Moon Landings & Iran Contra

Donald S. Jones lived an interesting life. He piloted the helicopter that recovered astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins from the Pacific on their return from the first moon landing. He'd earlier recovered the Apollo 8 crew after the first translunar orbit. In 1986, Jones became military assistant to Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. Within months, Jones was embroiled in illegally trafficking antitank missiles to Iran in exchange for American hostages held in Lebanon. Jones escaped charges. He died this week in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at 76.