POWERGRAMS

8 The other two gunships broke contact with the North Vietnamese. The LRRP team was rescued and flown to an Army hospital. "The wounded Ranger survived," Woodall said. "It was a good day for the Charlie Rangers and the 134th AHC." Leaving war behind After Vietnam, Woodall put aside the memories of war. "I don't talk about my Vietnam experience a lot," Woodall said. "I left it in Vietnam. A lot of us weren't too proud to fight in a war we didn't win." Woodall made the best of the skills he learned in the military. After an honorable discharge in 1971, he flew for the Alabama Army National Guard from 1971 to 1975. With the GI Bill, he earned a commercial "fixed-wing" airplane license and later received a commercial real estate license. For nearly 29 years, Woodall was a corporate pilot for several companies, accruing more than 10,000 hours of flight time. From 2000 to 2011, he flew rights of way as a contractor for Alabama Power Corporate Real Estate (CRE). Woodall joined CRE full time in 2012. About two decades ago, Woodall's home in Sylvan Springs was destroyed by an F5 tornado. His treasured Army medals – two Bronze Stars with V-Device for Valor, 18 Air Medals and other badges and citations – were lost to the winds. The powerful storm could not steal the life lessons Woodall brought home from Vietnam. "I came back with skills, knowing how to fly an aircraft and knowing I could survive. I know that I was lucky to come home. If I was given the choice, I'd still go back to Vietnam," he said. By Donna Cope ========================================== Woodall leans on his Huey during Vietnam War in 1970. Woodall flew his gunship to rescue Rangers from advancing North Vietnamese.

• Cover