct word, knowing Bud was alive, unbelievably 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:31.200 emotional. A tangible link. Bud gained this incredible 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:34.799 reputation among POWs, right? Resilience. Piss 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:37.529 on every tree in the forest. Huh. That description 00:24:37.529 --> 00:24:39.789 says it all, doesn't it? Just captures the immense 00:24:39.789 --> 00:24:42.809 respect they had for him, signifies his indomitable 00:24:42.809 --> 00:24:46.029 spirit, his refusal to be broken, his constant 00:24:46.029 --> 00:24:48.750 acts of defiance, big and small, a symbol of 00:24:48.750 --> 00:24:50.809 resistance. He even got promoted to lieutenant 00:24:50.809 --> 00:24:54.450 colonel while a POW. Recommended for Silver Stars. 00:24:54.690 --> 00:24:57.539 Yes. recognition amidst that suffering, told 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:00.960 by a new arrival, Bob Creener, just underscores 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:03.400 his leadership, his character. Even in captivity, 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:06.559 his contributions were seen. And Doris back home 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:10.079 became this tireless advocate. Absolutely. Formed 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:13.079 a local POW MIA family group, became president, 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:15.039 then Arizona coordinator for the National League 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:17.519 of Families, relentlessly raised awareness, lobbied. 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:20.430 Her strength was immense, mirroring his. Ross 00:25:20.430 --> 00:25:22.490 Perot got involved, too. Yeah. Providing support. 00:25:22.710 --> 00:25:24.529 Yes. Perot's involvement brought significant 00:25:24.529 --> 00:25:27.190 resources, high -level attention to the POW issue. 00:25:27.309 --> 00:25:29.549 His support was invaluable for the families. 00:25:29.769 --> 00:25:32.250 Bud endured particularly intense torture in 69 00:25:32.250 --> 00:25:35.009 after an escape attempt by others, his creed. 00:25:35.049 --> 00:25:37.529 Return with honor. The retribution after that 00:25:37.529 --> 00:25:40.819 escape attempt hit Bud hard. Return with honor 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:43.740 became his anchor. It meant resisting, upholding 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:46.420 military obligations no matter the cost, refusing 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:49.299 to break, collaborate, or bring dishonor on himself, 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:52.259 his fellow prisoners, his country. Even after 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:54.900 Ho Chi Minh died and things eased a bit for most, 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:57.640 Bud remained a target. Yeah, his reputation for 00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:59.599 resistance meant he was still singled out, still 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:02.450 pressured. His spirit was constantly tested because 00:26:02.450 --> 00:26:05.630 they saw him as a key figure of defiance. The 00:26:05.630 --> 00:26:07.769 book mentions lighter moments, too, like winning 00:26:07.769 --> 00:26:10.009 a checkers game against a guard. Little glimpses 00:26:10.009 --> 00:26:12.470 of his enduring spirit, right? Finding moments 00:26:12.470 --> 00:26:14.990 of defiance, maybe even humor, asserting his 00:26:14.990 --> 00:26:17.490 humanity in that oppressive place. His competitive 00:26:17.490 --> 00:26:19.990 streak was still there. Doris meeting with people 00:26:19.990 --> 00:26:23.269 like General Chappie James, she was a force herself. 00:26:23.670 --> 00:26:26.910 Definitely. Direct, forceful advocacy. holding 00:26:26.910 --> 00:26:29.329 leaders accountable, ensuring the POWs weren't 00:26:29.329 --> 00:26:31.950 forgotten, a tireless voice. Bud's leadership 00:26:31.950 --> 00:26:34.990 in Room 7, emphasizing resistance, following 00:26:34.990 --> 00:26:37.569 the senior ranking officer, SRO, that structure 00:26:37.569 --> 00:26:41.069 was vital. Crucial. Maintain discipline, communication, 00:26:41.509 --> 00:26:45.230 a united front. Following the SRO prevented the 00:26:45.230 --> 00:26:48.109 North Vietnamese from dividing them. That organized 00:26:48.109 --> 00:26:51.549 church service defying orders is a powerful example 00:26:51.549 --> 00:26:54.170 of their collective resistance. His reaction 00:26:54.170 --> 00:26:56.390 to hearing about John Kerry's anti -war activities 00:26:56.390 --> 00:27:00.150 in 71? Yeah. Dismissive. Foreshadowing. Yeah, 00:27:00.210 --> 00:27:02.609 strong negative reaction. Reflects that deep 00:27:02.609 --> 00:27:05.210 divide between those serving, especially POWs, 00:27:05.210 --> 00:27:07.670 and some elements of the anti -war movement back 00:27:07.670 --> 00:27:10.150 home. Highlights the intense emotions around 00:27:10.150 --> 00:27:12.049 the war. Even those crude Christmas performances. 00:27:12.430 --> 00:27:16.210 McCain as Scrooge. Important acts. Vital for 00:27:16.210 --> 00:27:18.309 morale, camaraderie, asserting their humanity. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.660 Creating their own moments of normalcy, however 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:23.819 basic, was an act of defiance against the dehumanizing 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:26.259 conditions. Supporting the Christmas bombing, 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:29.039 seeing the pilots as Budd's brothers. Shows a 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:32.279 deep solidarity, right? Connection, loyalty felt 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:34.579 towards those still fighting, risking their lives. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:37.019 They were all linked by the war. Their subdued 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:40.619 demeanor upon release reflected the ordeal. Absolutely. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:43.819 Not big celebrations, but quiet strength. They 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:46.460 knew they'd survived, resisted, achieved a moral 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:49.690 victory. But the scars were deep. The experience 00:27:49.690 --> 00:27:51.930 had profoundly changed them. And the returning 00:27:51.930 --> 00:27:55.089 POWs became this rallying point for America, 00:27:55.190 --> 00:27:57.849 but also that tension about the early releases. 