Vietnam Voices: 'I got to figure out a way to get out of this. I got to escape'
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 лис 2015
- Vietnam War veteran Rod Knutson talks about his experiences. Knutson served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines. He was born and raised in Billings, Montana, graduating from Billings Senior High in 1956. He was one of about 651 prisoners of war who returned to the United States alive. Reports peg the number who died in prison at around 114. He spent 2,673 days as a prisoner of war - more than seven years - in Hanoi.
Never have I seen a man that is more deserving of that comfortable chair to relax in.
You earned every second of downtime.
Why?
@@adbogo because he's much harder than you, hows night shift at whatever shithole you're stuck in?
@@swamishwami 😂
@@adbogo ....Why not?
This man, like all GI's, is a war criminal. How can one only admire murderers.
I served with him aboard the USS Ranger on the 83/4 cruise when he was the ship's navigator. He lost the pen Nixon gave him. I don't recall the details following his release. I found the pen and returned it to him. He liked to have cried right then and there. Super nice man unlike many of his fellow officers that graced the wardroom tables during meal times.
That is a great story and thank you for returning his momento. I was in Long Beach in 1974 when the Ranger came in from a long cruise. There was a radio exchange with the Naval Station that reportedly ended with "We have been at sea for xx months. Advise that port security stand down"
Thank you very much for all of your sacrifice.
I sincerely appreciate all you have done.
My wife is a Navy Veteran. 2 tours of duty in the Gulf on the John C. Stennis. I'm SO proud of her!!
Yes, I was on an air det on Ranger during that cruise and one evening the ship's navigator came over the 1MC. I remember it was a very uplifting talk which we needed for sagging morale, as the ship had been out on a record-breaking no port call stint. Then, a follow-up comment filled us in that he had been a POW in Vietnam. So, this is the face to that voice. Full circle, shipmate! Thanks for this reminder.
77-78 80-81 USS RANGER
There has to be a special place in Heaven for this man! He lived his hell on Earth. What a privilege and honor to hear your story.
@Eric Zombrow Eric you need to remember that minutes before these pilots were capture these aviators were dropping bombs on the people that captured them
@@jamesmcdonough2726 whats your point?
@@Cognitoman That the pilots should not expect good treatment,that's my point
@@jamesmcdonough2726 well in countries like thatyou wont... but first world countries they will.
@@jamesmcdonough2726 And most Sth VN'se who flew for the USAF were sent to " re education " camps,. and never heard of again.
How can any fool give this man’s intense story a “thumbs down”. What an embarrassment.
they are vc
Antifa and other Marxist communist pukes.
McCain's ghost has a conscience?
UA-cam algorithm bots give 1 dislike per 200 likes to balance the way videos are recalled in the database and prevent runaway top videos appearing in every recommended or search. 2000 likes = 100 bot dislikes, 20,000 likes = 1000 dislikes etc.
@@bprathe3205 Trump got 5 deferments red hat jerk!
Never heard such a story like this in such detail that man is one amazing person
i was hanging onto every word he said.
@@emcee1337 clinging lol
I don't even have words..
You have nothing but my respect and admiration, sir.
What a hero surviving 7 years in prison camp and then become a pilot again.
I salute you sir, thanks for your service Rod Knutson !
This is my 1st Navy carrier pilot of a fast mover since I discovered this channel.. His 1st letter home, something about "say hello to Ann Margaret." Words fail me. He misdirected answers he gave to give no Intel enemy could use. Then he endured more brutality and didn't give them jack. This man to me is as much a true Patriot as George Washington Davy Crockett or Dan'l Boone....
Loved the one he told his captors about being the Swimming Pool Officer aboard ship! Reminded me of the jokes we used to make about having a bowling alley aboard our carrier...😆
Marine, Navy, cat in the dining room, grandfather clock chimes in, and now the family dog on the lap and one roaming around. You Sir are an American Alpha, all that 12:31 into it.
God Bless you Sir for your service.
Appalling what he endured. Honorable man. He is the perfect example why his generation is one of the greatest in U.S. history.
