12 minutes | Thursday, 30 April 2026
This Warrior Wednesday is a deeply personal one as Chad Ray welcomes Air Force veteran Gordy Tatro — and yes, he’s also the father of The Raider’s own Dustin Tatro. Born and raised in Michigan, Gordy shares how a shaky freshman year in college during the Vietnam draft era pushed him to make a life-changing choice: enlist in the U.S. Air Force in 1966. Following a family legacy of service — including a father who flew B-17s in World War II — Gordy trained in military photography and reconnaissance, then deployed to Saigon before serving at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. There, he worked with a reconnaissance technical squadron during the Rolling Thunder era, helping process film from missions that tracked enemy movement along the Ho Chi Minh Trail using side-looking radar and aerial imagery. Gordy also reflects on the painful reality many Vietnam veterans faced when they returned home to a divided America, and offers thoughtful advice for young people considering military service today. The conversation closes with a moving, unexpected tribute from Dustin, thanking his father publicly for the first time for the role he played in helping fellow troops make it home alive. A powerful and unforgettable episode.