THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606010213
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 27 lines
Capt. Scott O'Grady, the U.S. Air Force pilot who was shot down over Bosnia last June and rescued by Marines six days later after surviving on bugs and rain water, will be commencement speaker at Norfolk Collegiate School's graduation ceremony next Friday.
O'Grady has an unusual connection to the school, said headmaster Will King: The son of a Marine colonel who hauled O'Grady aboard a CH-53 Sea Stallion chopper during the rescue is one of the school's 59 graduating seniors.
``I am certain his story will be inspirational and teach valuable lessons about courage, faith and preparedness,'' King said Friday.
O'Grady, 29 at the time he was shot down, relied on survival-training skills to sustain himself and escape detection by enemy troops that were searching for him.
Marine Brig. Gen. Martin Berndt, a colonel when O'Grady's F-16C fighter jet was shot down, was commander of the unit that rescued O'Grady. Berndt's son, Dennis, is one of the graduates.
King said members of the senior class suggested O'Grady as a graduation speaker and that Dennis talked to his dad about contacting him.
The elder Berndt will also speak , King said. by CNB