SHOT DOWN! Vietnam POW Legend Awarded Navy Cross and TWO Silver Stars | Capt. Eugene “Red” McDaniel

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Born into a poor family Eugene “Red” McDaniel grew up playing sports and carried that passion into his collegiate days. McDaniel became interested in flying and Naval aviation since he felt it complemented his athletic mindset. McDaniel began his US Navy active duty on March 15, 1955.
On May 19, 1967, During McDaniel's 81st combat mission, his A-6 Intruder was hit by a rocket forcing him and his bombardier-navigator to eject over North Vietnam. McDaniel was captured and interrogated on the ground and ultimately transferred to Hoa Lo Prison, infamously known as the "Hanoi Hilton".
For three years, McDaniel was listed as Missing in Action while his wife, Dorothy, and three children, Michael, David and Leslie, did not know if he was dead or alive. In 1970, the Hanoi government finally acknowledged that McDaniel was being held prisoner. After six years in captivity as a POW, he was released on March 4, 1973.
When McDaniel returned home to Virginia from Vietnam, he was awarded the Navy’s highest award for bravery, the Navy Cross. Among his other military decorations are two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit with Combat “V,” the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars with Combat “V” and two Purple Hearts.
Interview recorded on January 28, 2024
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Video Credits:
Interviewer/Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker
Editor - Daniel Taksas

Опубликовано:

25 мар 2024

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Комментарии : 89

@americanveteranscenter Месяц назад

HISTORY LOVERS - before you comment, be sure to subscribe to this RU-vid channel and ring the notification bell so you never miss a future upload!

@BurtSampson Месяц назад

one of the weirdest parts of getting old is seeing the Vietnam Vets getting old enough to look like how i remember the WW2 vets looking.

@user-tl3uf2fd5k Месяц назад

I know. My two brothers were over in vietnam. I still see them is 18 but one is 73 and one is 75 I had a cousin who died in 1965 in Vietnam if he was alive he'd be in his mid-80s. Time goes by so fast

@sethmurphy531 Месяц назад

My dad once told me when I was a kid (I’m 28, my dad is 61) that Vietnam vets looked like ww2 vets in his youth. Your comment just reminded me of that. I met both fortunately and those men were tough in a different in a way that hard to describe. Unfortunately I don’t know any living ww2 vets but I still know many that are Vietnam or Korean vets. Sadly they’re slowly departing one by one.

@hiroshi138 Месяц назад

I'm 55 and have often thought the same thing. When I was a kid, my grandfather looked like this guy, and my dad (a Vietnam vet) was 30 years younger than I am now.

@djquinn11 Месяц назад

Yeah, that’s true for me as well.

@nathanthompson3401 Месяц назад

And they are every bit as great as that generation was. I believe each generation that has gone to war for our nation represents the next greatest generation. Bravery and service mean the same to each generation and they Wet the expectation.

@MrSweetpoeticjustice Месяц назад

Thank you for your service Sir. No words can describe the gratitude that you are owed for your sacrifices

@tonykeast9966 Месяц назад

Reminds me of meeting a great old guy (John) with a near identical story. He'd brought a group of his life-long best friends to my town in Scotland on a golf tour. Amazing bunch of grey haired fellas who were still young at heart, we had a crazy night in a lively pub and they all loved it so much they came back the next night to repeat it! I was a young aircraft mech and when told about John ejecting after a SAM hit in Vietnam, I had a lot of Qs about that, I told him not to think about the Hanoi Hilton part and just focus on having a great time with his best buddies, how lucky he was to be able to be on his Scottish golf tour with his pals. My grandfather was a POW in WW2, I knew it was a rough topic to discuss. We raised another glass to that. Then it was his turn for karaoke! We were drunk as skunks. Weeks later the owner of the pub got an email from John. It was headed by an official American government seal, White house?... Thanking the owner for having the best bar they'd ever visited. Giving his golf party memories and stories they'd tell for ever. To thank Tony and my girlfriend for looking after them all for the two wild nights out on the town. Signed (senator?)John McCain. I'd no idea he was a serious politician! With hindsight, there were a few younger fit dudes with them that didn't drink. Secret service agents. They took a lot of photos and were always there but never quite involved in anything. Crazy. So this brilliant vet story adds to John's, making up for the part I told him to shut up about and get another shot drank. He totally murdered sweet home Alabama but was having a ball. Good times. They absolutely were captive at the same place atvthe same time and flew the same aircraft.

