Amongst the special operations elite, USAF Pararescuemen, known as PJs, are a special breed of selfless. They’re responsible for full-spectrum personnel recovery, including combat search and rescue operations. They straddle the medical and tactical fields, bringing life-saving care to rescue and recover our personnel. Whether behind enemy lines, in austere environments, or against all odds on the battlefield, PJs do whatever it takes to leave no one behind. They’re both warrior and healer, with their unwavering commitment and selflessness exemplified by their motto, “These Things We Do, That Others May Live.”
Few embody this creed more than Wayne Fisk, a legend in the Pararescuemen community. Across 27 years of service, not only did he execute over 400 harrowing missions, he helped shape what it means to be a PJ, leaving an indelible imprint for those who follow in his footsteps. Fisk also participated in notable actions like the Son Tay prison camp raid in Hanoi and the rescue of the SS Mayaguez in Koh Tang.
This year, the United States Special Operations Command presented Fisk with their highest honor, the Bull Simons Award — a lifetime achievement award recognizing those who embody “the true spirit, values, and skills of a Special Operations warrior.” What more can we say?
The following interview has been condensed for publication; please visit RECOILweb.com for the entire interview, including details about the famed Mayaguez incident and the truth behind the “Green Feet” tattoo.
RECOIL: Tell us a little about where you grew up and what shaped your path forward into the military.
I was born in the Coast Range mountains of western Oregon in 1945. My father was an employee of the U.S. Forest Service, and my mother was a housewife. Our life was spartan, as was most peoples’ during WWII. I grew up in the shadow of returning heroic warriors, primarily from the
