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Legendary fighter pilot pens memoir

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    Move over, Maverick. Here comes 'Viper Pilot'

  • Duration 5:01
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-- this morning lottery true American hero in the flash from Vietnam to the Middle East he's one of the most decorated pilots to ever serve in the united states air force now he's sharing his story along with a warning.

But the rise Islamic terror against the United States why because he's been the middle of it.

The book is called viper pilot a memoir of air combat from one of America's deadliest F sixteen aviators or one of the best.

Retired lieutenant colonel Dan Hampton is my guest this morning and he kept his flight CU which is good news for you know.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Give everybody an idea of when you first got in touch with Islamic terror.

Well I I'd have to say it was Khobar Towers.

You know and fought and in the first gulf war and then over there many times cents for the first.

Instance of true terrorism and I personally experienced -- this was Khobar Towers in 96 standing against -- wall glassware flying at your face just mr.

-- sliced up your back.

Yeah I also went through the wall kind of like -- -- Bugs Bunny cartoon where you go through -- -- -- walk through it -- blew me away blew me through the Wally out.

And then on 9/11 you would find yourself again in the eye of the storm now.

We had just come back from the Middle East and now we're up on -- training -- routine training flight when we found opposite happened.

And I found out later on that very same day that my father was actually in the Pentagon.

When that plane hit their -- so it was a bad day who is he OK yet he was fun.

9/11 as US -- that delta flight -- you -- you'll never forget the faces of the passengers.

Their face pushed up against the glass looking at you.

Well I can't really blame them you know to see a fully armed F sixteen run off the wing tip -- you know kind of -- I'm sure.

It was it was an interest in morning so -- other wars and other conflicts you marine coasts of -- and things like that but also with stands at a few days in Iraq.

What was that like how dangerous -- those guys.

You know it started out as extremely dangerous there was a lot left over from the first gulf war.

And I think Saddam and and everybody in power -- knew that this was so they were running they were gonna go down fighting.

And they and they -- even after the invasion was over they had a lot more fire apparel left one of two time he felt as though you could die.

Was when you stumbled upon switch left of Saddam's forces.

Yeah it was the he was the Medina division of the Republican guard down -- -- underneath the clouds and I went down looking for maybe a company size unit to scout out.

And found an entire division and they shot so many missiles and and AAA at me so much -- and I lost all my.

He sat there wondering could this be it let it sit there you get was why I was zipping along pretty much as soon as -- could go absolutely.

You proud of what you've done for this country.

I am you know I'll always be able to look back and know that that when it -- and I did something that was that was important.

And grant have you been able to process it as you sit over there and see your daughter -- on right now because it's got an early.

And you wife is well.

Yeah I you know it -- it's finally set in how I've been retired for a few years it took awhile but and I'm unhappy.

Really grateful when you see sniper become -- -- -- for month after month and by the way we just agents.

This is the same type -- these are the stories we just in here because you guys don't talk about yourselves.

Yeah I've been not been harassed for years about that my wife has -- needed to finally get this out which is one reason why I wrote the book I think it was time to tell some -- -- Do you think America knows how potent -- -- -- and -- How great our military is especially all volunteer force in this time.

I think they have a better idea now than they did say twenty years ago and more to the point I think anybody that would hurt us.

Actually has a good idea of what we can do them we have to.

Which you have done an agency wife and -- there it was it's hotter knowing that they did not know what you were doing and and if you would come back.

Yeah you know and then when the dust settles and everything's quiet -- and you think about that you realize what could've happened.

And what you could lose and yeah it's hard it's hard.

And what do you which of greatest concern about a sleep in Afghanistan today as you hear that all the green and blue attacks.

And maybe a lack of -- -- the American public for the continuing conflict.

I think it's a lack of direction.

You know I think it's a lack of purpose nobody really seems that a clear idea do we stay do we go what do we do if we stay if we go who takes her place.

You know that sort of thing I I wish there was more clarity.

He's consider one the finest fire fighter pilots in American history he writes about it in viper pilot.

And we appreciate you services many big stores we have on today it's hard for me to imagine anyone more accomplished and you.

It's fantastic meeting sir thank you pleasure go out and get this book meanwhile --

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