O’Grady Swears In New Recruits

Rescued Air Force Capt. Scott O’Grady spent part of his Independence Day swearing in six new Air Force recruits at a waterfront ceremony.

The recruits were impressed that the 29-year-old pilot, rescued from Bosnia last month after his jet was shot down in Serb territory, took the time.

“He’s I guess what you call a national hero, and I can’t believe he came here to swear us in,” said David Bickel, an 18-year-old recruit and recent graduate of Enumclaw High School.

“He’s a really brave man and I hope with training I can do the same things he does,” Bickel said.

Another recruit, 19-year-old Michael Charvat, said O’Grady made him sure he made the right decision to enlist for six years.

“He’s cool,” Charvat said. “I like how he toughed it out.” O’Grady, a Spokane native, is visiting the Northwest before returning to his base in Italy.

He urged 200 people gathered at the July 4 ceremony not to waste their freedoms.

“Take a moment to reflect, and be grateful that we are living in a great country that allows us personal and religious freedom,” he said. “Take those freedoms and use them to do something good in your community.”