Army Veteran finds, reconnects with pilot who saved his life in Vietnam

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The following is an account from Army Veteran Robert Pryor on how he was able to find and reconnect with a service buddy through the website Togetherweserved.com. To find and reconnect with your own service buddies, visit the TWS buddy finder.

Sgt. Robert Pryor’s success story

In the early morning hours of 20 June 1969, my life was drawing to a close. Part of my skull had been shot away, with brain matter protruding from the void. My outer right forearm was torn free and dangling from the wrist. Because I had been shot in both knees, I found myself unable to walk or crawl. My rifle had been destroyed, along with my radio. I was quite disheartened. The only people aware of my location were those intent on killing me. With death knocking at my door, I heard the din of a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog heading my way in the darkness. With no way to communicate, I believed the Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft pilot wasted his time trying to come to my aid. Yet it gave me a little satisfaction to know, somehow or other, the U.S. Air Force might exact retribution on those who killed me.

Then came the screaming sound of warbirds under the FAC’s direction. They illuminated my area, which I didn’t like because darkness had been my only friend. Using his best judgment, the FAC directed fire from the AC-47 Spooky gunships into a screening pattern. With 3,000 to 9,000 rounds per minute impacting as close as six feet away from my position, they drove the enemy back. Then came other aircraft to finish them off. It bought enough time for my Together We Served Battle Buddy, Charles Hinson, to find and rescue me.

Years later, I read a story about the ‘Battle of Camp Bunard.’ A comment posted to that story from Air Force Captain Richard Gerry caught my eye. He mentioned being ‘Rod 11,’ the FAC flying overhead during the battle, and a member of Together We Served. A quick search of members led me to Dick, and we have become fast friends, as well as Together We Served Battle Buddies. He sent me an excerpt from his diary entry about the battle. It stated in part:

“This morning I was awakened to find out that Camp Bunard was being overrun. I took off at 02:50 and put in 3 Spookys, a Shadow, 3 Light Fire teams and 1 set of Fighters before daylight. Friendlies took many casualties. One U.S. soldier was seriously wounded. Charlie did not take the camp. How anyone survived that attack is a true miracle!”

My miracle came in the form of Captain Gerry and his fellow Airmen. Another miracle happened when we linked up through Together We Served 53 years later! The difficult we did with ease. The impossible sometimes takes a little longer! Through Dick, I also connected with Dave Gauntlett. He was the Air Force sergeant who dispatched all the air assets which were involved in saving those of us on the ground at Camp Bunard on 20 June 1969.

Sgt. Robert Pryor,
U.S. Army (1967-1969)