Air Force pilot Joe Zalar knew how dangerous it was to fly in Vietnam. After more than 220 missions, he became a flight instructor, sending hundreds of young men into combat. How many never came home? He wonders. The sadness is overwhelming. It’s really tough to think about.

This video short is a production of the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh Oral History Initiative. It was recorded September 19, 2015 at a Veterans Breakfast Club storytelling event in Farmington, Pennsylvania. Host: Todd DePastino. Producer: Kevin Farkas.