Relationships begin and get shaped in many ways – sometimes they can arise from the unexpected. At the recent Symbol of Freedom fundraising event benefitting CDM Caregiving Services (cdmcaregiving.org). All who attended learned of a relationship that first began between two jet fighter pilots in 1972 in a violent aerial dogfight over Vietnam, but ultimately turned into a close friendship.

It is an incredible story that I won’t attempt to tell in full detail here, but military veterans, USAF Dan Cherry and North Vietnamese Nguyen Hong My came to Vancouver to tell the story of how their relationship evolved from trying to shoot each other out of the sky to spending time together with each other’s’ families after being reunited in 2008 by a Vietnamese television show that was similar to “This is Your Life” here in the U.S.  Dan said he was curious to meet his former opponent but also apprehensive because he really had no idea what kind of person My was.  “What if I didn’t like him?” That all melted away when My came on stage part way through the show, walked straight up to Dan, extended his hand, and said, “Welcome to my country, I hope you and your family are well, I hope we can be friends.”

Dan and My spent a few more days visiting sites in Vietnam and meeting My’s family. There was another emotional moment the first time Dan came into My’s home. My picked up his first grandson that was two years old and handed him to Dan to hold.  Now imagine that feeling where a person who was once firing at you was now trusting you with their only grandchild!  A few years have now passed and Dan and My still get together occasionally to visit or, as in this case, to raise money for a good cause. 

This time that good cause was CDM Caregiving Services - a non-profit organization in Vancouver that provides care and help to the elderly. Seventy-five percent of their clientele are veterans. The Mackay Sposito Veterans Support Council have participated in the Symbol of Freedom event for four years running.This was the first year it was a dinner format and was held at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Vancouver. It was very well attended – probably over 400 people.  Near the start of the program there was a call for all veterans to stand and be recognized.  First, WWII – there was one.  Korean War – two people stood. One of them was my father Charles.  Vietnam – about 40 people stood.  One of them was Al Schauer.  The Gulf War – about 30 people stood.  One of them was Zack Martin. Afghanistan / Iraq – several stood.  Adam Goddin was one of them.  Steve Flower, another MacKay Sposito veteran, was also present that evening.  Our table had someone from every major conflict except WWII.   

It was a memorable and somewhat emotional evening – all for a great organization that provides much needed assistance to those who probably could not afford it on their own. 

The links below are for a related story in The Columbian and to a History Channel video that is a computer animated recreation of that fateful day in 1972.