Yesterday’s AFA Palm Springs lunch at ROC’s Firehouse Grille was truly memorable. Sixteen of us filled the meeting room to hear one of our own, Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), share his experiences as a member of the famed River Rats during the Vietnam War.
Over 100 Missions in an EB-66
Major Cohen flew the EB-66, logging more than 100 combat missions in heavily defended skies over North Vietnam. His firsthand accounts gave us a vivid window into what it was like to fly electronic warfare missions day after day in some of the most hostile airspace in history.
Learning About the River Rats Association
For many of us, one of the most surprising and enlightening parts of Lee’s talk was learning about the River Rats Association, formally known as the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. Most of the room was unfamiliar with the organization before his presentation.
Lee explained how the group began in 1967 when aircrews from across the services came together to share tactics, improve coordination, and build esprit de corps during the Vietnam War. They took their nickname from the Red River Valley airspace — one of the fiercest aerial battle zones of the conflict. What started as tactical collaboration grew into a lasting fraternity dedicated to preserving bonds of service, honoring sacrifices, and supporting fellow aircrew families.
Scholarship, Legacy & Museum
Lee also shared how, in 1970, the River Rats launched a scholarship program with the mission of “taking care of our own.” Since then, the program has awarded 1,468 scholarship grants, totaling more than $3,274,000 to the children, grandchildren, and spouses of Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army aircrew members. This was new information to most of us and a powerful reminder of how their mission continues today.
The River Rats also maintain a museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which preserves their history and tells the story of the men and women who flew in one of the most challenging air campaigns in U.S. history.
For more about the River Rats and their history, visit their website: https://www.river-rats.org