469: Dangerous Secret Missions. With Army Col (Ret) Bill Reeder.

Reeder gets assigned to the elite, top-secret 131st Surveillance Airplane Company upon arriving in Vietnam

Upon his arrival in Vietnam on Halloween 1968, 22-year-old Captain Bill Reeder eagerly joins the prestigious 131st Surveillance Airplane Company, known for flying classified and treacherous missions over Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Reeder's first missions involve flying with experienced pilots, including the Loudermilk twins from his flight school class. Reeder quickly becomes familiar with the highly secret nature of their operations and the significant risk of being shot down over the notorious Ho Chi Minh Trail, a heavily defended North Vietnamese supply network.

Reeder's dedication to his work with the 131st is palpable in his own words, as he describes returning to Vietnam and the unit as feeling "curiously comfortably back among my fellow spuds." Despite the dangers of war, the sense of family and the strong desire to complete his tour and return home is a conflicting but persistent theme throughout his experience.

Reeder undergoes intensive training to become a skilled Mohawk gunship pilot, learning precision aerial gunnery and combat tactics from seasoned veteran pilots

Reeder undergoes an intense training regime under the tutelage of his flight instructor, Major Max Davidson, along with other mentor figures like Major Hank Brummett and Major Joe Kennedy. These experienced pilots instill in Reeder the skills and mentality needed to operate the A-model Mohawks and survive in the hostile skies of Southeast Asia. His exceptional flying and quick learning prove his capability to handle reconnaissance and strike missions effectively.

In the formative stages of his military flying career, Reeder masters a detailed understanding of various army aircraft types, including the small Cessna O-1 Bird Dogs, U6 Beaver, and U1 Otter. His transition to flying the sophisticated and fast Mohawk is marked by selectivity and high performance and leads to him flying solo missions with technical observers (TOs)—a testament to his rapid development into an adept pilot.

Reeder and the 131st develop a close-knit, brotherhood-like culture, with unique callsigns, rituals, and camaraderie

The intense experiences of the 131st, which often face them with death, forge unbreakable bonds among the pilots and technical observers. Reeder describes a culture of close-knit relationships and brotherhood, characterized by unique callsigns, like his own nickname "Wild Bill" and the "sweet and sour" monikers of the Loudermilk twins, and rituals like buying drinks for stepping on the Hawk symbol. Evidence of their kinship ...

The 131st Surveillance Airplane Company conducted top-secret missions fraught with peril, often flying into areas officially off-limits to U.S. forces, such as North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. These missions were subject to the highest levels of classification and carried out under direct orders from major intelligence and national bodies.

The 131st flies top-secret reconnaissance and strike missions over Laos and Cambodia, areas that are officially off-limits to U.S. forces

Jocko Willink refers to the 131st's three years of secret missions. The unit answered directly to MACV intelligence and operated under classified directives. Reeder explains that the missions spanned over Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, highlighting the sensitive political implications, given that Cambodia was a neutral country. The missions over the off-limits areas like the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos, often conducted under CIA oversight, remained highly classified, with public disclosures possible only after declassification. The clandestine nature of their flight paths, such as Reeder's time over Laos, and the need to use covert signals (like "going on French leave") to disregard air traffic control over sensitive territories underscore the high-risk and compartmentalized operations of the 131st.

The unit answers directly to MACV intelligence and the U.S. Embassy, with their activities kept highly compartmentalized

The 131st was known as the "bastard company", reporting directly to the upper echelons of military and political command, including MACV intelligence and the U.S. Embassy. Even when they worked in coordination with the 7th Air Force, their activities were rigorously integrated into the frag order for seamless execution of tasks. Their missions' results were immediately circulated amongst the Pentagon, State Department, and other significant agencies, showcasing their direct impact on strategic decisions at the national level. Reeder's description of missions as "specially compartmentalized" above top-secret status details the remarkable secrecy surrounding their operations.

The 131st's Mohawk aircraft are outfitted with advanced sensors and weaponry, allowing them to conduct sophisticated intelligence gathering and precision strikes

The Mohawk aircraft—the A, B, and C models—were equipped with advanced technology like infrared systems, side-looking airborne radar, and substantial ordinance including rockets. This extraordinary equipment enabled them to perform intricate surveillance duties, precision strikes, and direct support to ground troops. Reeder notes his involvement in intelligence gathering via radar to track enemy movement, signifying the craft's multifa ...

Bill Reeder's remarkable story of survival as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War reflects resilience amid extreme adversity.

Reeder is shot down and captured by the enemy while on a mission, leading to his imprisonment in harsh jungle camps and a grueling march along the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Reeder was shot down over the central highlands of Vietnam and endured a harrowing three-day evasion before he was captured by the North Vietnamese. He was then placed in a jungle prison camp where he faced starvation, torture, and brutal beatings. Mock executions were part of the psychological torment he faced. Ordered to march 200 miles along the deadly Ho Chi Minh Trail to Hanoi, Reeder survived months in the notorious Hanoi Hilton prison camp, enduring dire conditions and witnessing the death of fellow prisoners.

During the march, he was placed with 25 South Vietnamese prisoners and another American, Wayne Finch. The journey was so severe that by the time they reached Hanoi, six of the South Vietnamese detainees had either died or been executed, and Finch had also perished.

Reeder endures starvation, torture, and the deaths of many of his fellow prisoners during the ordeal

Faced with near-death experiences, including close B-52 strikes, Reeder reflects on a moment of surrender when he accepted that his fate was beyond his control; he put his fate in God's hands, ready to accept death if it came. His ultimate rescue and return were conducted by an Air Force Special Operations Unit, the 20th SOS, marking the end of his dire time as a POW.

Despite the hardships, Reeder maintains his resolve and is eventually released and returned to the United States

Bill Reeder is eternally thankful for surviving such an ordeal and expresses his gratitude for every day since his release. His single combat parachute jump, which occurred during his aircraft ejection, signals the intensity of the combat situations he faced. Through it all, Reeder's strength of spirit remained unbroken, and his return home marked a new chapter of reflection and appreciation for life.

Reeder's experiences as a prisoner of war profoundly impact him, leading to a greater appreciation for life and a desire to memorialize the sacrifices of his fellow soldiers

Reeder is motivated to share his story and those of other POWs and to honor the sacrifices made by soldiers during the Vietnam War. His book, "Through the Valley: My Captivity in Vietnam," serves as a testament to the grueling experiences of POWs, particularly ...