I took the original photo of PH13 in 1969 for the back cover of the 1st Aviation Brigade magazine "Hawk". Several years ago I asked my graphic artist son Tim to put Christmas lights on the airplane, and above is the result! I think it was Steve Sachs who wrote me to say that one day he went a little too far off the end of the runway and discovered that Mohawks don't operate too well when wrapped in barbed wire!
Dedicated to the men (the Blackhawks and Phantomhawks) of the 225th Surveillance Airplane Company, a company of Grumman OV-1 Mohawk aircraft, who served their country in Vietnam. (The background photo of PH 13 was taken by SP5 Darragh somewhere over RVN in late 1969.)
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Christmas 50 Years Ago
It was a few days ago when I realized that it’s been fifty years since my first Christmas in Vietnam. Fifty years…50...can you believe it? I actually don’t remember details of that first major holiday overseas except that I think I pulled guard duty on the western inner perimeter. The highlight of that night was that we were on an alert (red or yellow, I don’t remember which) because of the holiday, when all of a sudden there was an explosion on the refueling helipad to the east and then the chopper went up with a white-hot glow like I had never seen before.
Anyway, troubled times marked those days in our country’s history, much as they distinguish them now. The same they characterized Palestine over two thousand years ago. A lot of the world celebrates the holidays with Santa Claus, Father Christmas and Kris Kringle, but, of course, the real meaning of Christmas is contained in the name. I was talking with a friend some time ago and I mentioned to him that Jesus is a big deal to me. And he replied that Jesus was a big deal to him also! Jesus really became more real to me during my twenty-eight month tour in Vietnam, thanks to my platoon leader (who became my friend) CPT Larry Stallard. During my troubled times then when I was barely 21 years old, and over the past 50 years, Jesus Christ (who not what Christmas is all about) became and has continued to become more significant in my daily life.
In these troubled times in which we find ourselves, don’t be discouraged or lose hope. Believe it of not, God is still in control even if it doesn’t seem that this is true. God has said in his living Word the Bible that this life is a mystery, and he has shown himself to us in this holiday we call Christmas.
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest.’” (Luke 2:13-14) “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ within you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
Merry Christmas everyone!
Friday, December 7, 2018
Two Soldiers Are Laid To Rest
UPDATE:
In May I posted an article about two fellow Mohawkers of the 131st Avn Co (Marshal Kipina and Robert Nopp) whose remains were coming home fifty-two years after they were declared MIA in 1966. After I posted the article and Bob Colby’s link Bill Page told me that he was a good friend of Bobby Nopp. You can watch the video of their services at Arlington that Terry Clark posted on the Association website near the top of the main page. Just click on this link: Marshal Kipina and Robert Nopp Burial Services at Arlington
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Reno 2018
The airplane is parked and the hanger doors are closed on this year’s Annual OV-1 Mohawk Association Reunion. The over 200 people who attended are probably now across this great nation in their homes and putting up lights and decorations and generally getting ready for the holidays. Karin and I had fun in Reno seeing “old” friends again, meeting comrades from nearly fifty years ago (some for the first time since being in Phu Hiep).
Some of the highlights of this reunion were a bus trip to Lake Tahoe and historic Truckee, California. Along the way we stopped at the Donner Memorial State Park, the site where the Donner Party spent the winter of 1846-47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There is a memorial statue that has a 22 foot-tall base indicating how deep the snow was that winter. We also toured Virginia City and took a side trip to Carson, Nevada’s capital. On the winding road to Virginia City we saw wild horses!
At the banquet the Association honored a very special guest; Oliver is 95 years old and was in Reno because his daughter is the widow of a Mohawk driver who died in Vietnam. Oliver is also a survivor to the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. It was wonderful talking with him as his memory is crystal clear; he is a man who still enjoys life to its fullest!
It was wonderful seeing friends and former soldiers again. Here is a list of those Blackhawks and Phantomhawks who were able to attend this years: Miguel Anza, Joe Beckham, Don Bernstein, John Britten, Joe Floyd, Andy Gramlich, Steve Hammons, George Katalenas, Arlan Lando, Bobbie Luthi, Bill McNease, Gil Mendoza, Dave Nelson, Mike O'Connor, Ben Perez, Ron Pitcock, Luis Ponton, Bob Riha, Steve Sachs, Loren Schrock, Ernie Serna, Bill Shaw, Rich Steinbock, Alan Summers, Gary Todd, and Art Winslow. By my count (and many of you know that I never did very well in math class!) 25 former Blackhawks/Phantomhawks were in Reno!
