He Knew Too Much – The Insane Rescue of Most Important Man Shot Down in the Vietnam War
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About the Author: NC Scout
NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .
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GUNS N GEAR
This is a great documentary. My good friend Gary Hall was in charge of part of this rescue mission over enemy territory. Gary flew a C-130 refueling plane. They flew for 11 or 12 days straight, doctored their log books, took Air Force medical speed to stay awake. Gary passed through the veil years ago, but he told me parts of this mission were still secret. He said when the Jolly Green Giant choppers went down to attempt a rescue, they dumped all but 15 minutes of fuel. When they came back up, they were looking for Gary’s C-130. Gary said he was flying low and slow to refuel the choppers. He told me every solder, every farmer with a gun was firing at them. He told me they laid “Gravel” all around the navigator at first to save his life. Gravel was golf ball sized toe mines which would blow off the feet of the North Vietnamese. Gary told me about the other men who lost their lives trying to save the navigator and the big chopper which was hit with an RPG. The movie “Bat 21” was made about the mission. Gary told me how a Navy SEAL went upriver 10 or 15 miles and picked up the navigator on the edge of the river. Gary told me, the navigator lived because his emergency radio worked when he hit the ground and they were able to drop him another radio and extra batteries which allowed him to communicate for days. It makes me even more proud of my good friend Gary Lee Hall to see this video. Thanks to all veterans for your service. God Bless America and God Help Us All.
Hoo-Yah LT Tommy Norris.
Thanks for the post, Scout. I met Mr. Norris through a strange set of happenings. In and around 1989 ~ 1990 or so our assault Squadron had a surprise Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise [EDRY], along with TR-160th SOAR personnel and helo’s. We conducted a hostage/barricade rescue training mission at the Dept. of Energy’s [DOE] training sites/Kill Houses. Upon successful completion of said EDRY we got our rental vehicles and had hotel lodging around the Albuquerque area.
And so a few of us rolled up to this nice hotel that had a huge banner, “Welcome Medal of Honor” recipients. There were about thirty or so men that attended the gathering (who were M.O.H. recipients] and it was amazing to be around such valiant warriors. Had one beer at the bar and spotted Tom Norris and his wife. At that time he was working for the FBI. I politely introduced myself as an active frogman and got to shake Tom’s hand. Left after that single beer. Humbling.
What a mission THAT was! So sad that a lot of men were KIA on that rescue OP!
As soon as I saw this headline I knew it was about Gene Hambleton. What a man.
Brings back memories…I read the book waaaaay long ago..
My uncle, a 20+ year Air Force vet, knew, and played, all the golf course holes they used to help Gene navigate, as he was, and still is an avid golfer into his 70’s…
Amazing that the VC/Norks, had no idea…
A story in never giving up, having something to live for and the men who went above and beyond to rescue him, the SEAL being most notable to me…