>>> A NEW LAW BRINGING JOBS FOR
VETERANS ON THE BORDER.
>> PROVIDING FAST TRACKING FOR
THESE POSITIONS IMPORTANT FOR
SECURITY AND ALSO FOR ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES AND TRADE WITH
MEXICO.
>> VETERANS DAY REMEMBERED WITH
PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS.
>> MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENED TO
ME, THINK ABOUT THE FRIENDS.
>>.
>> THIS IS "ARIZONA WEEK."
THIS WEEK, WE PAUSED TO REMEMBER
THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
BEFORE FOR OUR VETERANS STORY,
WE SAT DOWN WITH MARTHA McSALLY.
THE VETERAN AND AUTHOR OF A NEW
LAW AIMED AT GETTING VETS JOBS
ON THE BORDER.
YOU JUST HAD A LAW SIGNED IN TO
LAW BY THE PRESIDENT DEALING
WITH VETERANS, HELPING THEM GET
JOBS ON THE BORDER.
THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR OUR
AREA, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE
BASES WITH PEOPLE SEPARATING AND
THE BORDER RIGHT HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S A WIN-WIN.
WE WENT DOWN AND VISITED THE
DIFFERENT PORTS OF ENTRY AT
NOGALAS AND DOUGLAS.
WE HEARD THEY WERE UNDERSTOOD
MANNED.
WHAT'S THE ISSUE?
THEY SAID IT TAKE LONG TO FIND
PEOPLE, GETTING THEM THROUGH THE
VETTING AND WENT TO THE ONE STOP
FOR VETERANS AND THE CHALLENGING
THEY'RE HAVING WITH VETERANS
FINDING GOOD JOBS AND YOU LOOK
AT THEM LIKE, OKAY, THESE ARE
TWO THINGS WE COULD EASILY JUST
PUT TOGETHER AND HAVE A GOOD
INITIATIVE THAT IS A WIN-WIN,
GIVE GOOD JOBS FOR OUR VETERANS
AND PROVIDE THE FAST TRACKING TO
FILL THESE REALLY IMPORTANT
POSITIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR
SECURITY AND ALSO FOR ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES AND TRADE WITH
MEXICO.
SO THAT'S THE MINDSET I HAVE IN
WASHINGTON, DC AND THEN LIKE, WE
SEE A PROBLEM, WE SEE A
SOLUTION.
LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT
DONE.
SPONSOR IT THROUGH THE HOUSE
UNANIMOUSLY, WORK WITH THE
SENATORS.
AND IT'S MY FIRST BILL SIGNED
INTO LAW.
SOME SUBSTANTIVE PIECES OF LAW
AND THEN HONORED TO HAVE ONE OF
THEM.
IT'S GOING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
>> AND THE JOBS THAT WILL BE
AVAILABLE TO THESE VETERANS ARE
BORDER PATROL JOBS, CUSTOMS
ENTRY.
>> THE CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION OFFICERS OF THIS
BILL, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES
THAT HAVE RIGHT NOW 800
POSITIONS THAT ARE UNFILLED.
THEY HAD INCREASED
AUTHORIZATIONS, BUT THEY JUST
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL THESE
POSITIONS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FAST TRACK
THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT ELIGIBLE
VETERANS ARE GETTING THESE GOOD
JOBS AND THEY'RE MAKING THEM
ACTIVELY RECRUIT, WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE PENTAGON AND
LOCAL BASES TO GET THEM INTO
THOSE JOBS.
SOMETIMES IT'S TAKING SIX MONTHS
TO A YEAR TO HIRE SOMEBODY, SO
THIS SHOULD ALLOW US TO BE ABLE
TO FILL THESE POSITIONS.
>> WORKED ON THE NATIONAL
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT,
EVERYONE CALLS THE NDAA.
THIS IS THE BILL THAT TELLS THE
PENTAGON HOW TO SPEND ITS MONEY.
A COUPLE OF BIG THINGS FOR
ARIZONA, ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN
ARIZONA, THE E-10 IS RESERVED
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
>> THIS IS A BIG WIN.
THE PRESIDENT DELIVERED HIS
BUDGET TO US WITH THE HM BEING
MOTH BALLS AND 50% OF THE EC 130
GOING INTO THE BONE YARD AND
ONLY AT DAVID AIR FORCE.
