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ENID, OK - There was a Meet & Hear with Randall "Duke" Cunningham - Vietnam Navy Ace on May 19 at the ML Becker Education Center in Enid, Oklahoma. He was in town selling books and artwork and autographing photos. Duke Cunningham was a Navy war hero, Top Gun Instructor, and congressman.
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Cunningham spoke for an hour in front of a full crowd recounting his years as a Navy pilot. His memories of training, battle and dogfights were as vivid as they were riveting. Duke recalls many of his best stories in the video above.
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The story of Randall "Duke" Cunningham, one of only two military ACE pilots in the Vietnam War, is one of great bravery and personal sacrifice in combat.
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On January 19, 1972, Cunningham engaged two enemy military aircraft – MiG 21s and shot down the lead aircraft. The following May, he engaged three enemy MiG 17s, shooting down the MIG on his wingman's tail while he was being attacked by two MiGs.
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Just two days later, on May 10, 1972 Cunningham was attacked by 22 MiGs. He shot down three of the enemy planes, making him the first ACE pilot in the war. He shot down a MIG chasing his executive officer's plane while being directly attacked by 10 MiGs. For this action, Cunningham was nominated for the Medal of Honor.
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While heading out of the target area after all of the other strike force members were safe, Cunningham was hit by a surface to air missile. He flew the crippled aircraft 30 miles until it exploded, forcing him to eject over enemy territory.
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Among his other awards, Cunningham has received the Navy Cross, the second highest national award; two Silver Stars; 15 Air Medals; Navy Commendation Medal; Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation; Navy Unit Commendation Medal; South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; and the Cross of Gallantry Oak Leaf.
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Later in his career, Cunningham served as a Top Gun Student Instructor and Commanding Office of the Elite Adversary Squadron. Many of his real life actions were depicted in the critically acclaimed movie, "Top Gun."
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A U.S. Congressman for 16 years, Cunningham served as Chairman to the Intelligence Committee and on the Education Committee.
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Cunningham resigned from the House on November 28, 2005, after pleading guilty to accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes and under-reporting his taxable income for 2004. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion, and conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, and wire fraud. He was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison. He completed his prison term on June 4, 2013
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A former College Dean, Cunningham has a Master of Arts in Education and Business from the University of Missouri. He is a Tigers fan though he now lives in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
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Cunningham, now retired, enjoys HSV lakes, Bible Church and serves as a volunteer fireman.
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Duke Cunningham Talks "Top Gun"
Left out all the info about his corruption and crimes and his jail time. Bribes etc. why? Seems pertinent.
We received info about Duke speaking and posted the bio that was presented. The bio did not include his crimes. You’d have to ask the Woodring Wall of Honor about that.
We went ahead and added more info. He was 100% willing to answer any questions about his convictions and prison time.
You must be a POS liberal.
Thanks for updating his criminal record.
He was my Rep and he’s a crook … I never want to hear another word he says again .. EVER …
War hero this, you CROOK
Yea, he messed up, big time. He was/is still an American hero, and I am grateful. He did what less than 1% of 1% of our population was capable, or willing to do, and put his life on the line every day for years. So go ahead and rant about his crimes…..he did the time. He also did time making sure our way of life was protected. He is a sheepdog, protecting all you whiney sheep.
All of you who are calling this man names… let me ask you, are there things you’ve done in the past things that you wished you had never done?? Are there things that you would not want others to know what you did? Now let me ask you, how many of you served actively overseas, fighting in battles that mattered??
I don’t know a single person who hasn’t done things they were ashamed of. God forgives, and that is what Randy did… he asked forgiveness for his wrong doings, and he admitted to the public what he had done, and he has totally regretted his actions in getting caught up in those wrong doings.
I wish I knew him personally, as I know about his struggles to come to grips with what he had done and then tried to move forward after serving his time. The pastor who talked with Randy on a continual basis is a good friend of mine, and he says that Randy is a good man, fully regretful of his misdeeds, and now wishes to do what he can to help this country with his remaining years.
But with any of you naysayers… as the Bible says, those of you without sin cast the first stone… that’s what I thought… now, if you can’t do anything positive, and move forward with Randy to help this country, then crawl back under your rock
Years back, when I was performing with my band, Lil Elmo and the Cosmos, we played for the Top Guns at Miramar. I had the opportunity to meet “Duke” at the officers Club after-party. We talked aircraft, ( I grew up with a Father who sold aircraft engine parts for Pratt & Whitney engines ). and we both got ripped at the party. I asked Randy if I could look at some of the jets, and he very graciously, the next morning, ( I was still sort of hung-over ), took me out onto the flightline and put me in an A-4, and an F-4. I was so impressed with how sharply this man ( and all of the flight crews ) were dressed. No matter whom you asked, each pilot would tell you that HE was the best there. If this man made some mistake later, It’s no matter to me, The man I met was memorable and made me proud of our Country’s Naval aviators. All that have served have my sincere gratitude.
I’ve often wondered if he was “Set Up” by opposition members. How many national level Congress members are completely honest; how many do you feel can be completely trusted? Just wondering…
I have known Duke since 1972 when I met him at the American Fighter Aces convention in San Antonio, Texas. He knows what he did, he knows he screwed up and we have talked about it at length for a lot of years. Funny that those liberals (spelled HATERS) that only know how to attack any one that they (hate) disagree with, those same people never acknowledge that he served his term, paid the restitutions ordered by the judge and took his punishment.
These same people (haters) are the ones that scream that prison should NOT be about punishment, it should be about being REFORMED to return to society. For the HATERS that is fine for rapists, murderers, thieves and worse… but the worst of all are conservatives or Republicans for which they hold nothing but… you guessed it. HATE.
Duke still tries to talk to both sides because both sides are needed to balance the power, but the haters only hate and that is something that will never, EVER change.
Remember, democrats don’t disagree with you… they HATE you.
You cannot discount the incredible bravery Duke and his co-pilot Willie Driscoll displayed over the skies of Vietnam during the war. He served his time. Respect what he did to serve our country during a time of war.