President Trump Honors Legendary Montana General on Veterans Day

Legendary Montana General Dale Stovall was recognized by President Trump during his Veterans Day remarks on Tuesday.

The retired US Air Force Brigadier General, who now lives in Missoula, was a Jolly Green rescue helicopter pilot back in Vietnam who eventually served as the Deputy Commander of JSOC, the Joint Special Operations Command.

The keynote speaker at the Veterans Day ceremony in Missoula Tuesday mentioned that General Stovall was recognized by President Trump. And thanks to my mother in law Jean for sending me the video shared by her friends in Missoula!

I've had the great honor of getting to meet General Stovall several times. One time, I was serving as the emcee for a Vietnam Veterans recognition ceremony where General Stovall was the keynote speaker. One of the guys he rescued in Vietnam was also there for the event!

I'll never forget as General Stovall talked about how he had to take his uniform off in the San Francisco airport when he came home from Vietnam because the protestors were so awful to our Vietnam Vets. Contrast that with Iraq/Afghan veterans like myself- we would take our uniforms off in the airport when we got home because people were so kind and gracious...constantly offering to buy you coffee etc...the only reason we veterans are now treated so well is because of our incredible Vietnam Veterans.

So what did President Trump say about General Stovall? Here you go:

President Trump: "Another person who shows the metal of the American Veteran is Dale Stovall. As an Air Force helicopter pilot in Vietnam, Captain Stovall was assigned to rescue a downed American airman deep in hostile territory. Despite the extreme peril, Captain Stovall took off in his HH53C helicopter, and soon came under intense fire, forcing him to turn back. But the captain refused to abandon his mission. The next day, he willingly plunged back into the danger while taking fire from all directions, he didn't have a chance, he felt. But he said, I got to do it. He rescued the downed American pilot who had been stranded on the ground for 23 days, and brought him back home alive, completing the deepest rescue behind enemy lines in the entire Vietnam War. For this and 11 other harrowing rescues- he was a brave guy- Dale received the famous Air Force Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Silver Stars, making him the fourth most combat decorated Air Force Academy grad of all time. He retired as a brigadier general after 31 years of service. General Stovall, you are a legend, please. Thank you, General Stovall, thank you very much. Thank you. You look good, General. I wish I looked that good. You look good. Thank you very much, General. America's warriors never quit, never surrender. They fight, fight, fight and they win, win, win. That's what we do."

The President's remarks start around the 32 minute mark in the below video.

By the way- I did 3 hours of Veterans Day interviews from American Legion Post 27 in Missoula on Tuesday. Full audio is on the below podcast.