They fought an unjust war, against incalculable weaker enemy, they cannot be not even near to the WWII generations.
@Darko Stanisavljević
Learn English before you spew diarrhea from your dumb mouth-hole, bozo. 🖕😘
Well said
extremely appalling, considering these people signed the Geneva convention
@@darkostanisavljevic1105 So because the WW2 generation fought a tougher enemy they somehow deserve more respect? That is the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life. The Viet Cong . They were in Charlie's backyard. It is always much tougher fighting a military force on their home turf when you are the invader. I don't think it mattered much to the US soldiers and airmen who died there that they were a superior force. These men fought and many of them died serving their country in a war most did not even believe in. For that they deserve our utmost respect.
What an amazing interview. Every American should watch...especially these days!
tears went down my face when near the end of his story,when he saluted his colonel.he endured torture and everthing the NVA Throw at him for
7 1/2 yrs!!not to mention all the mental scars like PTSD that will haunted him for the rest of his life..i dnt know what more to say, other than may God bless him and his family.
This is the most amazing story about the Vietnam war that I have ever heard. Thank you for sharing it with us, Rod.
Wow,, just wow. A soldiers story about getting shot down then being a POW for 7 years. The bad, the badder, and the ugly. Also an amazing career after coming home. An absolutely riveting interview and extremely well told. WELCOME HOME Mr. Knutson, and THANK YOU for a lifetime of service to our country. Sir, you are a true patriot. ( SALUTE. )
dcd 2015 - I would love to hear the take these kinds of patriots have about their country being quickly converted to tyrannical Marxists / socilaists government in 2021.
And much more believable than McCain's story.
@@chrisblue46 mcstains whole story was a proven lie. He crashed 2 planes hot dogging against orders before vietnam. Anyone else would have been sent to leavenworth. And he got shot down by AA flying low and slow, (like a dumbass), AGAIN, AGAINST ORDERS. As told by guys that were there. He also told the nva all the standard flight SOPs for the navy. (Shoot downs rapidly rose after mccains capture) He came home big , fat, and happy, while most POWs were starved, and helped or carried off the plane. Watch the video. A traitor imo. I belive his fellow POWs.
Incredible........ Everyone needs to hear these stories.... Maybe ppl would appreciate what we have here in the USA a little more 🇺🇸
What an amazing gentleman! I could listen to him for hours, he's an incredible communicator! He is an American HERO! GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY!🇺🇸🙏❤
I'm so happy they came home alive. Fucking legendary.
I’m speechless. I know that I could have never endured being a POW. I would have been an Army nurse if I had followed my dreams instead of listening to my boyfriend. This gentleman has my utmost respect. Your story has touched my heart and soul. A true Patriot. It’s nice to see you safe at home with your animals. I’m honored to have the privilege to hear your unimaginable box of time in Vietnam. Praise the Lord you survived.
God Bless you! Thank you for your sacrifice! God Bless America!🇺🇸
One smart tough dude - so glad you made it back after all that Mr. Knudson
This is a very capable interviewer who asked many good questions.
Dear , Rod Knutson. Your story has touched me quite profoundly...I will Never forget it,or you Sir..There is just no way one could even come close to imagining the pain and suffering that you and others there at that Prison camp experienced.Your story gives us a small sample of it..But that is all..You servicemen deserve to live out the rest of your lives however you wish. The taxpayers in the U.S.A. should gladly pay the bill..God knows they waste our money on so much needless stuff. Your cause is just. I hope they are treating you well.. Rod Knutson, thank you for your service in the military..And WELCOME HOME.GLAD YOU HELD OUT AND MADE IT..!!!! LORD BLESS YOU SIR..
Captain Rodney A. Knutson, I salute you sir.
Quite simply the best video on UA-cam. Professional documentary makers must be in awe of the highest quality of this unscripted and unedited interview with a courageous military officer.
Very well done Billings Gazette.
