Capt. Scott O'Grady

Captain Scott O'Grady (http://www.uen.org/ utahlink/tours/tourImage.cgi?image_id= 26941&tour_id=16179)

The story of Captain Scott O’Grady is full of suspense, danger, and bravery. He graduated from air force Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1989, and eventually was assigned to fly an F-16 Fighting Falcon in the United States Air. During the year 1995, he was positioned in Aviano Air Base with the 31st Fighter Wing in Aviano, Italy. On the second day of June in 1995, he was sent out on a deny-flight combat air patrol mission to prevent unauthorized aircraft from flying over Bosnia. An anti-aircraft missile that the Bosnian-Serbs had snuck into the area was launched and hit his jet, breaking it in half. He was able to eject and parachuted over twenty-five minutes to the ground.

When he landed, he had to cut himself free and hide as soon as possible. He knew the enemy must have seen him because of his brightly colored parachute in the time it took to get to the ground. He was able to avoid them, even at times when they were less then six feet away from him. While keeping away from the enemy, he also had to worry about food and water, which he had lost while cutting his way out of the parachute. At times it was so scarce that he ate ants and drank the sweat from his socks. After six days on the run, he was able to make radio contact with a USAF pilot. A daring rescue attempt was made, and on June 8, 1995 at 7:29 AM he was on the deck of a United States Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Kearsarge.

Scott O’Grady showed courage and spirit during his time behind enemy lines. He trusted in God, who brought him through safely with second-degree burns as his only injuries. He didn’t get disheartened and turn himself in to the enemy. He fought on through horrible days and kept hope. I admire Scott O’Grady for his courage. Everyone should learn a lesson from Scott O’Grady and trust in God for courage and strength to get through their battles.