In October 2019 we will be in Norfolk, Virginia. Our esteemed Reunion Director, John Bosch, is already working hard to make our 30th Annual Reunion one of the best ever. Don’t dilly-dally around and start making your plans TODAY! Info will be on the Association website as plans move along. I plan on seeing YOU there!
Thursday, September 27, 2018
The Acuity Flagpole
Our friend Ed Belanger sent this wonderful video to me earlier this week.
A Tribute to Freedom…Standing 400 feet tall, the Acuity Insurance Flagpole is the largest free-flying American flag in North America! This is Awesome!
Click here to see The Acuity Flagpole
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Comment Received re Bill Miller's "My Take on My Army Service"
Our friend Larry Conway wrote me to let me know he was unable to post a comment on Bill's story...he sent it to me so everyone could read it:
I was a TO at the 225th from May of '68 to May of '70, and I don't recall any flight crew member ever saying anything derogatory about the condition or maintenance of any of our Mohawks. The aircraft were always up to snuff and ready to go, and nearly always performed beautifully in all respects, despite the harsh environment in which they operated. I always had great confidence in the aircraft's ability to complete the mission and bring me safely home. I lay this all at the feet of the Mohawk's innate toughness, and the people who maintained the numerous complex systems that were necessary to complete the missions. The flight crews' lives were in their hands, and we all knew it and appreciated their unfailing efforts to keep us safe. I think they did a wonderful job for little thanks. Allow me to thank them now.
Editor's Note: I'll add that I was a "Flight-Follow TO" from about October 1969 to June 1970 and that I never gave it a thought about how our aircraft would perform for our missions. I also want to thank them nearly 50 years later!
I was a TO at the 225th from May of '68 to May of '70, and I don't recall any flight crew member ever saying anything derogatory about the condition or maintenance of any of our Mohawks. The aircraft were always up to snuff and ready to go, and nearly always performed beautifully in all respects, despite the harsh environment in which they operated. I always had great confidence in the aircraft's ability to complete the mission and bring me safely home. I lay this all at the feet of the Mohawk's innate toughness, and the people who maintained the numerous complex systems that were necessary to complete the missions. The flight crews' lives were in their hands, and we all knew it and appreciated their unfailing efforts to keep us safe. I think they did a wonderful job for little thanks. Allow me to thank them now.
Editor's Note: I'll add that I was a "Flight-Follow TO" from about October 1969 to June 1970 and that I never gave it a thought about how our aircraft would perform for our missions. I also want to thank them nearly 50 years later!
Sunday, September 16, 2018
My Take on My Army Service
Our friend Bill Miller sent this article he wrote to me for all you former 225th Soldiers. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his wonderful memories; as I looked through the 223rd Aviation Battalion (Combat) 1969 Yearbook looking for Bill's photo (I did not find it) I was reminded what an amazing unit we were all a part of. Take a few minutes and enjoy reminiscing.....
MY TAKE ON MY ARMY SERVICE
I have enjoyed being a member of the OV-1 Association. Looking back almost 50 years to the past when I first entered the Army has been interesting to say the least. I was given notice of being drafted in 1968, and with 90 hours of college majoring in Chemistry, thought it wise to enlist so I could select a training field. My love affair with aviation was there before I can remember, but I do recall my dad taking me down to the KC Municipal airport to see the Super G Constellations. Then it was the small .049 powered model control line airplanes he bought me. At that time the space program was up and running and we were exposed to, Nike surface to air missiles, Werner Von Braun and his rocket work and of course the cursed Sputnik. So, anything moving through the air and not tethered to land was of paramount importance to me. I could have mentioned the Bell X-1, F-104 Starfighter, B-47’s and B-52’s and of course the U-2. Man’s vision to excel still excites me except for the cost and politics of it all.
Back to the near present and I was glad to be able, not often someone says that about the Army, to enlist to become an aircraft mechanic. Next of course, was the midnight bus trip from KC to Ft. Leonardwood. At 22 years of age I was an old person, overweight and thrown in with recent high school graduate athletes. Those next two months proved to be both physically challenging and provided a unique time for observation with respect to the application of my college psychology class and its appreciation. I have to admit that on numerous occasions I smiled too often at the barking of the drill sergeant which in turn lead to me in the front leaning position saying “more push-ups drill sergeant”.