Its men like Mr Knutson that have kept this country free since the revolution
Thank you Sir ,,one of the best interviews I have watched
Also thank you Billings Gazette
I'm glad I stumbled on this channel. This is a great idea to get their stories before it's too late
M
Absolutely. My grandad was in the RAF and my German great grandparents were obviously on the other side.
As a kid I was fascinated and spent hours listening to their stories, and how much I wish I would have thought to record it on the old cassette tapes we had back then.
One day all these stories need to be used as a historic record when no more wars are fought. However before that day can come, we all have one more war to fight, and it's going to be unlike any other, if we lose, well I think we can see where it's going to end up.
B-4 it's 2 late for what?
You didn't find it. Most likely, it found you.
Without a doubt, naval avaitors are the very best and this is from the air force.
A tip of the hat to anyone who has the balls to land on a carrier in shitty weather at night.
This guy's been through pure Hell. I really was mesmerized by listening to his experience of his service in Vietnam.
Very rarely have I seen such a sincere and honest interview. He tells of moments of greatest weakness and despair and how he still managed to save face. Not only towards his enemy, but above all towards himself. He behaves almost like an English gentleman, he is extremely intelligent and still has a certain wit. A very impressive person. We wish him all the best!
Every person who has the good fortune to watch this amazing interview should take Rod's final statement about participation in the running of one's own countries government as the words of a very very wise man. Democracy is the will of the people not of the members of the the government who may think they know better than the electorate.
I don’t have the words to express the level of respect. I’m in awe of anyone that had endured such Hell.
The human cost of war can never be really understood without interviews like this. May our country treat our vets with the honor they deserve.
I don't have enough words to explain my thanks to you SIR !!......It's Men such as yourself that make me PROUD to live in the USA !!........Thank You SIR from the bottom of my heart for your Service and Dedication to our country during a VERY difficult time......GOD BLESS ALL VIETNAM VETERANS !!.........WELCOME HOME SIR !!
This guy is a hero. Thank you for your service Sir. It is a blessing that you made it through all of that and are still here with us. God is good.
Welcome Home Mr. Knutson. What a great inspiring story of Courage.
God Bless all our Vietnam Vets, POW’s & MIA’s 🇺🇸
I have watched about 20 of these so far, and this is the first POW one I have seen yet. What an amazing, humble man. Thank you for your service, sir!
One of the best nearly three hours you will ever spend. Great interview.
16:17 .... one of the best cat stories dogs have ever experienced a human telling 🐈 🐩 🐕 👀
I was A Yoeman in the Captains Office.. I am proud to serve with CAPATIAN KNUTSON. Eastbond and down.
YAHOOO...
Sorry Cap...Full Bird Captain
I lived on Camp Pendleton when my father was stationed there I have always had respect for the Military none of us can even imagine what POW's went through God Bless you sir.
This brought me to tears. What an amazing man
Rod I'm so glad you are alive and in your easy chair able to tell us your amazing story
I really enjoyed your story your one heck of a man thank you for telling it I'm an army veteran door gunner on huey. Gun ship to me you are a hero in all sense of the word
Amazing story? Enjoyed it? Comparing him to Washngton, Crockett? *What the F are you?* This man and many others were tossed into a meat grinder and some survived. You are amazed at his adventure? Get the F out of here.
@@250txc Easy on the Red bull fella
Amen
2:30:00 No one except those who survived this can truly relate to that moment.
2:32:30 God Bless America
Thank you for this production - worth watching at least a couple of times a year, on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, for instance.
Thank you Mr. Knutson. Truly incredible story; the amount of bravery and devotion you showed for your country, not giving up any information to the enemy, and surviving for 7.5 years in a brutal POW camp is deserving of the utmost respect. No man should ever have to go through the amount of trauma you went through, yet you persevered and came out stronger because of it. Hope all is well, and thank you again for your service.
Great little dogs, so patient even though Dad won't play ball.
Great stories, fascinating accounts of his missions and service.
"Reporting my honorable return" THANK GOD AN GOD BLESS
mark holbrook and welcome home.
