WILSONVILLE, Ore. — Bill Moir got his nickname, "the Offender," as a Vietnam veteran for good reason: Originally from Wilsonville, Oregon, Moir spent his youth as a pilot continuously thrown into life-threatening situations.
Fifty years later, he’s in a national commercial showing how he wouldn’t have made it out without his comrades.
“When we first came back to Portland, nobody talked about Vietnam; it wasn’t popular," said Moir. "I don’t think veterans were treated particularly well."
Moir said the attitude towards veterans like himself has changed tremendously: “Nowadays, we hear things like 'thank you for your service,' and it’s appreciated because I didn’t hear that for 30 years.”
The national Comcast ad campaign with Moir's fellow pilots highlighted that during the high-pressure times, they depended on one another.
“Jim Loyd was one of the three of us that did this work for Comcast. He was shot down in North Vietnam, and we got him out," said Moir. "He was the only overland North Vietnam rescue, I think, in 10 years.”
The commercial didn’t feel like work at all for the three pilots, who were a part of the Gunslingers Squadron on the USS Saratoga.
"We basically had a reunion for a week," Moir said.
"The Today Show" aired a portion of the commercial to mark the start of Military Appreciation Month. Moir said this full-circle moment reminds him of how serving completely changed the course of his life.
"Serving was hugely important," said Moir. "It impacted everything I’ve done since.”
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