When US Air Force officer Dude 44 Bravo was shot down by Iran earlier this year, the serviceman relied on his faith to see him through.
“I don’t have this story without faith,” he said in an interview with 60 MINUTES. “I’m not saying faith is a replacement for training, but instead it is a boon to training. Training helps us understand what we do. But faith is the backstop of all of my actions during my time in Iran, and the way that guides what I do, day in and day out.”
Bravo, who has not been identified by name, and his pilot, known as DUDE 44 Alpha, were shot down “deep inside Iran…landing miles apart behind enemy lines,” per a press release from the White House.
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“What followed was one of the most daring rescue operations in modern military history, culminating in Bravo’s Easter Sunday rescue,” the press release continued.
Bravo broke his back, arm, and shoulder when he landed, then had to hide for two days without food or water as he waited for rescue, which he called a “modern-day miracle.”
“I believe that it’s a testament to God’s provision in my life to bring me through that moment in a way that didn’t prevent injuries, but prevented any catastrophic injuries that would have affected my ability to survive,” he shared with 60 MINUTES.
Alpha, who was also rescued, declined to be interviewed out of concerns for his safety. He provided a statement to CBS, saying, “I am still in awe of the professionalism and tactical prowess of the Combat Search and Rescue specialists and the Joint Force who executed the rescue missions of me and DUDE 44 Bravo, both those in theater and behind the scenes.”
“Words cannot capture how thankful my family and I are and how proud I am to serve alongside each and every one of them,” he continued.
Later in the interview, Bravo shared what he hopes Americans take away from the rescue of his crew member and himself — “It’s a story of the teamwork, the training, of the faith, of the decisions and the leadership to do something that will live in history as an example of what America’s willing to do, in order to uphold our promise and leave no man behind.”
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