I recently read an exceptional book called By Honor Bound which is a true story about two US Navy Seals who won the Medal of Honor while serving in Vietnam.
The Lieutenant on the right, kind of a little guy, won the MOH for unbelievable bravery while rescuing multiple American pilots who were downed in North Vietnam. He was usually the only American doing the rescues with help from the Vietnam equivalent to our SEALs. Some unbelievable harrowing events that took place.
The big SEAL on the left was a Chief, later a Lieutenant, who ended up rescuing and saving the life of the LIeutenant while they were doing a recon mission. The Lieutenant was shot by NVA through the side of his head, exposing his brain and taking his eye out. Everyone thought he was dead, the big Chief didn't care that he was told he was dead, he went back anyway and found that he was still alive, though barely and drifting in & out of consciousness. Mike ended up carrying his Lieutenant to the water and swimming miles pushing him toward a Navy Cruiser that they finally got to. Oh, and also while also towing/pushing two Vietnamese SEALS who were also hurt to the cruiser. All survived thanks to Mike.
So I'm friends with a SEAL, Brian Ribera who is now retired from the Navy, and he called me saying he was in town so we went to dinner. I told him all about the book and he smiled and said "Oh yeah Tom and Mike, I'm close friends with both of them". I was stunned. He had actually gone to the White House Ceremony for Tom, the smaller guy, for his Medal of Honor Presentation. Mike had received his MOH years earlier. He then showed me this picture of the three of them.... all were thoroughly hung over after a night of partying. This picture was taken the day after the White House ceremony for Tom on the left.
Notice the huge size of Mike on the right, he could swim for days. Tom on the left spent six years having multiple surgeries to fix his skull and eye socket. But he's alive, and all thanks to Mike. There are some great stories like that in books but this is about as close as I've been to any of them. He shared a little more about Tom & Mike, both are as nice and down to earth as you could want anyone. That's my unnamed SEAL friend in the center. Did I already mention they were all thoroughly hung over?
P.S. To tie all this into our forum, Brian Ribera is also a Jeeper. That's how we met years ago, on the trail. Great guy.
P.P.S. He brought me a mighty fine bottle of single malt Scotch last year. This photo was taken at 7am... not a time I'm used to drinking Scotch anywhere close to lol.
The Lieutenant on the right, kind of a little guy, won the MOH for unbelievable bravery while rescuing multiple American pilots who were downed in North Vietnam. He was usually the only American doing the rescues with help from the Vietnam equivalent to our SEALs. Some unbelievable harrowing events that took place.
The big SEAL on the left was a Chief, later a Lieutenant, who ended up rescuing and saving the life of the LIeutenant while they were doing a recon mission. The Lieutenant was shot by NVA through the side of his head, exposing his brain and taking his eye out. Everyone thought he was dead, the big Chief didn't care that he was told he was dead, he went back anyway and found that he was still alive, though barely and drifting in & out of consciousness. Mike ended up carrying his Lieutenant to the water and swimming miles pushing him toward a Navy Cruiser that they finally got to. Oh, and also while also towing/pushing two Vietnamese SEALS who were also hurt to the cruiser. All survived thanks to Mike.
So I'm friends with a SEAL, Brian Ribera who is now retired from the Navy, and he called me saying he was in town so we went to dinner. I told him all about the book and he smiled and said "Oh yeah Tom and Mike, I'm close friends with both of them". I was stunned. He had actually gone to the White House Ceremony for Tom, the smaller guy, for his Medal of Honor Presentation. Mike had received his MOH years earlier. He then showed me this picture of the three of them.... all were thoroughly hung over after a night of partying. This picture was taken the day after the White House ceremony for Tom on the left.
Notice the huge size of Mike on the right, he could swim for days. Tom on the left spent six years having multiple surgeries to fix his skull and eye socket. But he's alive, and all thanks to Mike. There are some great stories like that in books but this is about as close as I've been to any of them. He shared a little more about Tom & Mike, both are as nice and down to earth as you could want anyone. That's my unnamed SEAL friend in the center. Did I already mention they were all thoroughly hung over?
P.S. To tie all this into our forum, Brian Ribera is also a Jeeper. That's how we met years ago, on the trail. Great guy.
P.P.S. He brought me a mighty fine bottle of single malt Scotch last year. This photo was taken at 7am... not a time I'm used to drinking Scotch anywhere close to lol.
