Soldier Stories

Lost Engine: On January 7, 1973, Captain Hillman participated in an aerial mission that lasted 16 hours. Four hours into the mission, an engine on his aircraft flamed out, which immediately caused a loss of altitude over a high-threat area filled with enemy anti-aircraft artillery. Hillman was able to level off the aircraft and bravely continue the mission, because no replacement aircraft were available to take over his duty.

Award: Larry remained in flight for the mission and completed 12 out of the 16 hours with just three engines. For his courage and extraordinary skills, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Airplane Careers: After Vietnam, Hillman took a ground job (a non-flying job in the Air Force) in San Antonio. He was also a depot pilot in Birmingham, Alabama, where he flew planes in need of maintenance. During one flight, he was piloting a B-57 when a battery malfunction caused an explosion and he had to eject. After the Birmingham job, Hillman worked as a test wing pilot at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. At Wright Patterson, Hillman helped create two-part tires for planes, which helped conserve tires when landing on bad runways, like those he encountered in Vietnam.

Hillman retired in 1989 after 21 years of service. June of 2025 will see the 50-year anniversary of his ejection in Birmingham–and to celebrate, he and his wife will skydive at the ejection site

Missile Attack: During one battle, enemy forces broke through the perimeter of an aircraft hangar in an attempt to destroy the airplanes inside. Richard and his squad set up an additional perimeter, but he saw missiles go over his head daily while trying to protect the airplanes in holding.

One morning, while sirens blared, he saw a white missile flying right towards him. His only thought was, “I’m dead.” A Lieutenant quickly ordered everyone to take cover in an airplane hangar close by. The Lieutenant’s arm was injured by shrapnel, but Richard was unharmed. The only damage was to his canteen, which was pierced by the shrapnel, spilling water on his uniform.

Safety Inspector: After the war, Richard took a job at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City as a logistics manager. There, his main duty was to make sure the equipment was up to code before being used in the field. He took his job seriously, and he even earned a reputation for his diligence with inspections. While some objected to his high standards, the people who used the equipment were grateful, because Richard would hold back equipment that malfunctioned during testing or he viewed as unsafe. After Tinker, Richard was offered a promotion and moved to Boston, but eventually moved back to Oklahoma for his family.

Apprentice: After discharge, Ray worked at a factory in California helping make and paint 155mm bombs. He didn’t feel right about it, so he left and went to school for computer programming. He enrolled in the Emergency Employment Act (EEA) program that helped veterans find jobs. He applied for a painting apprenticeship and started a 4-year program. After his apprenticeship, he worked for the Los Angeles School District. Ray worked there for years, moving up the ranks, until he became a painting inspector. In 2015, he retired and moved to Edmond to marry his fiancée.

American Legion Work: After moving to Edmond, Ray became more involved at the American Legion Post #111 in Edmond, where he helps veterans receive their benefits, helps them maintain their bills, and helps widows with paperwork needed after their spouses pass away. Ray has also served as a Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, been part of the Marine Corp League, worked as security leader for his church, and visits veterans at hospitals.

Vietnam Again: In 2016, he was selected to travel back to Vietnam through a program that sends veterans to their place of deployment as a way to find closure after their service. Ray went on a 14 day, fully-funded trip to North Vietnam. Ray says, “It was the best trip in my life”.

In August 1965, the Vietnamese set up a major attack at Chu Lai. Eddie’s battalion was sent to patrol, but the Vietnamese launched a counterattack. There, Eddie stepped on a landmine. The blast ended up killing two and injured four men, including Eddie, who lost both of his legs.

More Attacks: Eddie was evacuated to a medical station, and then he transferred to a hospital ship. After three days, he was transported by helicopter to Da Nang, Vietnam, but his helicopter was shot down. After his rescue, Eddie spent three days in Da Nang where the hospital was attacked by mortar fire. Fortunately, he made it out of Da Nang and was then transported to the Philippines. After three weeks, he flew back to America and recovered for eight and a half months at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in California, where he met his wife, Connie. They celebrate will 59 years of marriage in 2025.

Finding His Place: Beesley received a degree in elementary education from Central State College (now UCO). Getting a teaching job was difficult for him because of his injuries. Schools required teachers to work playground duty, and administrators felt Eddie could not accomplish that part of the job. As a result, Eddie started his own business that specialized in building handicapped accessible vehicles. He ran this business for 18 years. Eddie also volunteered his time pastoring for small churches. Eddie was such a valuable member of society, that he was asked to run for mayor, but Eddie declined.