I have watched several of these and cried, but this one really broke me down. Words alone cannot convey the admiration, appreciation, gratitude, and respect this man and his fellow vets are owed. The Vietnam story has for years been contorted and distorted by politics, media, history books and others. Its long overdue to be told like this, the raw TRUTH directly from the mouths of those who were there and lived it firsthand. The USA will always be great as long as we have GOD and people like these guys to lead and serve her. God be with you all and give you his blessings.
My CO at NWC China Lake. I got to fly with him in a TA-4J from China Lake to San Diego then on to Denver. Great man, great story. Much respect for you sir.
Better than a movie. I will say this about his editorial at the end. Ho Chi Minh, wanted help and peace from the US government before all this went down, and the secretary of state rebuffed him. Could have saved a lot of lives and money.
Since Veteran's Day 2019, I have sought out answers of all wars. This interview was absolutley awesome! The Billings interviews have been the best thus far of the Nam interviews. Thank U for your service! So glad u have lots of animals to comfort and love u. Maybe that big rat just wanted that too! A big salute!
Thank you Sir for your sacrifice and service! You are a Warrior!
Mr. Knutson is a remarkable person - one encounter and you'd never forget him. I heard him speak on board the USS Ranger back in the 80s, and I never forgot his voice coming across to lift us up during a very down time.
He’s so good at telling his story that I found myself going through the emotions with him. When he was talking about them erupting on the plane and seeing the children it made me so happy inside. You can’t imagine how high with joy these guys had and then the drop in your stomach when the Chaplin told you what he had to tell you. I can’t imagine being that happy to learn how much some of these men’s lives have changed with losing family and wives leaving them. The only reason I have hope in this nation surviving is the hearts and souls in men and women like this that will always survive no matter what they bring before us.True American Hero that survived hell🇺🇸.
What I love the most about these interviews, is the great preparation of the interviewer. No fluff, no improvisation. The interviewer has done a great job by studying the historical context of the 1960's , and he asks relevant, intelligent questions the veterans can relate to. Preparation is the key, astounding job sir!
This man is being interviewed during "dog play time," and that dog knows it!
This is a true man. This is the best video I ever watched.
This man should have, and should to this day, anything he wants in this country. He should have never wanted for anything again.
I'm finally in a safer place in about the same number of years this is helping me
I salute you Sir!! Much respect. Thank you for your service.
David Burton aSA
what a intelligent and articulate man. awesome interview...
This man..should have been at least a Two Star...I'm a big fan of Halsey. This kid deserves it...and He earned it. God Bless you Rodney A Knutson. A true Patriot.
I did my boot while you were commanding NTC San Diego. I remember seeing you in your car being driven around the base. I had no idea of your story and that I was so close to greatness. God Bless you and everyone who served in that rotten place. Take care of yourself, Sir!!
Extremely enlightening discussion from this man. Integrity emanates of this gent and many of those who have been interviewed on this project. So thankful that we have this record.
I was passing through the Philippines en route to Nam Phong, Thailand, and shook hands with some of these Guys at Clark Air Base...spring of 73 some time. USMC 70-74.
Grew up without a father. Hearing this gentleman speak was intense. Helps bring many things back in perspective on this winter day.
Absolute respect. His eyes tell a story far more than what we have seen. Thank you for sharing this interview that we may learn from his courage to face our own challenges. Excellent interview.
It’s great to hear your full story finally. I was one of your instructors in VT4 and still remember our cross country to San Diego. Glad to see you in such good health. Stu Bugg. Pensacola , Fl.
Amazing story an a wonderful interview. Truly, thank you for your service and dedication to our country.
Really powerful stuff! It should be required viewing for people desiring citizenship. A true American hero in every respect. I'd call you by your retired rank, but it's not listed. Thank you sir, for your sacrifice and service. May God bless you, and your family.
You are one bad ass thank you for your heart and courage true patriot above and beyond 🇺🇸
Wow....more people need to see this interview. Sad, watered me eyes once.
