"Being a Jolly Green rescue pilot was a very dangerous job, but it was also a very gratifying job to know that you had just saved somebody's life, and we did it many, many times." (Audio Interview, 39:33)

Dan E. Williams

War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Air Force Unit: 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron Service Location: Tacoma, Washington; Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; Ogden, Utah Rank: Captain Place of Birth: SD

Anticipating he would be drafted, Dan Williams enlisted in the Air Force on New Year's Day 1967. He wanted to become an officer and, if shipped to Vietnam, to stay off the ground. He did serve in the war in two segments. For one year, he flew C-141 transports, whose cargo might be coffins on their way back to the States or wounded GIs on their way to hospitals in Japan. After one year, he was re-assigned to train on rescue helicopters nicknamed the Jolly Green Giants. He was based near Udon, Thailand, working long hours, rarely getting into town. Williams drew immense satisfaction from the relief on the faces of downed crews he picked up.