DAV
February 16, 2021
By Tom Jenkins
Vietnam veteran and Army medic David Chaffin (left) reunites for the first time in 50 years with DAV Past National Commander and Vietnam veteran Ron Hope. Chaffin pulled Hope out of his helicopter after it had crashed in Sông Bé, Vietnam, saving Hope’s life.
Past national commander reunites after 50 years with Army medic who helped save his life
On the morning of July 15, 1969, Ron Hope, a 21-year-old Army helicopter pilot, had flown in a successful combat assault and thought he was nearing the end of another mission in Vietnam.
“We had just went in and refueled when our flight leader came on the radio and said we’re not going home,” said Hope. “We’re going back to Sông Bé, and you could hear the collective language pretty much throughout; this wasn’t a good place to be.”