00:27:58.069 --> 00:28:00.210 Yeah, their return was a needed moment of national 00:28:00.210 --> 00:28:03.289 unity, pride. But the circumstances around Overly 00:28:03.289 --> 00:28:05.650 and others in the Fink release created lasting 00:28:05.650 --> 00:28:07.750 unease, complex feelings for those who endured 00:28:07.750 --> 00:28:10.369 longer, added layers to their shared experience. 00:28:10.690 --> 00:28:13.099 Finally home. The reunion with Doris and the 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:15.519 kids must have been overwhelming. Incredibly 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.720 moving, surely. The end of years of uncertainty, 00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:20.640 agony, the start of a long, difficult process 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:23.380 of healing, reconnecting. Younger military guys 00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:26.140 saw him as a legend. Even small things, like 00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:28.740 the hotel bathroom size. Met with profound respect, 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:31.960 awe. And yeah, those contrasts, a normal bathroom 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:34.200 versus his tiny cell became significant markers, 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:37.000 reminders of the deprivation he'd endured, deep 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:39.539 appreciation for simple things. Colonel Guarino 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:42.109 recommended him for the Medal of Honor. recognizing 00:28:42.109 --> 00:28:45.809 his leadership, resistance. Though there was 00:28:45.809 --> 00:28:48.130 some controversy around other MOH awards then. 00:28:48.349 --> 00:28:51.329 Yes, Guarino saw exceptional valor, unwavering 00:28:51.329 --> 00:28:53.809 leadership, but apparently had a cynical thought 00:28:53.809 --> 00:28:56.250 about seniority playing a role. And there were 00:28:56.250 --> 00:28:58.650 differing perspectives, some controversy surrounding 00:28:58.650 --> 00:29:02.309 Jim Stockdale's Citation II, highlights the complexities, 00:29:02.650 --> 00:29:05.390 sometimes politics, around top medals. Surprisingly, 00:29:05.589 --> 00:29:07.569 the Air Force didn't give him a fighter command 00:29:07.569 --> 00:29:09.990 job. He went for a PhD instead. Seems like a 00:29:09.990 --> 00:29:12.579 shift, right? Despite his record, his desire 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:14.940 to lead fighters, he hit bureaucratic walls. 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:18.400 The PhD in political science suggests maybe he 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:21.380 saw his military career path changing or plateauing. 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:24.059 But he kept advocating for the returning POWs, 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:26.599 writing their ERs, still wanted to fly fighters. 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:29.619 Absolutely dedicated to his fellow POWs, ensuring 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:32.039 their sacrifices were recognized, still pushed 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:35.599 to re -qualify, lead, but faced ongoing frustrations 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:38.059 with the bureaucracy. His loyalty was fierce. 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:41.079 He eventually realized his Air Force career had 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:43.420 peaked, met the president of South Vietnam with 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:46.299 McCain, requalified in the F -4 Phantom despite 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:49.259 injuries, still protective of junior officers. 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:51.940 Yeah, seems he accepted the plateau, but still 00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:54.059 served with distinction, requalifying in the 00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:56.460 F -4 after everything, testament to his skill. 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:58.960 And intervening at the O -Club shows that leadership 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:01.839 instinct never left. But no promotion to general, 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:04.440 partly due to politics around Admiral Stockdale. 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.980 Another disappointment. Likely a significant 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:09.859 one. Complex military promotions, political factors 00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:12.720 seemed to work against him. Must have been tough 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:14.599 after all he'd given. He wasn't shy about giving 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:16.640 feedback, was he? Telling the chief of staff 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:19.819 about POW treatment and that annual, oh shit, 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:24.839 party. Shows his character, right? Blunt feedback, 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:28.299 even to the top. And the party. His unique way 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:31.019 of coping, commemorating his shoot down. Unyielding 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:33.599 spirit. Strong anti -communist views, sometimes 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:36.220 controversial remarks, became active politically 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:39.140 in Florida. Yeah, his convictions, shaped by 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:41.839 his experiences, became central post -military. 00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:44.640 He got heavily involved in politics, played a 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:47.059 key role in making Florida's first congressional 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:49.680 district a Republican stronghold. And that email 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:52.759 about John Kerry in 2004. Yeah. Comparing him 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:55.480 to Benedict Arnold shows the lingering divisions 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:58.700 from Vietnam. Deeply felt opinions about Kerry's 00:30:58.700 --> 00:31:01.650 wartime activism. expressing them so publicly, 00:31:01.809 --> 00:31:05.200 so strongly. underscores the lasting impact of 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:07.900 the war, the intense emotions veterans held. 