LED THE EFFORT IN THE HOUSE TO
MAKE SURE WE KEPT THE A-10 AND
EC 130 AND GOT AMENDED IN THE
LANGUAGE FOR THE A-10 TO PROTECT
ANY BACK DOOR THING FROM
HAPPENING LIKE LAST YEAR AND
THEN OFFERED AN AMENDMENT ON THE
FLOOR TO PROTECT IT IN A SIMILAR
MANNER.
WE HAD TO GO THROUGH SOME
CHALLENGES AND HURDLES ALONG THE
WAY, BUT FINALLY AT THE FINISH
LINE AND THE A-10 AND THE EC-30
PROTECTED TO FLY.
THESE ARE UNIQUE MISSIONS.
VERY IMPORTANT MISSIONS TO OUR
NATIONAL DEFENSE AND CRITICAL IN
THE COMMUNITY.
>> LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT THE
EC-130.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT
PLANE EVEN EXISTS.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR BASIC CARGO
PLANE UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE LOOK AT.
>> IT ONLY STATIONED AT THE AIR
FORCE AND AN ELECTRONIC
PLATFORM.
IT'S ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND AND
TWO SQUADRONS HERE, CURRENTLY
DEPLOYED TO TWO LOCATIONS IN
ISIS AND AFGHANISTAN.
AND ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO KEEP
OUR TRUCE ALIVE AND VERY
ADAPTIVE EVEN IN THE OPERATIONS
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
IT CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS, A LOT
IS HIGHLY CLASSIFIED BUT IT'S
RELATED TO ELECTRONIC
SURVEILLANCE AND JAMMING BUT THE
AIR FORCE AGAIN WANTED TO CUT
THE CAPABILITY IN HALF BEFORE WE
ACTUALLY HAD A REPLACEMENT.
THERE'S NO SUITABLE REPLACEMENT
RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'VE JUST BEEN PUSHING ON
THEM, HEY, UNTIL WE HAVE A
REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN'T BE TAKING
AWAY THESE CRITICAL
CAPABILITIES.
>> ALSO, THE DISTRICT, THERE WAS
MONEY FOR WAUCHUKA.
>> TOP EMPLOYER IN THE DISTRICT
AND CRITICAL PART OF THE
DEFENSIBILITIES.
A FEW SHOT THEIR MISSILES AND
VISITED THEIR FACILITY OUT
THERE, BUT SOME LIKE THE
TOMAHAWK LINE IS AN EXAMPLE.
IF YOU GO BELOW A CERTAIN
EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T KEEP THE LINE
OPEN.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE ARE IN SITUATIONS WHERE
WE MIGHT NEED TO GO AFTER
TARGETS ON VERY SHORT NOTICE,
THESE ARE CRITICAL CAPABILITIES
FOR OUR COMMANDERS.
WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
SHUT DOWN THE ASSEMBLY LINES.
MAKE SURE THE JAY HAWK AND SOME
OF THE MISSILES ARE PROTECTED
AND HELPING THE ECONOMY IN
SOUTHERN ARIZONA.
>> SWITCHING GEARS AWAY FROM
VETERANS FOR A MOMENT, THE
HIGHWAY BILLS ARE MOVING THROUGH
SOUTHERN ARIZONA DELEGATION
INCLUDED GOT THINGS PUT IN THERE
FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA, THE
NORTHERN CORRIDOR AND SOME MORE
I-11 STUDIES WHICH, OF COURSE,
I-11 STUDIES WHICH, OF COURSE,
IMPACTS THE ENTIRE STATE.
>> WE HAD FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES
CRITICAL FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME
A TRADE HUB FOR MEXICO WITH
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AND
MANUFACTURING, BUT WE CAN'T DO
IT WITHOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS IN THE PAST
SORT OF BEAT US OUT, BUT WE'VE
GOT TO MAKE THE TRADE COME TO
US.
WE PUSHED HARD TO MAKE SURE THE
SONORAN CORRIDOR, OR A HIGH
PRIORITY CORRIDOR OR COMING UP
THROUGH ARIZONA TO NEVADA AS A
HIGH PRIORITY CORRIDOR, BUT IN
ADDITION, I-19 WASN'T EVEN
CONSIDERED PART OF THE FRIGHT
NETWORK IN THE PAST BILLS, AND
WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS
GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY
FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO WE GOT THAT INCLUDED, AND THE
LAST PIECE WAS A LITTLE TWO-LANE
ROAD THAT CONNECTS THE NOGALAS
PORT OF ENTRY.
