General Merrill McPeak: In Search of the Ho Chi Minh Trail

In January 2012, more than forty years after his last combat sortie, General Merrill McPeak traveled to Southern Laos with his two sons in search of what's left of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In 1969, with the famous MISTY squadron, McPeak flew 269 combat missions trying to stop enemy traffic down the trail.
Years after his service in Vietnam, General McPeak would become the 14th chief of staff of the United States Air Force. Prior to the war, he spent two years with the Air Force's elite aerobatic team, the Thunderbirds, performing before millions of people in nearly 200 official air shows in the U.S. and overseas.
This early stage of his military career, from his service in fighter squadrons through the year in Vietnam, is described in his memoir, "Hangar Flying." The book "provides all a reader could require in the way of aerial maneuvers, sorties and military strategy" (the Oregonian); "by turn poetic, amusing, insightful, poignant and often self-deprecating, [Hangar Flying] is a potent mix blending domestic detail with life-on-the-line escapades, be they risky acrobatic displays as part of the Thunderbirds team or sorties in Vietnam" (East Anglian Daily Times). Learn more at www.generalmcpe...

[@motorcycletourslaos]

I was travelling that way in December, would have been nice to bump into you...nice story...

[@elbat5946]

Motorcycle Tours Laos - agreed

[@im_Phaedrus]

Heading to Vietnam the end of July. Let me know if there's anything that I can do for you Sir.

[@HowlinHex]

Once again the original is better than the sequel.

[@msoviet409]

Great video general McPeak. This inspires me of the sad events of the past that fuse to a joint cooperation for a better future.

[@CandC68]

I found it twice, fifty years ago. Once on a BDA. The bombing had cleared the area of vegetation cover. The road was just made with flat hard packed dirt, level and sharp edges. Wide enough for two trucks to just pass. Some gun emplacements for AA, and a bunker or two. The road was finished, but the gun emplacements, not yet. Another time found a part of it, I put in an anti vehicle mine.
The first road was very well made.

[@trashpanda314]

I was picturing the SOG recon teams operating in those triple canopy jungles. Makes my war in Iraq seem like a walk in the park.

[@MrPookiexL3oi]

Why didn't you pick up the bombs you dropped "wow" don't blame the soldiers. Blame the people in the government during those days.

[@carsonroberlee]

Thank you for your service.