Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
10:06 | While a radio operator in Vietnam, Dan Swiger heard a frantic pilot screaming for air support for some troops on the ground. Decades later, he found that pilot. Veterans get the best therapy from other veterans and that has meant a lot to him. It was good to meet other radio operators when he finally attended a reunion, especially when he met one who had also been involved in a friendly fire incident. Part 3 of 3.
Keywords : Dan Swiger radio operator Vietnam friendly fire Mike Leonard cassette Veterans Administration (VA) Forward Air Controller (FAC) reunion
Dan Swiger joined the Air Force, thinking he could be a crew chief, but it turned out he was color blind, so the maintenance field was out. His ham radio hobby led to training and assignment as a radio operator and forward air controller. It was 1969, so naturally, he eventually wound up in Vietnam where, on his very first duty shift, the unthinkable happened. Part 1 of 3.
After an innocent mistake caused a friendly fire incident, forward air controller Dan Swiger was reassigned. His new job was running an administrative radio network in Nha Trang. Later, he coordinated air activities for a Special Forces base. He was eager to prove himself and was surprised that there seemed to be no repercussions. Part 2 of 3.