WE CAN HAVE ALL THE GREAT
INTERSTATES BUT IF WE GO ON A
TWO LANE BOTTLENECK ROAD, WE'RE
STILL GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE HAVE LANGUAGE WE FOUGHT FOR
THAT ALLOWS THE STATE ROAD TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE FEDERAL
FUNDING AND THAT IS A BIG WIN IN
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY BILLS.
>> ONE-THIRD OF THE SOLDIERS IN
WORLD WAR II DIED FROM THEIR
INJURIES.
THAT NUMBER IS NOW DOWN TO LESS
THAN 10%.
BETTER BODY ARMOR AND BETTER,
FASTER CARE MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
WE NOW INTRODUCE YOU TO PURPLE
HEART RECIPIENTS.
SOLDIERS WOUNDED IN BATTLE.
MY COLLEAGUE SAT DOWN WITH
EDWARD MONTOYA BEFORE HE DIED TO
TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES IN
WORLD WAR II.
EDWARD MONTOYA WAS BORN IN THE
EASTERN ARIZONA MINING TOWN OF
CLIFTON IN 1921.
GROWING UP, HE STRUGGLED WITH
LEARNING ENGLISH.
>> IN SCHOOL, NOTHING BUT
CHICANOS.
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK
ENGLISH.
THE TEACHER WOULD SAY SPEAK
ENGLISH IN THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.
BUT I GO HOME AND MY PARENTS
SAY, THE LANGUAGE.
SO WE WOULD THERE.
LOOPEDY LOO, LOOPEDY LA.
WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
MY SISTER AND MY MOTHER
INSISTED, NO, YOU'RE GOING TO
FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.
VERY IMPORTANT.
>> ONCE HE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL,
HE WENT TO WORK AT PHELPS DODGE,
THE COPPER MINE THAT WAS THE
LARGEST EMPLOYER IN SOUTHERN
ARIZONA.
>> CHICANOS AT WORK.
WELL, WE ACCEPTED IT.
BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS RIGHT.
AND WE WERE VERY HUMBLE.
BUT I'M NOT A RADICAL BY NO
MEANS.
I HATE TO USE THE WORD FIGHT.
I'M NOT FIGHTING.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU FIGHT, YOU'RE
DESTROYING WHEN I'M THERE.
WHEN A CHICANO IS JUST A
WRINKLE, A TRADE, NO, I'M NOT
AFRAID.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE
AN AMERICAN.
>> WHEN WORLD WAR II BROKE OUT,
MONTOYA ANSWERED THE CALL TO
ARMS AS AN AMERICAN.
>> IN THIS STAGE OF AMERICA, I
VOLUNTEERED.
THEY WERE COMING, AND I DIDN'T
WANT IT.
I WANTED TO GO SEE WHAT IT WAS
ALL ABOUT.
>> MONTOYA WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED
IN OKINAWA.
THE 82 DAY BATTLE WAS THE
LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT OF
THE ISLANDS DURING WORLD WAR II.
50,000 ALLIED CASUALTIES.
>> AND AFTER THIS TIME, I'M NOT
SORRY.
BECAUSE WHEN I LEFT, I WAS A
CHICANO.
AFTER TWO YEARS, I'M A SERVICE.
IN THE FRONT LINE.
I WAS A FULL BLOODED AMERICAN,
AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
I'M 100% AMERICAN.
>> THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD FOREVER
CHANGE HIM.
>> WHEN I WENT IN, I WENT LIKE A
LITTLE -- I WENT OUT LIKE A LION
CHAINED OUT.
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
AND THAT COULD HURT ANYBODY.
BUT TO TRY ADJUST LIVES.
THE WORLD.
>> THE WORLD THAT YOU DON'T ASK
A MAN TO SHED BLOOD FOR HIS
COUNTRY AND THEN COME BACK HOME
AND PLAY BY THE OLD RULES.
>> WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE
SERVICE, THERE'S GOING TO BE
-- I WENT TO A SUPERINTENDENT.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME.
LIKE A COMMANDEER ALMOST.
HE SAID, MEXICANS.
YOU WENT OVER AND SERVED.
THAT MAN DOESN'T KNOW HOW PULLED
HIM OUT AND RIPPED THE HAIR OUT
OF HIM, BUT I HELD MYSELF.
I SAYS, YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU
OWE ME ONE.
I WENT AND ORGANIZED THE MEXICAN
UNION.
