Chief Master Sgt. Duane D. Hackney was nothing short of legendary.
Spanning a 26 year career in the Air Force, he became the most decorated enlisted man in USAF history and the recipient of 28 decorations for valor in combat and more than 70 awards and decorations in all.
As a PJ in Vietnam, he flew over 200 combat missions in a span of 3.5 years (all tours completed as a volunteer). Three days after reporting for duty in Vietnam, Hackney flew his first combat mission. Somewhere on that mission, a .30-caliber slug buried itself in his leg. To avoid being grounded by the medics, he had one of his PJ friends remove the slug with a probe.
As he became a legend in the rescue world, he earned four Distinguished Flying Crosses, not for flying a certain number of missions but for specific acts of heroism, and 18 Air Medals, many for single acts of valor.
Hackney's most celebrated mission was on February 6, 1967 to rescue a downed pilot in North Vietnam.
After locating the pilot, he was lowered to the ground, and after securing the survivor into the Stokes litter, both were lifted out. No sooner did they reach the door, the helicopter was hit with a 37 mm anti-aircraft round and caught fire. With complete disregard for his own welfare, Hackney removed his parachute and placed it on the survivor. He lunged to grab another one from storage as the helicopter fell from the sky In an instant, it exploded, just as Airman Hackney slipped his arms through the harness. He was blown out by the explosion.
Dangling from the harness, he managed to pull the ripcord and the chute opened just as he hit the trees, where he plunged a further 80 feet and came to rest on a ledge in a crevasse. He narrowly avoided capture while enemy troops jumped across the crevasse, mere feet above. Another helicopter immediately made a run in to locate any survivors and found only burning wreckage, with Hackney waving his arms for pickup. He was the only survivor. For his bravery, he was awarded the Air Force Cross, becoming the first living enlisted man to receive it.
During the few interviews, he always mentioned his pride in knowing he saved lives in Vietnam and didn't take them. #hardfuck