@djquinn11 Месяц назад

That’s a great story, thanks for posting it!

@AmusedPassport-ec1lv Месяц назад

Yah that's pretty good, if McCain had gotten elected things would be a lot different over here. We are about to have another election between a giant douce and a turd sandwich. When I was 18 I applied selective service because I was a patriot...now I don't even vote...the big money controls everything the invention of the internet showed us that everything they tell us is lies...it's just a money grab from a pack of suit wearing thieves.

@MyChannel-rf8ic Месяц назад

Thank you for your service, Sir. This film should be shown to all the young people who think Vietnam is some kind of tourist destination.

@BPchadlite Месяц назад

It is a tourist destination. The US went out of it's way to F with those people and you're the one holding a grudge because they tortured your bomber pilots? lol ok.

@searchingfornessie8410 Месяц назад

It is now. It's a beautiful country with amazing food. I rode a scooter there for 2 years working as a mechanic.

@awsomeness78 Месяц назад

Its not the 60s-70s anymore

@JustMe-gh7ib Месяц назад

Such dignity and grace throughout this interview. You embody honor, both to your country and to your wife and family. Thank you. On a different note, a family member of mine spent three weeks traveling through Viet Nam recently. They saw the Hanoi Hilton and remarked that it had been built by the French when it was French IndoChina. It was a torture facility then as well. Makes you think.

@meleascott6490 Месяц назад

Salute to you Sir.. thank you for your courage and service to Americans. GOD Bless You

@anlerden4851 Месяц назад

Thank You so much for your services and lovely dedications to Our Beautiful USA and Our Beautiful American Patriots!!!🥰😍🤗🙏🙏❤❤❤❤❤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍💙💙💙💙💙💯💪🙏👍

@user-kf8wb2cq4f Месяц назад

Thank You Sir. 🇺🇸❤️‍🔥🙏

@j1st633 Месяц назад

92? Wow! great interview.

@xvsj5833 Месяц назад

Thank you for your service and God Bless you for your courage and sacrifice ❤

@glockparaastra Месяц назад

God Bless you Capt.!

@iamrrspike7132 Месяц назад

Amazing man and family! I was stationed at Oceana and was an A-6E SWIP Avionics Fire Control Tech (AQ). Serving throughout Desert Shield/Storm and the aircraft this amazing man piloted could and did take hard damage in stride. The A-6 was nothing special to look at but was a beast of an aircraft. We owe this man a great deal of respect and admiration for his service to our country. Thank you! God bless you sir and your family!

@otpyrcralphpierre1742 Месяц назад

Men like this are now Rare. Amazingly cognizant at 92 years old. Compare this man to FJB.

@badxradxandy Месяц назад

Oh dude I know! When I was in high school, the WW2 vets were like this man. Now I've gotten older and the Vietnam vets are in that stage of their life. It's a trip to see how time moves.

@brandonsteffa9631 Месяц назад

My family is originally from New Bern NC. It made me so happy to hear that this hero is from my hometown. Birthplace of Pepsi!

@usmc-veteran7316 Месяц назад

New Bern, NC... close to Camp LeJeune. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sergeant

@davidbennion876 Месяц назад

Thank you for your service and sacrifice America should never forget what you endured. Dave from down under.

@williamcoe9200 Месяц назад

I worked on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga as afueks QA supervisor The only thing about the A6 is you can rarely top off the fuel why it's on the bow after it's recovered..we would always have to go to the stern to finish fueling it.

