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Colonel Buickerood’s Pilot Journey | Odessa News
Colonel Rich Buickerood’s journey from a quiet New Jersey kid to an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War era is a gripping tale of grit, sacrifice, and unexpected triumph. The first in his family to attend college, he joined ROTC at Rutgers—barely scraping by as a cadet—only to land a coveted pilot slot. Sent to Laughlin AFB in Texas, he faced brutal training where peers vanished under pressure, some lost forever. His story, captured by the Veterans Land Board’s Oral History Program, offers a raw, human lens into military life and the high stakes of service. These preserved voices ensure…
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