AND WE DID.
>> OUR NEXT PURPLE HEART
RECIPIENT IS MIKE DIRE.
HE'S A VIETNAM VET AND COACHED
GENERATIONS OF BASKETBALL
PLAYERS AT MOUNTAINVIEW HIGH
SCHOOL NEAR TUCSON.
>> I WAS ONE OF THE CRAZY ONES.
REALLY.
IN THOSE DAYS, THEY THOUGHT I
WAS A STUD.
AND OF COURSE, MAYBE I WASN'T,
BUT BOOT CAMP WAS STUFF.
THEY WORKED US HARD.
IT REALLY CHANGED ME FROM A BOY
♪
>> WHEN WE GOT THERE, WHEN THEY
PUT THAT AX DOWN, THE SMELL, THE
HEAT, YOU WALK OUT ON THE
TARMAC, IT WAS JUST A WEIRD, ALL
OF YOUR SENSES WERE ALERTED,
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
>> ABOUT HALFWAY INTO MY TOUR,
BECAUSE I SHOT REAL WELL, THEY
SENT ME TO THE NEXT ENTRY
STATION, THE SNIPER SCHOOL.
SO THEY SET ME UP AT NIGHT,
DROPPED ME OFF.
AND TOOK CARE OF THE HARASSERS.
WHEN WE WERE IN VIETNAM, WE'D GO
OUT ON NIGHT AMBUSHES EVERY
NIGHT.
AND SO YOU NEVER SLEPT MORE THAN
AN HOUR AT NIGHT.
WE RODE ON ARMORED PERSONNEL
CARRIERS.
WE CALLED THEM TRACKS.
AND ON THE WAY HOME BACK THROUGH
TO PUK, OUR BASE CAMP AFTER SIX
MONTHS, WE BUILT IT.
AND RAN OVER A MINE.
AND SO IT WAS ME AND THE DRIVER,
ALL OF US ON THE TRACK.
HE CAME TO GET ME.
AND I COULD REMEMBER FLYING
THROUGH THE AIR, IT WAS DARK.
OR IT WAS JUST BEFORE DAYLIGHT.
SO IT WAS REALLY DARK.
I COULD REMEMBER FLYING THROUGH
THE AIR AND I WAS WONDERING, I
CAN REMEMBER, AM I DEAD?
WHEN THEY WERE DONE WITH ME WITH
THE PAPERWORK, THEY TOLD ME, YOU
GUYS NEED TO TAKE OFF YOUR
UNIFORMS BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO
BE GOING THROUGH THREE AIRPORTS.
SEA TAC, SAN FRANCISCO, AND
PHOENIX WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF
PROTESTERS, AND I SAID, WHAT?
I AM PROUD OF WHO I AM AND WHAT
I DID.
AND WHAT WE DID IN VIETNAM, AND
BEFORE THEM.
ALL OF THAT.
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THE WAY WE
WERE TREATED.
ALL THE WAR PROTESTS AND ALL
THAT.
IT MADE ME -- AND ALL THAT.
AND I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE
TREATED LIKE OUR FATHERS AND
UNCLES FROM WORLD WAR II.
AND IT'S HURT FOREVER.
IT'S HARD TO GET THAT OUT OF
YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE
DONE SOMETHING, IT'S HARD TO
REALLY PUT IT ASIDE, MOVE ON.
WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY.
MOVED ON.
MOVED ON.
BUT IT'S THERE IN MY BRAIN THAT
I CANNOT COMPLETELY FORGET THAT.
I DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY THAT I WAS
IN VIETNAM FOR PROBABLY 20
YEARS.
PROBABLY 20.
NOBODY KNEW.
EVEN I TALKED WITH ALL THE
PEOPLE.
>> WHY?
>> BECAUSE THE WAY I WAS
TREATED.
>> HE'S BIGGER THAN YOU, RICKY.
KEEP YOUR KNEES BENT.
KEEP YOUR KNEES BENT.
>> UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE MY HIGH
SCHOOL TEACHER, AND I GET TO
TALK TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
EVERY DAY, FROM BEFORE 9/11, I
THOUGHT THIS GENERATION WAS
TERRIBLE.
THAT OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
THAT RESPONDED TO THAT, THE
BEST.
>> NOW WE INTRODUCE YOU TO MARY
HE
HERERA.
HER ARM WAS AMPUTATED IN
AFGHANISTAN AND REATTACHED IN A
HOSPITAL.