God bless you Rod,you survived absolute HELL, yet you remain so loyal & humble.An amazing person with wisdom to spare. You deserve all the good fortune ahead. All the best from Australia.
An inspiring and engaging interview of a good man.
Really great questions by the interviewer.
I especially liked the question about the dreams he had during his imprisonment was very interesting.
Also, I have listened to one other POW story that talked about the tapping code, and it was fascinating to see it actually demonstrated.
What an incredible story. So glad he survived to tell it!
No doubt, the BEST interview on Vietnam period. Thanks and take care!
Thank you for doing all of these interviews. The Vietnam War and America in the 1950's, 60's and 70's has been a huge point of research and learning in my life.
I have watched other interviews in this series, this mans story was by far the most detailed, interesting and terrible at the same time.Cant even begin to imagine what it must have been like. I have so much respect for him. All l can say is thank you Mr. KNUTSON for sharing your story. A good man.
Unbelievable what a great story what a great man I’ve listened to a lot of these and his voice I will remember forever
Great interview, great service....notice his animals? They love him, a great gentleman
Amazing story and testament to the human spirit. Thank you for your sacrifices!
Duty, Honor , Compassion, Faith, Hope, And When They were Beaten We Were Beaten Too Amen.
I was in Vietnam and in places I could have been captured. I think now how foolish I had been to put myself in that position. Youth can be so careless. He is a brave dude.
What an amazingly intelligent and articulate gentleman who went through way too much...
Thank you for your service
One tough guy. Much tougher than me! Best wishes from the UK.
I was in flight school in Pensacola with you when you went back for pilot training Rod, and your stories inspired me until this day - so glad to have seen this video!
I am fine with people going to the army to defend their country...but due to their current online behavior not many people would think any country should let a moon landing believer join the army. Excellent interviews!
Rod Knutson is one of the most remarkable men I have had the pleasure to listen to.. I really wish I could form more of an articulate comment to his story, but I'm at a loss as to how a man who has been through so much, has retained his joie de vivre.. Thank you Sir.
Awesome interview ,just WOW !
thank you for your service!
I think you were my CO at China Lake sir, good to hear your story. Well done.
What Nobility,Courage,Honor,Valor and Strength! Thank You Sir!
One hell of a Naval Aviator!!!!! Welcome home, Cpt Knutson!
THANK YOU ROD !
Hello from ireland,love all your interviews Good man, keep them coming, and a big thanks to all the guests who share their experiences with us top men 👍
Thanks for this historical interview.
Thank you for your service sir. Hope you are well.
My God, what a story of courage, and the will to live. Thank you sir for the honesty and sharing with the world the horrors of war. God bless all of you who have served or are serving our nation with honor.
This was by far the best and most interesting interview of this channel!
Thank you for your sacrifice and service. So glad you made it home .
I'm humbled and in awe of you sir, there are no words that exist that do you justice. Thank you sir, im honoured to have listened to your story, respect 🙏❤
It was the bravery and sacrifice of men like you that moved me to serve my country..thank you sir..salute!
Training keeps you sharp and alive. Thank you for your service, sir.
Thank you for sharing your history
this guy is my favorite interview, he has balls of steel but doesn't embellish or focus on himself.
Before i watch this, I just wana thank you for your service Sir. I just know this will be an amazing interview about your life and time in the war. I will be watching this all through-out the day because i have work. I always enjoy hearing stories from our veterans. Makes me very proud to be an American.
I listen to these interviews in order to remind myself that I should appreciate the small things I'd otherwise take for granted. I'm at work now and when I go and fill my cup with cold , clean water or coffee, when I put something interesting or stimulating on my device, when I get a snack from my lunchbox, when I appreciate the yoga pants the girl in the office wears , when I step outside and take in some fresh air , I am grateful for the freedom do these things.These are selfish reasons obviously but hearing this guy describe his captivity really puts my daily routine into perspective. Freedom is a wonderful thing.
What a Warrior and American Hero. Thank you sir for your service. We are so lucky to have you on our side!