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Frederick J. Bagley writes
"I graduated from SUNY Albany in June 1968, at the height of
the Vietnam War. I entered the United States Army at the time when
many were protesting US involvement in Vietnam. Many were burning
their draft cards, heading to Canada, or doing everything they could
to avoid the draft. I went to Vietnam in May 1970, when there was
much unrest on college campuses (to include Albany) because of the
US decision to conduct military operations beyond Vietnam borders
into Cambodia. Throughout all this unrest, I always maintained my
total commitment to serve my country and to support and defend the
constitution of the United States. I served in combat as an attack
helicopter pilot for the 101st Airborne Division. I participated in
many combat missions flying the Ah-1G Attack Cobra Helicopter for
C battery, 4th Battalion, 77th Aerial Rocket Artillery in Northern
I Corps by the DMZ. On February 19, 1971, I was shot down over Laos
while participating in military operation Lam Son 719. I was rescued
and completed my Vietnam tour. I was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross three times for heroism while flying combat missions. I went
on to serve my county as an ARMY officer for 35 years. I retired form
the US Army on August 1981, in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I am
proud to be a veteran." In the photographs, taken in February
1971, he is in Khe Sanh, where he was participating in Lam Son 719.
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