WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. — A veteran received an incredible honor in Williamstown Monday morning. John Osborne, who once helped save over 40 soldiers in Vietnam, wanted to take one last helicopter ride.
It seems impossible to repay an American hero like Osborne for everything he’s done for his country. With a Spec 5 ranking, Osborne served the United States Air Force as a crew chief, door gunner, and sometimes helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.
The Williamstown native was a crew chief on a helicopter mission that took six separate trips to save 44 stranded American soldiers in 1967.
Osborne was wounded during one flight, but continued on with the mission. Later he’d be offered the Medal of Honor, but turned it down, saying he didn’t need any recognition.
Coming home was hard for Osborne. Art became his escape.
“I just like to paint. And draw. And a lot of times it would give me a place to hide,” he said. “Being able to share it, because I came home. That’s what it really was about.”
He even gave art lessons. One of his students was a kid named Mark Christopher, who’d become the current mayor of Williamstown.
Osborne taught Christopher about the war. Over the years, the two became friends.
“I said, John, why don’t you tell your story? And he said I do. And I said where? And he said it’s through my artwork,” Christopher said.
As for whether the art does indeed tell a story, “I hope it does. I do,” Osborne said.
A few weeks ago, Osborne told Christopher the last time he’d flown in a helicopter was in the 1980s.
“And he said, you know what? I’d like to take one last ride in a helicopter,” Christopher said.
With a little help from Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s office, Williamstown was able to come through with not one but three helicopters, and a ceremony to honor Osborne.
Disabled American Veterans helped put the event together.
“I served in Iraq, and it was veterans like John who welcomed me back home after my service, so this generation has meant the world to the veterans community,” said DAV Chief Communications and Outreach Officer, Dan Clare. “For him to get this kind of redemption at this stage in his life is something that we are just thrilled to be a part of.”
Osborne received proclamations, presentations and awards from governmental officials, including a video message from Paul.
Then, Osborne was able to take that one last ride in a UH-1 Huey, similar to those he flew in Vietnam. The helicopters were piloted by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation.
“It’s very emotional for everybody,” said Tom McNamara, one pilot, and a fellow Vietnam Veteran. “It’s like a time machine for them. It takes them back 50 years to maybe not so pleasant times. But at least they were young at that point.”
Gene Newton, a crew chief with the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, and Vietnam vet himself, also couldn’t help but become emotional when talking about Osborne’s reaction to the flight.
“There was a time or two that I saw that look in his eye. Still, after all these years,” Newton said. “Trying to come home and just not being accepted anymore. But we’re still brothers.”
Once he landed, Osborne kept his reaction simple.
“Great,” he said. “No guns, getting shot at…I still love it.”
Better yet, he got to share the experience with his daughter, Lara Osborne. “It just means everything,” she said.
It may seem impossible to repay a hero like John Osborne, but it’s worth it to try.
“I gave you a lot of crap, didn’t I, John?” Christopher said to his former teacher.
“A lot of times,” Osborne replied, laughing.
“But you know, I felt like this was my way of making it up to him,” Christopher said.
Osborne said one of his great honors was hand delivering a painting to George W Bush. The former president wrote Osborne a letter for the special occasion, which he is eagerly awaiting to read.
