Vietnam War Veteran
David Lai

Interviewed by:

Josh Secl

"No matter what you do in life, do it to the best that you can and be the best that you can."

~ David Lai - 28:30

David Lai's Story:

David Lai, a Vietnam veteran who was born on January 22 1937. this man joined the air force right out of High School because he felt he had nowhere to go when looking for a good job and wanted to get a good education. He later would get a college education with some financial assistance from his military background. he would get two associate's degrees, a bachelor's and a masters in counseling.

David would take five tours to Vietnam and fly air-crafts like B-52s and B-49s. his first three tours he felt went easy, out of 100 missions, he felt he and his crew was endangered less than ten times. Vietnam tour number four, David found himself getting shot at by the Sams and the longer the mission lasted, the more air-crafts continually got shot down, something would shake anybody even David, but he was brave and stayed strong guiding his ship to safety by telling the pilot which way to turn to avoid missiles. David was in shock thinking that something like a missile was actually being fired at him and he was actually in chance of being struck by one, like every other mission, he managed to drop the missile on the targets and go home to his family, his friends and as he said a cold beer.

David said that he never saw dead bodies, blood and while he was sorry for the people on the ground who were clueless enough that they were having bombs dropped on them, David referred to the victims of the bombs to mere targets. while this sounds malicious and violent, David felt that it was the job he has to do and that was it.

David Lai is a man of pride who was promoted eight times in his career and was offered a job that was the top job in the whole air force, but turned it down because after five tours and losing enough friends, David was ready to settle down and put his family first, his military life's done but he always be remembered as an incredible Chief Master Sergeant in the air force.