SHE NOW WORKS AT A V.A. HOSPITAL
IN TUCSON.
>> 9/11 HAPPENED, AND I WASN'T
READY FOR ANY PATRIOTIC SAY.
AND I WAS PRETTY PISSED.
I MAY NOT KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE
TWIN TOWERS, BUT NOBODY COMES TO
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND
EXPECTS ME NOT TO PICK A FIGHT.
THE PUBLIC DIDN'T KNOW THERE
WERE TROOPS STANDING BY IN
KUWAIT.
AS WE'RE LEAVING THE PLANE, THE
SCUD ALERTS WENT OFF.
ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT FOR
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE, SO THAT WAS
PRETTY SCARY.
THAT WAS OUR INITIAL, THAT WAS
THE VERY FIRST EXPERIENCE WE ALL
HAD BETWEEN OUR BOOTS IN THE
FOIL WAS THE MISSILES, HAVING
THE MASK AND THE FLIGHT
ATTENDANTS ARE CRYING AND
SCREAMING.
THEY PUT US ON BUSES THAT HAD
CURTAINS BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW
THERE WAS AMERICAN TROOPS THERE
YET.
AND WE WERE DOING THE MISSION
WITH SOME INTRIGUE AND THEY WERE
HIT WITH AN IED.
AND THE CARNAGE, YOU KNOW, THE
TRAUMA, THE BODY PARTS THAT I
WITNESSED, I WAS IN A GUNNER
WITH THAT POSITION.
I WAS INJURED, WE HAD SEEN A LOT
OF INJURIES BEFORE THAT, BUT FOR
SOME REASON AFTER THAT, I JUST
FELT SOME INCREDIBLE FEAR THAT
I'VE NEVER FELT BEFORE.
SO IT WAS JUST A ROUTINE MISSION
THAT MORNING.
WE WENT TO FALLUJA TO DROP OFF
THE PRISONERS.
WE WERE DRIVING OUT THE GATE,
AND IT'S FUNNY HOW YOU REMEMBER
EVERYTHING SO VIVIDLY.
AND SURE ENOUGH WHEN I LOOKED
UP, I SAW THE TRACE OF FIRE.
SO I STARTED FIRING OUT OF MY
WEAPON.
I WAS MAIN ASSAULT THERE AND I
STARTED FIRING, AND IMMEDIATELY,
RIGHT AFTER I WAS PULLING ON THE
TRIGGER, I FELT LIKE A FLICK ON
MY UPPER RIGHT ARM, JUST A
LITTLE FLICK.
IT DIDN'T KEEP ME FROM FIRING.
I FIGURED I WAS HIT BY A ROCK OR
SOMETHING.
I CONTINUED TO FIRE, AND AS I'M
FIRING WITH MY THUMB, HOLDING IT
WITH MY LEFT AND FIRING IT WITH
MY RIGHT, MY RIGHT ARM JUST FELL
TO MY LEFT.
I THOUGHT MY ARM HAD BEEN BLOWN
OFF SINCE I JUST -- I FELT
NOTHING.
SO I THOUGHT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE
AN ARM THEN.
BECAUSE FROM WHERE WE WERE AT TO
GET TO ROMATI, IT WAS A 35
MINUTE DRIVE.
WE JUST DROVE ON TO ROMATI AND
AS I CAME ON FROM THE CHURET, I
WAS FIGHTING THE PRESSURE TO
TURN ON MY RIFLE.
BUT I NEVER LOOKED AT MY
INJURIES BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT
PANIC.
I WAS LEANING BACK THERE IN THE
BACKSEAT OF THE HUMVEE, AND I
WAS LOOKING UP AT THE CHURRY,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PAIN BUT A
CALM COME THROUGH ME.
I HAD SIGNED MYSELF OFF.
I SPOKE TO GOD.
I TOLD HIM I WAS READY, AND,
EXCUSE ME.
AHEM.
SO I, I MADE MY PEACE.
AND I WAS READY.
THIS GUNSHOT THAT HIT ME UP
HERE, IT WAS RIPPED THROUGH THE
MAIN ARTERY.
THAT WASN'T AS BAD, BUT THIS ONE
HERE WITH THIS BIT, WHEN IT CAME
IN, IT BLEW EVERYTHING OUT.
THE ONLY THING ATTACHED TO MY
ARMS WAS THE SKIN.
