FARGO (KFGO) – Retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Brian Shul was in Fargo Thursday to share his remarkable story of survival.
Shul was nearly burned to death after he was shot down over Cambodia during the Vietnam War. He spent a year recovering in hospitals and endured more than a dozen surgeries before he went on to fly the world’s fastest jet, the SR-71 Blackbird.
In an interview with KFGO News, Shul said that he hopes his story inspires others to overcome their obstacles. He is in town for a presentation Thursday at the Fargo Air Museum.
“I use my Air Force experience and I use my pictures of the SR-71 that I shot myself as a vehicle to tell a broader story” Shul said. “So, it’s quite popular with totally non-flying audiences because it relates to their daily life whether they’re a young student in school, or an older person near retirement. Everybody has the same issues in their life; things to overcome.”
Shul is an avid photographer. He has written several books and has spoken to thousands of people about his experiences.
“My medical records are about three feet high” Shul said. “By the grace of God and the help of a lot of therapists and doctors, I was able to fly for 20 years and ended up flying the world’s fastest jet.”
Shul’s presentation is part of the Fargo Air Museum’s “2019 Vietnam Memorial Week.”