@Kdpainted Месяц назад

Thank you for your service

@jharchery4117 Месяц назад

Why I will never watch a Jane Fonda film.

@joycekane9024 Месяц назад

Isn’t that the truth.

@patricklorio7657 Месяц назад

We Vets still hate her!

@buckskinlady Месяц назад

What happend? Did i miss something?

@jharchery4117 Месяц назад

@@buckskinlady Jane Fonda happened. Read about her exploits during the war. How she subjected our fliers to torture because they refused to meet with her for her photo ops, etc. when she was cozying up to the NVA.

@brandspro 12 дней назад

@@buckskinladyJane Fonda was/is a traitor.

@marcusaurelius6012 Месяц назад

60 yrs later, people are arguing about which toilet they can use. (I salute you Sir)🇦🇺♥️🇺🇸

@ericp1711 Месяц назад

I grew up in the same church he attended. I did my senior year English presentation on his book.

@sookie4195 27 дней назад

Why are these Veterans so mentally acute and others aren’t? Plus they have lived to nearly 100 if not over than 100. I hope that they are studied. My guess is they have stayed active and partly good genes. Excellent story sir and thank you! 🫡 🇺🇸

@charmainevandiford6622 Месяц назад

Wow I Live just outside Kinston NC. What he went through can never be paid back. Just surviving it is amazing.

@skybot9998 Месяц назад

300 feet. I just soiled myself thinking of that.

@andrewwright8507 Месяц назад

My help came from GWOT group therapy for 2 years, most likely the reason I'm still here today and do everything I can to help other vets struggling.

@YourLoyalHighness87 Месяц назад

8:25 “we held a little conference, and very brief I might add.” He’s so calm even now. I just can’t even imagine it, and here he is recalling it in detail. ❤ thank you sir for your outstanding service ❤ 9:48 imagine how bad it must have been for him to say it was a relief to get to the prison camp? 😳 12:51 I can’t help but keep thinking how terrible they must have been to these men and all the nasty things they’d do to keep them from actually overpowering and escaping cause you gotta think, these are men who’ve trained and worked and fought, they’re not just ordinary day to day men, their resilience alone would be a force to be reckoned with, let alone having so many on one spot. This is literally my worst nightmare. There’s no higher form of respect in my opinion than men such as this one. ❤ 14:22 see now, that’s the thing with torture, you don’t even know if they’re telling The truth or if they’re just saying what you want them to say. 20:19 it just gave me goosebumps talking about being MIA for so long with three young kids but she still held out hope for him ❤

@Glen.Danielsen Месяц назад

Channel host brother: Thank you for your priceless channel. Great gratitude to Captain McDaniel and also to _you!_ 💛🙏🏽

@avinandanbhadra1274 Месяц назад

2:28 WOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE SO LUCKY SIR!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@badxradxandy Месяц назад

Amazing, thank you for sharing your story.

@pathardage1880 Месяц назад

Thank you, Sir.

@tzook4080 Месяц назад

Thank you for your service, and sacrifices, Sir.

@joelhodge7914 24 дня назад

My Dad flew intruders three tours. Half the squadron was shot down, killed or captured. Two commanding officers lost in one tour. So much has been lost to us because of the unpopularity Captain McDaniels speaks of. The tallents, intelligence, skill and courage of these warriors can never be over told nor over sold. God bless them all.

@cindyjackson2457 Месяц назад

Thank you for your service, Sir 🇺🇸

@user-if8sj1pq6j Месяц назад

Thankyou, Sir. God bless you.

@rce59 Месяц назад

Thank you for your service and your story.

@luisbperez368 Месяц назад

Much RESPECT! 🙏🙏🙏

@jeffreypinder9398 Месяц назад

Amazing man and a great story. True survivor.