I GOT MY PURPLE HEART AT BROOKE
ARLENE MEDICAL CENTER IN SAN
ANTONIO.
AFTER THE SURGERY, I DID GET A
CEREMONY.
I WAS IN HOSPITAL GEAR WITH
SLIPPERS AND SO THAT'S WHEN I
GOT PRESENTED BY PURPLE HEART.
I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
PRESTIGIOUS MEDALS IN THE
MILITARY.
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, THE
PRIVILEGE, AND THE HONOR TO SAY
YOU'VE ADDED RED TO THE RED,
WHITE, AND BLUE, IT'S AN AMAZING
FEELING.
>> WOULD YOU DO IT ALL KNOWING
WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, WOULD YOU DO
IT AGAIN?
>> IN A HEARTBEAT.
EVEN KNOWING IN THE EXTENT OF
YOUR INJURIES, I WOULD DO IT
AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> BECAUSE I LOVE MY COUNTRY.
>> THE FINAL SEGMENT, MONTOYA
INTRODUCES YOU TO SOMEONE YOU
MAY KNOW, RICHARD CARMONA.
HE WAS THE 17th SURGEON GENERAL
OF THE UNITED STATES AND
RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS
DURING HIS SERVICE IN THE ARMY'S
SPECIAL FORCES IN VIETNAM.
SPECIAL FORCES IN VIETNAM.
IT'S A TIME THAT'S DIFFICULT TO
TALK ABOUT.
>> WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU A GENERAL
-- I MEAN, I DON'T LIKE TO
REFLECT ON THOSE TOO MUCH.
>> WHY?
MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENED TO ME,
YOU THINK ABOUT THE FRIENDS THAT
I WAS LUCKY.
I GOT INTO A NUMBER OF BAD
SITUATIONS, AND ON A COUPLE OF
TIMES I WAS INJURED, BUT I CAME
HOME.
>> WHAT WERE YOUR INJURIES?
>> I HAD ALL OF THEM.
BLAST INJURIES TO MY LEG
FRAGMENTS IN THE EXPLOSIONS.
BAD KNEE INJURY WITH A ROCKET
HITTING A BOULDER AND KNEE HEAD
FALLING OFF WITH THE FRAGMENTS,
GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD.
FRAGMENTS IN MY BACK.
>> FOR THE VIETNAM VETS, WHEN
THEY CAME BACK, THERE WASN'T ANY
CELEBRATION.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU CAME
BACK?
WHAT WERE THOSE DAYS LIKE?
>> IT WAS A LOT OF PROTESTS.
I THINK THE SOCIETY HAD NOT
MATURED ENOUGH TO SEPARATE THE
SOLDIER FROM THE POLICY, SO WE
WERE ALL CAST AS BAD GUYS, AND
IT WAS ALL KINDS OF NEGATIVE
THINGS SAID ABOUT US.
YET WE WERE YOUNG KIDS.
WE DID WHAT OUR NATION ASKED US
TO DO.
GO AND FIGHT THIS WAR.
NONE OF US WERE OLD ENOUGH OR
MATURE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND
POLICY.
WE TOOK ON FACE VALUE WHAT OUR
GOVERNMENT SAID TO DO, AND WE
WENT AND DID THE JOB OF THE
NATION THAT THEY ASSIGNED US.
AND 58,000 OF MY BUDDIES, SO TO
SPEAK, DIDN'T COME HOME AND A
QUARTER MILLION OF US WERE
WOUNDED.
AND SO A LOT OF US, I REALLY
TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
BUT WHEN I DO, AND THAT'S A
SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, MY
SPECIAL FORCES BUDDIES, MOST OF
THE TIME, IT'S THE FOND MEMORIES
OF THOSE GUYS WHO DIDN'T COME
BACK.
>> IS THERE A MESSAGE THAT YOU
WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE
CONVEYED BACK THEN THAT TODAY
YOU CAN CONVEY ABOUT THE MEN WHO
CAME BACK AND MEN AND WOMEN,
ACTUALLY, WHO CAME BACK?
>> I THINK THE MESSAGE I WOULD
CONVEY IS WHERE SOCIETY IS
TODAY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS
40 YEARS AGO OR SO THAT OUR
NATION HAD NOT EVOLVED TO THE
POINT WHERE WE COULD HONOR THE
BRAVE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO
SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN A
SELFLESS WAY AND DO WHATEVER OUR
GOVERNMENT ASKED THEM TO DO.
