During a WNYC interview with Alec Baldwin in March of 2013, NBC Nightly News anchor and managing editor Brian Williams told the television actor that he was “briefly” afraid he might die after the Chinook helicopter he was riding in was struck by an RPG during the early days of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“And I’ve done some ridiculously stupid things under that banner like being in a helicopter I had no business being in Iraq with rounds coming into the airframe,” Williams said.
“Did you think you would die?” Baldwin asked.
“Briefly, sure,” Williams said. “There have been probably more than …” he began before trailing off.
Not only was Williams not in a helicopter that was shot down, the chopper he was in didn’t arrive for another hour.
Williams has been dining off this stolen valor lie for 12 years.
John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC