40 Years of Secrecy: MOH recipient CMSgt Etchberger And How He Saved His Team 'At All Costs' w/his son Cory Etchberger - Ep 35

Despite having little combat training, Etchberger held off the enemy while simultaneously directing air strikes into the area of Lima Site 85 and calling for air rescue. When a helicopter arrived in the morning, Etchberger repeatedly and deliberately risked his own life. He braved enemy fire to place three wounded technicians in helicopter slings.He sadly passed away and his story revealed 42 years later.

0:00 - intro

1:40 - The PDG Photo

11:26 - Today is March 11th - The day Chief passed - how are you feeling?

17:05 - Was there a moment where you felt the presence of your father the most?

20:00 - “My father would be very proud of this Air Force”

23:00 - If you could ask your dad one question - what would it be?

28:40 - Growing up as a family - Childhood w/Chief Etchberger

37:40 - communicating back in the good ole days

39:18 - Secret CIA mission begins 

43:10 - Peace talks are not working - “Let’s bomb them” - new technique

44:40 - Lima Site 85 

48:00 - Ho Chi Minh Trail

50:36 - The Ambush

54:25 - Eye witness accounts of Chief fighting back

56:45 - 42 years of secrecy

58:40 - The part that breaks my heart the most

1:00:30 - The aftermath

1:06:10 - A wife sworn to protect the truth

1:10:50 - AF Cross hidden in a closet, why?

1:13:22 - The behind the scenes Hero - A Mother’s Legacy

1:16:45 - How the Etchberger Foundation changes lives

1:19:58 - Welcomed back to the AF family

1:21:53 - How talks of a MOH came up after 42 years

1:27:30 - When President Obama calls - you answer

1:32:04 - the 3 different types of MOH ceremonies

1:39:00 - Listener questions by TSgt Bree Mcconnell, SrA Kaylee Stewart, Maj (ret) Bill White, and MSgt Nathan Coy from the Wartime Leadership Podcast 1:56:40 - Why I love Cory so much

1:58:28 - I read a review! Submitted by Whitney Bryden. I also give my afterthoughts on the episode.