Back in 2001 I was an Aide-de-camp for a General Officer at the Air Force Academy. Mr. Perot was coming for the dedication of the BG Robbie Rysner statue and the reunion of the Hanoi Hilton survivors. I spent 3 days with him ensuring his visit went well. He did not want the attention on him but rather the other guests. Starting with his lodging he refused to take the suite and just wanted a regular room. If someone was talking to him he would put the attention back on the POWs. They told stories about their time in the military and some of the funny things that happened when they returned home.
One story he talked about was during his service when his ship was transporting troops to the combat zone he was the junior officer and assigned the additional duty to conduct Sunday services. He said the first part of the trip every Sunday the fan tail was full with worshippers. Half way over the mission was over and everyone stopped attending. He just laughed and said he guessed his service wasn't that good.
I saw him dance with the cadets at a formal ball. He was the hit of the party. He told great stories and what a conversationalist. As he was waiting for the dedication of the statue while setting in the green room I asked him about NAFTA and his "Giant Sucking Sound" comment of jobs leaving the US. I asked him "Did you make money off NAFTA?" He just smiled and made a joke. Clearly a patriot but also well schooled in economics.
During the weekend I was talking to his secretary who had been with him for many years and was actually with him when they went into Hanoi to get the POWS. I never knew he was on the plane and how the North Vietnamese messed with them on their way in.
She was also with him on the campaign trail. She said he wanted to do everything himself like going to the rental car counter and getting his car. She also said he always called people that he met and helped him the next day but during the campaign he didn't have time. He spent a lot of time after contacting people and thanking them.
The day he left I was coordinating the arrival time to get to his jet and we were a little early. I told him that we had more time due to the take off window. He said well take off when I get there lol. At the airfield he gave me a tour of this plane and was hamming it up with the pilots. They loved working for him and talked about how wonderful of a man he was.
The day after he leaves I get called into the generals office. He says you need to take a phone call from Ross Perot. I thought to myself right. Sure enough he talked to me for 45 minutes thanking me for everything I had done, how he enjoyed his trip, and how he enjoyed my family. He said if you ever need anything you have my direct number and give me a call. I thought that was extremely thoughtful but never a call I would make.