A Minnesota PBS Initiative
The Guard Saved My Life
Kevin Ryan was an Army helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division in 1969. He was 8 years out of the Army before he joined the Minnesota National Guard, which he says saved his life and gave him direction.
I'd been out of the service for 8 years. Life was going nowhere... I got back in the military, I started flying again, and it was kinda like a breath of fresh air.
Kevin's story was captured with the help of TPT's Minnesota Remembers Vietnam team.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: White Bear Lake, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Hue, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Army
Dates of Service: 1969 - 1997
Veteran Organization: MOAA, DAV
Unit: 101st Airborne
Specialty: Helicopter Pilot
Russ Brown of Russ Brown Gallery; 223 N. Silver Street, Lake City, Colorado 81235. I ran into Russ after 45 years in Lake City while visiting another Viet Nam vet friend. Russ and I were in the same battalion in 1969. He is a Purple Heart guy and flew two tours until he was hit.
Story Themes: 101st Airborne Division, 1969, A Shau Valley, Army, ARVN, Career Military, Hamburger Hill, Kevin Ryan, Marine Recon, Marriage, National Guard, Phu Bai, Power Of Storytelling Interviews, PTSD, Special Forces, Survivor's Guilt, Watch
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