Veteran Pilot Adopts Two Russian Amputee Orphans
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The Vietnam Memorial, haunting, poignant, attracts thousands of visitors every year. The war, and its aftermath, continues to affect many Americans who fought it, of course. CNN's Patty Davis has the story of one veteran U.S. pilot who really turned what could have been his darkest moments in that war into new hope for two little boys.</s>PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ron Greenfield came to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial with is family to commemorate a day that changed his life.</s>RON GREENFIELD, VIETNAM VETERAN: March 6, 1969 was the day that I got shot down. I actually wasn't even supposed to fly that day.</s>DAVIS: Greenfield's Cobra helicopter was hit and crashed. Seriously injured, waiting to be rescued, Greenfield says he did not give up.</s>GREENFIELD: Don (ph), was my co-pilot, he was on the front seat. He was the guy that didn't survive and I did.</s>DAVIS: His left leg had to be amputated below the knee. Year later, while reading about two young Russian orphans who were amputees, Greenfield realized he could help them in a way no one else could. He flew to Russia and adopted the twin boys.</s>GREENFIELD: And while we were on the plane, you know, I see these two little guys sleeping on the seats. And it just finally struck me, you know, this is what God had intended for me. This was why I lost my -- because I had always questioned, why me? Why did I have to lose my leg?</s>DAVIS: And 10 years later, Max and Andy do what most eight- graders do.</s>GREENFIELD: Andy is really good on a skateboard with one leg. Max, even though his legs get sore, played basketball on the sixth grade team.</s>DAVIS: At The Wall, a look at the history that changed all of their lives for the better.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm glad it was him that adopted us instead of somebody else, because a person with two good legs wouldn't understand. I'm just glad he survived to adopt us.</s>DAVIS: Greenfield says he's taught his boys never to give up.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Expect things to be harder, and if they are, don't quit, just try extra hard.</s>DAVIS: Giving up is something he's never done, since that day in the jungles of Vietnam. Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.