AND IF I WAS SMART ENOUGH BACK
THEN AND MATURE ENOUGH, I WOULD
HAVE SAID, SEPARATE THE POLICY
FROM THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
WHOSE NATION ASKED THEM WHAT TO
DO.
AND I THINK WE SEE TODAY THAT
EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE MAY BE
AGAINST THE WAR OR FOR THE WAR
OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY ONE OF
THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE
SIMPLY A TOOL OF AMERICAN
POLICY.
AND WE HONOR THEIR SERVICE
BECAUSE WE, THE PEOPLE, ASK THEM
TO SERVE.
SO AS A MIDDLE AGE GUY NOW, WHEN
I TRAVEL A LOT AND I SIT ON A
PLANE, AND WHEN I HEAR A
STEWARDESS ASK EVERYBODY TO STAY
SEATED BECAUSE WE HAVE VETERANS
FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN COMING
ON OR GETTING OFF, IT DOES BRING
TEARS TO MY EYES BECAUSE THAT
REALLY IS THE HOMAGE THAT WE OWE
THEM, TO THESE YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN.
WE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THAT, BUT
I'M PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL THAT OUR
NATION HAS EVOLVED TO THE POINT
WHERE WE UNDERSTAND THIS NOW.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE
TEND TO FORGET ABOUT IS THAT FOR
EVERY SOLDIER WHO COMES BACK AND
HAS PTSD OR WHATEVER THE
CONTINUUM IS, THERE'S A FAMILY
THAT IS SUFFERING, THAT IS
PAYING THE PRICE RIGHT ALONGSIDE
OF THEM.
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OUT THERE TO
THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THOSE
FAMILIES?
>> LET ME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
FAMILY BECAUSE IT'S REAL
IMPORTANT.
I STILL WORK A LOT WITH THE
GOVERNMENT, WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE.
I SIT ON BOARD AND I DEAL WITH
THESE ISSUES.
THE FAMILY, WHEN THE WARRIOR
GOES TO WAR, THE FAMILY'S AT WAR
TOO.
BECAUSE THAT WIFE OR HUSBAND OR
CHILDREN ARE LIVING THE BATTLES
VICARIOUSLY EVERY DAY.
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I FIRST LEARNED FROM THAT WHEN I
CAME HOME FROM MY TOUR IN
VIETNAM AND MY LITTLE BROTHER
SAID TO ME, RICHIE, I WATCH THE
NEWS EVERY NIGHT TO SEE IF I SAW
YOU.
AND I KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT
THAT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK, THE
FAMIIES AT HOME, WHETHER
THEY'RE POOR OR RICH, THEY'RE
WORRIED ABOUT YOU EVERY DAY.
SO THE STRESS OF BATTLE IS ON
THEM TOO, BUT THE BATTLE IS
DIFFERENT.
THE BATTLE IS WORRYING ABOUT
YOUR SURVIVAL AND YOUR HEALTH
AND YOUR WELL BEING FOR THAT MOM
OR DAD OR CHILD OR GRANDPA,
WHOEVER THAT FAMILY IS.
THEY ALL SUFFER AS WELL AND WE
SEE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN
THE FAMILIES.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT THE ONES
AT WAR, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY ARE VICARIOUSLY, BUT EVERY
DAY, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH IN
THEIR MIND ALL OF THE CHALLENGES
OF WHAT IF HE OR SHE DOESN'T
COME HOME?
WHAT IF THEY COME HOME INJURED
OR WOUNDED?
WILL DADDY OR MOMMY BE THE SAME?
IT'S REALLY A BIG ISSUE AND WE
ARE ONLY UNDERSTANDING AND
SEEING THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WITH
INJURIES AND A HUGE ECONOMIC
BURDEN THAT WILL BE WITH US FOR
MAYBE A HALF CENTURY BECAUSE
THESE 20 YEARS OLD COMING HOME
FROM BATTLE WHO WILL NEED OUR
SUPPORT, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED
IT FOR DECADES TO COME.
THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS STILL
GOING TO BE 70 OR 80 OR 90 YEARS
OLD.
AND SO WHAT IS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE TO
ENSURE THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS GET
THE BEST CARE FOR WHATEVER THEIR
NEEDS ARE?
THAT IS THE OBLIGATION THAT WE
HAVE INCURRED AS A NATION.
>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW,
HONORING VETERANS.
I'M CHRISTOPHER CONOVER, THANKS