Raymond Wilson: A MN Remembers Vietnam Submission

Raymond Wilson talks about how being black impacted his career choice and ultimately sent him down the road of joining the military; and about his life-long love of flying.

This excerpt is from Twin Cities PBS’s documentary Minnesota Remembers Vietnam: The Telling Project.

 

This is so important to me, to get my story out, because I think there are young men and women of color that tell people what they want to do in their life and not get a chance to do it.

Growing up in rural New Jersey in the 1950s, Ray dreamed of being a pilot. But, being African American, he didn’t have role models or a clear path to that goal. While pursuing a degree in teaching, he decided to take the leap and enroll in private flying lessons. There an instructor introduced him to a recruiter and the rest was history. Ray joined the Army in 1969 to pursue his dream.

After spending 366 days in Vietnam, he re-enlisted and had an Army career that spanned 22 years and included positions as flight school instructor, a Medivac Pilot, and a Chief Warrant Officer. A job with Northwest Airlines brought him to Minnesota in 1990, and Ray remains in touch with fellow veterans through the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.

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