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:10.500 He then dedicated himself to fighting for retiree 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:13.579 medical benefits. The Brown Bag Campaign. Became 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:16.480 a major focus later in life. Lawsuits, lobbying 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:19.500 Congress, tireless advocacy for veterans, ensuring 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:22.079 promises made were kept, continued commitment 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:24.319 to his peers. He reacted strongly to a court 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:26.660 opinion he felt distorted the military. Passionate 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:28.599 response. Saw it as misrepresenting military 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:31.349 culture, government obligations. Highlights his 00:31:31.349 --> 00:31:34.230 core value. Honor, duty, keeping promises to 00:31:34.230 --> 00:31:36.589 those who serve. Lifelong defense of military 00:31:36.589 --> 00:31:38.930 integrity. Attended the Robbie Risner statue 00:31:38.930 --> 00:31:41.769 dedication. Supported by Perot. Shows those POW 00:31:41.769 --> 00:31:44.740 bonds. Absolutely. Lasting camaraderie, mutual 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:47.380 support within that community, recognition of 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:50.380 their shared sacrifice, resilience. Continued 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:52.359 advocating for veterans' promises, even if it 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:54.759 meant disagreeing privately with McCain on issues 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.720 like torture. Shows his independent thinking. 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:59.680 Right. Held firm to his convictions, his principles, 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:02.039 even when differing with prominent friends on 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:04.920 major ethical issues. Strong moral compass. Later 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:08.940 years. Nostalgic drives. Pheasant hunting. Still 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:11.319 leading, even casually. Glimpses of his personal 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:13.880 life. Enjoying simple things, connecting to his 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:16.980 past, and that natural leadership tendency even 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:19.319 in retirement during a hunt. And his humor endured. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:21.920 That quote about refusing a drink. The only time 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:24.039 I ever refused a drink was when I didn't understand 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:27.000 the question. Perfect encapsulation of his wit, 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:29.740 right? Finding lightheartedness after all that 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:32.319 darkness. Speaks to his resilience. Worsening 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:35.859 health, but still active. Simple lifestyle. Guilt 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:38.890 about wasting food. lasting impacts. Yeah, determination 00:32:38.890 --> 00:32:42.049 despite health challenges. And that frugality, 00:32:42.150 --> 00:32:44.549 aversion to waste, powerful echoes of his depression 00:32:44.549 --> 00:32:48.049 upbringing, those years of POW deprivation, experiences 00:32:48.049 --> 00:32:51.109 shape you deeply. Became a living legend. Asked 00:32:51.109 --> 00:32:54.789 at dining outs, Colonel, was it worth it? His 00:32:54.789 --> 00:32:57.789 response. Always the same, powerful, unwavering, 00:32:57.789 --> 00:33:01.049 God bless America, encapsulates his deep patriotism, 00:33:01.069 --> 00:33:03.630 his faith, his belief in the meaning of his service. 00:33:03.910 --> 00:33:07.210 And finally, the misties, that enduring bond, 00:33:07.430 --> 00:33:10.170 remembering the fallen. Shows those deep connections 00:33:10.170 --> 00:33:13.630 forged in combat, right? Commitment to shared 00:33:13.630 --> 00:33:16.730 history, honoring their lost brothers. Unbreakable 00:33:16.730 --> 00:33:19.630 bonds formed in extreme danger. Thank you for 00:33:19.630 --> 00:33:21.549 joining us for this deep dive into the extraordinary 00:33:21.549 --> 00:33:24.269 life of Colonel Bud Day. His life is just an 00:33:24.269 --> 00:33:26.809 incredible example, isn't it? Unwavering courage, 00:33:26.990 --> 00:33:29.089 resilience that's almost beyond comprehension, 00:33:29.130 --> 00:33:32.329 and this profound lifelong commitment to duty 00:33:32.329 --> 00:33:35.029 and honor. Absolutely. His journey, humble beginnings 00:33:35.029 --> 00:33:38.230 to war hero, tireless advocate, it offers profound 00:33:38.230 --> 00:33:40.750 lessons about the human spirit. Truly does. What 00:33:40.750 --> 00:33:42.509 an amazing story. Please share your favorite 00:33:42.509 --> 00:33:45.029 moment or what aspect of Bud Day's story resonated 00:33:45.029 --> 00:33:47.680 most deeply with you in the comments below. We 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:49.779 genuinely love to hear your thoughts. And we 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:52.420 really encourage you to delve further into American 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:56.480 Patriot, the life and wars of Colonel Budd, and 00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:58.579 explore other biographies of these remarkable 00:33:58.579 --> 00:34:01.279 individuals, too. Please like this deep dive, 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:03.819 leave a comment, and share with others who might 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:06.720 find inspiration and insight in Budd Day's incredible 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:09.400 story. Your engagement really helps us bring 00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:11.559 more fascinating lives and events like this to 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:12.840 light. Thanks for listening.