@Ja_s-per Месяц назад

✨🇺🇲"God Bless Our Veterans and Active Warrior's!!!"🇺🇲✨

@georgetarbutton2141 Месяц назад

The bird in the thumbnail is from VA-52 Knight Riders that used to be station at NAS Whidbey Island. My former squadron when I was in the navy in the 1980's.

@andrewwright8507 Месяц назад

I cant even imagine, we cheered not getting shot down leaving Afghanistan twice once we were at cruising altitude but to come home after being a POW must have felt the most purest sense of joy and relief. God bless you sir and all other POW's!

@chocolatefrenzieya Месяц назад

I really can't even imagine. What a man. If anyone's earned his wings...

@cannedheat2264 Месяц назад

Wow that is like 10k followers in a couple weeks! I’m glad this channel is getting the recognition it deserves. There are many other great channels like this one that offer great stories as well!

@xFearlessNomad Месяц назад

We are blessed

@Johnnycdrums Месяц назад

Total badass, we don't make em' like that no more.

@easyyog1185 Месяц назад

God Bless these Heroes. Thank You. And unending Generosity gift to share Stories.

@323sparky Месяц назад

MY SALUTE TO YOU... YOU ARE A HERO OFG MANY OTHERS... MY RESPECT TO YOU gby

@karenredd8314 Месяц назад

God bless every one of our veterans, you all are my heroes- THANK YOU! From the bottom of my proud American heart.

@stuartie4065 15 дней назад

Such a horrible long conflict. Pray for all the Vietnamese and Americans soldiers and countless civilians that died, in Laos and Cambodia too. 😢

@tm91198 Месяц назад

What an incredible story>

@glockparaastra Месяц назад

Any info on what happened to the Navigator?

@adams1638 Месяц назад

Navigator appears to still be listed as Missing in Action One story magazine.campbell.edu/articles/the-prisoner-of-war/ And this story www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-30-me-29607-story.html

@avinandanbhadra1274 Месяц назад

4:56-5:45 WOWWWWW!!!!!!! SO COOL AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

@adamzitsch9027 Месяц назад

He was shot down and a POW that guy is a very strong soldier thank him for his service for sure what the Vietnamese did to POW soldiers in nam was horrible

@Johnnycdrums Месяц назад

Sounds almost like "Flight Of The Intruder."

@patricklorio7657 Месяц назад

What squadron were you with? I was a 2nd class aviation ordnanceman with VA-52 on the Coral Sea and A-6 pictured had VA-52 markings, so I got all excited. I made the 68-69 Westpac cruise.

@searchingfornessie8410 Месяц назад

It's a super dark and disturbing story but damn that name is killer.

@badassdahn654 Месяц назад

Married 68 years!

@seanfagan8490 Месяц назад

So many wasted lives ,when will we ever learn.

@Slim3398 Месяц назад

Where is the video for this clip?

@wesleycook3181 Месяц назад

flight of the intruder watch it a6 flyers

@Benny.13 Месяц назад

💪🏻🇺🇸

@avinandanbhadra1274 Месяц назад

19:40-20:26😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@savagecub Месяц назад

The fact that Trump thinks this kind of experience is a joke angers me to no end.

@mitchellgaston2043 Месяц назад

What’d he say?

@savagecub Месяц назад

@@mitchellgaston2043 You don’t remember what Trump said about John McCain ? McCain was in this same prison at the time as McDaniel.

@mitchellgaston2043 Месяц назад

@@savagecubI just remember him making a joke that didn’t land well. That’s all

@savagecub Месяц назад

@@mitchellgaston2043 He said that the people buried at Arlington National were suckers ! He’s not getting my vote EVER AGAIN. Trump is an idiot and an embarrassment. And for what’s it worth I don’t care for Biden either. We need some much better choices !

@BPchadlite Месяц назад

The censorship of comments on this channel is ironic and pathetic.

@donQpublic Месяц назад

🫡

@mlancaster54 Месяц назад

The integrity and resilience of these American heroes is totally astounding. These men put their lives on the line every flight. Thank you for your service and commitment. We are forever in your debt.