Air Force Honors RDA

transcript by Dove and submitted by Morjana (RDAndersonfans yahoo group)

RDA -'When we started out it was, I don't really know how the initial relationship was established because I came on as a hired hand in the beginning. But I think the idea was to make sure that whatever we did in a military setting with the military venue, that we would have as much credibility as possible. We approached them, essentially to initiate a relationship, they jumped at the opportunity, we ate it up and what it has done int he long run is exactly what it set out to do. We consult to make sure we are doing things right and ultimately as respectfully as possible.

In my conversations with our Liaison and subsequently experience first hand, a fair amount of respect from the Air Force itself on how we were portraying it. We took what they advised and assimilated it into our product and we've got nothing but compliments from the Air Force itself, from every cadet right on up to every four star, on how it looks, how it represented the Air Force and ultimately how it's lightened certain perceptions, certainly my portrayal of a colonel and now a general.

Because I had a certain idea that was fairly loosely structured, but it was important that I get some validation for how I was going to portray a military officer. So I got a nice little pat on the back from a couple of the 4 star Generals, Chiefs of Staff, General Ryan and Jumper.

(Cuts to scene from Prodigy with O'Neill, Hammond and General Ryan
in Hammond's office)

The scene we had together was essentially me coming in complaining about some aspect of some operation but the real deal was in the office. During the scene I make a fool of myself as O'Neill, between takes of the scene, I just had to ask the real guy if my portrayal of Col O'Neill was remotely credible.'

(Cuts to RDA on stage at the 57th Annual Air Force Association
Anniversary Dinner)

RDA - 'I cornered (RDA `clicks fingers', as if he cant remember the name and someone from the audience shouts `General Ryan', and the audience laughs) yeah Ryan and asked him if they had Colonels that actually behaved the way I did and how was my portrayal going and was he, you know, was it a little shaky, was I being disrespectful. And he stopped me in mid sentence and just said `son' (audience laughs) which I thought was rather condescending, he said `Yes we've got Colonel's like you and worse!'

In fact both Generals I've met said, that I've worked with on Stargate said the same thing, you're doing what we all want to do but really can't'.

Richard goes to Washington

'I was invited by the Air Force to come receive, to come to Washington DC and receive an award for my representation and my portrayal and ultimately, the shows contribution. They said enlistment was up because of the show (laughs), I said I found that a little hard to believe.

The gala that included the award ceremony was the culmination of a week's activities, a black tie event, the only black tie event that the Air Force has all year round. In this grand ballroom of this hotel and it was to present and recognize the real heroes, the guys who have been through wars or made contributions technologically.

Thank God they had things in perspective enough to present my award before dinner, because after dinner the real guys got their awards. In the middle of the dinner, there was a fire alarm and mind you this was a black tie event, so we all exited into a hot muggy night in Washington and that alone was quite a sight to see. All the ribbons and bows, photo ops a plenty, that was great, that part was real fun.'

(Cuts to General Jumper on stage, RDA standing alongside)

GJ - 'What you don't see and what doesn't come through on the TV is the humanity of these actors and actresses that appear on screen and what we have here in the form of Richard Dean Anderson, MacGyver, Colonel Jack O'Neill is a truly fantastic American who cares deeply about our country, our people in uniform and our United States Air Force.' (audience applause)

RDA - 'I got an eagle and a medallion from General Jumper showing their appreciation for my contributions and the shows contributions and then as an added bonus, General Jumper presented me with General stars. I became an honorary Brigadier General!'

(Cuts back to General Jumper on stage)

GJ - 'If you are watching closely, Richard has been, actually, been the beneficiary of a recent promotion, which I think is quite appropriate for a guy who saves the planet every week (laughter), absolutely. So we have for you, these are a set of stars Richard; you are an honorary Brigadier, General United States Air Force.' (RDA shows genuine surprise as the audience whistles, cheers, applause etc.)

RDA - 'I knew I had been halted in my tracks, I knew I had been paid a greater compliment, I was never so honored in my life. My father passed away a about a year and a half ago, I know that, God Bless Him, how proud he would have been of me that evening, made it all really worth it.'

Richard Goes to Washington

'I got a tour of the Pentagon. I'd never been there before I'd been to Washington several times but I'd never really examined any other part of Washington DC apart from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. But I went to the Pentagon and I was given I guess a fairly typical tour, got a little golf cart because there is 17 miles of hallways there. There was a Seaman that drove us around and he was just a chatterbox of information. Shaved, clean, bald, shiny head and just all proper. I tried to loosen him up a little bit, by asking some of the questions that you don't normally ask, things like why do you have to wear that collar, and are you happy with your uniform? You know, why is that owl on top of the kiosk?

But I was duly impressed by the venue itself, just the bustle of activity and then upon reflection and through our tour guide, getting a perspective of what transpires behind those doors, hallowed as they may be, it's serious stuff. I visited all the memorials that were there, the rooms of the Medal of Honor winners, certainly the new chapel they have there where the 9/11 plane came through and it was an awesomely humbling experience.

I was ushered into the office of General Tom Mosely or Buzz as he likes to be called. Within a minute he came out and greeted me,very boisterous, you know heavy handshake kind of guy, full of energy. He showed me his office; he's got a collection of these commemorative type coins, footballs and memorabilia, just all kinds of pictures all over the place. And I love hearing basically war stories or life stories about the military in particular and I let him know that, so that was like opening up the gates. The tone in General Mosely office was such that, you know they are very serious about the business in hand, they took care of business but was gracious enough or had things in perspective enough to make sure that he brought me in and met MacGyver!'

A Visit to Walter Reed

'I had the opportunity to go to Walter Reed Hospital and visit some of the troops that had come back from Iraq. Injured troops and there is nothing more humbling than that experience. My being there it was openly expressed; it was so appreciated it makes you a little misty in retrospect. Talked to about 10 or 12 guys, spending as much time as I possibly could there. Guys with no limbs, paralyzed, unable to speak, hoses coming out of their necks. I mean just very embattled human beings and they were all just regardless of the fact that I was a part of a show which represented a part of the armed forces. The fact that a human being from outside came in to spend some time (with them), I know it was one of those experiences where it is virtually impossible to relate what kind of experience it becomes.

To really be face to face and in the same room and communicating with guys that have seen front line action. But it was so appreciated by every man and women that I met, that's what made me feel the best about the whole experience. Notwithstanding the great honor of receiving the award and the recognition, the visit to Walter Reed was the highlight; definitely I want to go back.

I have not been more honored by an experience in my business or in my life. Mrs. Jumper said the last person to get this was Jimmy Stewart in 1987, (laughs) and you want to throw me in that crowd of one. Thank you so much, Thank you.'

The end credits start to roll, and RDA continues to talk:

"Oh, in answer to the question about the owl on top of the kiosk. When it was first built they had pigeons crapping all over the top of this building. And apparently the daughter of one of the generals at the time, I believe, a little nine-year old kid who just said, 'Well, daddy, aren't pigeons afraid of owls?' They all recognized that was quite possibly the solution as it turned out to be, so after spending Lord knows how many tax dollars to fix the problem, a little $16 statuette saved the day."