Upon retirement, he wrote a book about his experiences, titled Lucky Enough. Eddie wanted to help soldiers with injuries, since he knew what they were going through. He started a nonprofit for having peer visits with newly-injured soldiers. During his visits, he would give his book away to anyone who wanted it or needed it. Eddie has been told that his book helped prevent some veterans from committing suicide. After the war, he also started playing music. He even got to record some of his music in Nashville, Tennessee with Oak Ridge Boys (a famous country group).

The USO helped boost morale and provided a sense of home for deployed troops by offering entertainment, communication, basic amenities, and support for families. While working for the USO, Connie had to work two night shifts each week. She also helped cook a meal for all the soldiers once a month.

Connie prided herself on helping every soldier that crossed her path. She never refused a dance from any soldier. She even learned dances that she wasn’t familiar with or dances that the other girls didn’t want to do, such as square dancing. Connie volunteered with USO for two years and earned her 300- and 600-hour pins.

Hospital Volunteer: After two years, Connie decided to start visiting wounded veterans at the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. At the time, visitors weren’t allowed inside the hospital as a way to prevent protestors from disrupting ailing veterans. Connie, however, had a military dependance card due to her dad’s service, so she was allowed inside. She used her access to bring cookies and magazines to veterans, taking the opportunity to visit and talk with them to lift their spirits. It was there that she met Eddie Beesley.

Secret Agent Girl: Connie’s goal with her volunteer work was to help soldiers feel a sense of family. She wrote letters to the men that did not get mail from home, so they would have a real person to write back to. She stated, “Not getting mail from home was one of the worst things that a serviceman could deal with.” She also joked and teased soldiers to lighten to mood and keep them smiling. Connie told soldiers she was a secret agent, sent to keep tabs on everyone. She identified herself as 007.5 (a spoof of James Bond), and she wore a large trench coat to “really sell the bit.”

Flight Combat: Chuck was also sent on air-to-air combat missions, which used aircrafts to engage and destroy enemy aircrafts. He acted as a blocking force for other F-4 jets that were carrying bombs. His job was to either fly ahead or behind the jets to eliminate potential threats, allowing other F-4 jets to travel and return safely. He told pilots, “If you’re afraid of dying, you don’t go. If you’re afraid of dying, I won’t fly with you. You have to believe it’s going to be ok. With that mindset, you can focus on your surroundings. If the thought of dying was in the back of your head, you’d make mistakes.”

His squadron flew a rotation of four airplanes with the same eight guys. This very tight group trusted each other to make the correct decisions.

Bullets Fired: During one mission, his squad took out a large, 100 mm firing-range anti-aircraft gun off the coast in North Vietnam. His squad flew for the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand and came across North Vietnam about 20 miles south of Hanoi. They were traveling slower than usual, which was dangerous. Chuck was giving a briefing order when a 57 mm anti-aircraft gun shot his airplane and bullets riddled his cockpit. Luckily, they found a green valley and were able to escape. Chuck said that his plane looked like “swiss cheese,” but they were able to fly back to the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

Chuck’s last combat mission was an air-to-air mission to Phuc Yen Air Base, 20 miles north of Hanoi in North Vietnam. Phuc Yen was one of the most heavily defended places in the world. It was surrounded by anti-aircraft guns and SAMs (surface to air missiles). During this mission, Chuck and his squadron eliminated two Mikoyan-Gurevich (MiG) jets that the Vietnamese used.

Under Attack: As soon as both jets were eliminated, the Phuc Yen air base started firing at Chuck’s squad. Three of the planes were low enough to avoid the attack, but plane #4 was higher and took a shell to the fuel tank. It lost enough fuel that they all knew that their squad mate wasn’t going to make it home.

Flying Ace: During Chuck’s career in Vietnam, he was responsible for six MiG kills, which gave him to distinction as a “Flying Ace.” His six MiG kills were the record earned by any U.S. aviator during Vietnam.

After the War: Chuck retired in 1998 after 30 years of service. He currently runs two non-profits: Dale Graham Veteran Foundation in Lawton, where he helps veterans receive VA services and benefits, and the Air Warrior Courage Foundation, which is part of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilot Association, helping provide scholarships and STEM projects for kids. He is active with the Air Force Association helping high school kids with the CyberPatriot program. Chuck was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in 2012.