"Flying helicopters-no matter what they say, I was going to learn to do that, because everybody didn't expect me to do it." (Video Interview, Part 2, 39:03)

Willie H. Boyd

Willie Boyd, 2003 War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Unit: United States Medical Department, 45th Medical Company (AA/Air Ambulance) Service Location: Vietnam; Korea; Europe; United States Highest Rank: Colonel Place of Birth: Tuskegee, AL

In Vietnam, there were racial tensions on top of the usual stress of war, but helicopter pilot Willie Boyd knew that when he and his team were on a mission, everyone was color blind. Boyd flew his air ambulance into dangerous situations, knowing that if he could get an injured man back to the field hospital for treatment within an hour, that soldier had a good chance of survival.