How's this for a feel good? Vietnam dustoff pilot flies missions for Veterans Airlift Command

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 09:15:38 -0400

"It's a labor of love," said Knisely, 69, who flew UH-1 Huey helicopters to evacuate U.S. casualties from Vietnam battlefields. Those unarmed helicopters, called dustoffs, were frequently the target of enemy fire.

Knisely's mission this week was to transport Army Cpl. Thomas Cannon, who was wounded in an improvised explosive attack in Iraq in 2011 and subsequently diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and pulmonary fibrosis. His lymphoma is in remission but now is stage 4.

Cannon has been training in Ocala with a medical service German shepherd received from Guardian Angels.

Veterans Airlift Command flew Cannon and his dog from Ocala to Allentown, Pa., with Knisely and Bannister taking the first leg of the journey in Knisely's four-seat Cirrus aircraft.

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/vietnam-dustoff-pilot-flies-missions-for-veterans-airlift-command-1.354911

Vietnam dustoff pilot flies missions for Veterans Airlift Command

Retired U.S. Army Col. Ben Knisely, a Dustoff Association Hall of Famer, flew a rescue mission Wednesday — 47 years after he was shot down in Vietnam at the battle of Hue-Phu Bai during the Viet Cong's Tet Offensive.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jun 27 at 2015 9:17 AM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 09:17:17 -0400

Outstanding!

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 27 at 2015 9:22 AM

SFC William Farrell — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 09:22:00 -0400

A first class soldier who flew not only in Vietnam but in Desert Storm and continues to support our troops. He is a hero.