Next, was a free trip to Ft. Rucker for multi-engine fixed wing aircraft maintenance training. Sadness in basic was experienced when a buddy was given light weapons infantry MOS as he had a degree in Chemical Engineering. Why I asked? I was promptly told by the SDI that a) he was older, b) he was smart and c) when the officers and senior NCO’s were killed he was there to step up and become command. Damned Army Logic. So, we are about to start the next phase of training and having new friends that will last a lifetime. In our three-man room there was John Martin and Joel Haugen. Only 7 were in our class for training on the Mohawk so it became a close-knit group with the here of us going to the 225thafter graduation. So many stories to tell and so little space about the three newbies landing in VN and going through processing in Tan Son Nut, Nha Trang, Quin Nhon and finally to our new home at Phu Hiep. Initial impressions were many to include: not a rice paddy, not a fire base, not a out post in middle of nowhere and also not an Air Force style base like Tuy Hoa, which was 4 miles away. At least we were on the coast for swimming. One question came to mind; is what genius puts all these amazing aircraft(OV-1, Ch-47, CH-54, UH-1 and O-1) out in the open scarcely 1.5 miles away from a 900 foot jungle mountain? No wonder we received so many mortar attacks; the enemy could see every move and could easily target each particular spot. It’s the Army!
Back to title. Not knowing the exact percentages, but a good guess was that about 60% of my enlisted colleagues were probably draftees. I would say another 20-30% were like me who enlisted to get chosen field of endeavor. Our group, the Association, has so many amazing members and I don’t think anyone underestimates what the pilots and observers did in their chosen field. I have defended them to many outliers because our aircraft were rather primitive in modern terms due to the lack of radar, night vision equipment and other electronic enhancements. They flew at night at low levels down the valleys with little or no electronic assistance into very hostile situations. I wonder at times how many present-day pilots/crews would be willing to undertake the missions our guys faced. I would feel safe venturing to say few if any would step up to handle the stress they endured.
Back again. When we have our reunion meetings the officers and observers usually interact as they are most familiar with one another. A few mechanics/crew chiefs go off into our own click due to the same parameters. Our group, maintenance personnel, do sometimes feel underappreciated because we are in fact the drones due to being the most numerous and because of the high incidence of draftees with a high turnover. The hierarchy sometimes forgets what the system is really about. It is about the whole and not individual parts and we as mechanics held certain persons in high esteem because of their realization of the whole. Major Amaral, Captain David O’Hara, WO Lonny Bauman, SFC Hawkinson, SSG Richardson to name a few. They knew leadership and treated us with respect and often relied upon our intimate knowledge and experience of the aircraft. The Army sometimes forgets that the glue holding the machine together is the enlisted person and without it all could unravel.
The whole of the system. The orderly room, the 1stSergeant, the cooks, the company Supply, the motor pool, an amazing Tech Supply which kept the parts in stock and flowing, the Tech Inspectors, avionics, Direct Support Allied Shops(hydraulics, ejection seat, sheet metal, machinist, turbine engine shop, electrical and prop shop), POL which insured we had plentiful and clean fuel and oil, crew chiefs with their myriad of duties of total oversight of their assigned aircraft and finally the biggest unsung heroes were the PMI crews. These guys, Periodic Maintenance, swarmed over the aircraft and tore it apart every 100 hours to insure it was still safe to operate. Boring and tedious is just one description with unending hours of unscrewing panels to check inside the girl’s anatomy. All the above personnel make a mission complete and have to do their job to perfection before the pilot or observer step into their Nomax. What did the Army get for their dime? On the flight line it usually entailed about 10-14 hour days, 7 days a week, 100 plus degree temperatures unless you had to crawl into one and all for less than $200 per month on average. Over my 18 months in VN, I never heard of any hint of sabotage or unwarranted grounding of an aircraft. I find this intensely interesting because of the high percentage of draftees (remember they did not want to be there) and in general the unfavorable sentiment to this war.
Now a couple of side stories. I OJT’d into the prop shop because we been given an exposure to it and as well as all aspects of the aircraft. I worked there with John Martin for 7-8 months when a shortage of turbine engine personnel presented itself. We would avail ourselves to help the engine shop at times so we became familiar with its operation and maintenance. We had gotten in two mechanics that were school trained on props, but Mohawk props were not of primary importance due to the limited number of those types of props in the Army. John had taken over the rigging crew, a horrible job involving making all the wires tight and making sure all things operated and aligned as they should, a very thankless job in itself. Because of our rank we were assigned to be in charge of the prop shop, engine crews and rigging systems. Both of us had taxi and run-up orders after systems were changed or maintained. I went on many test flights after maintenance with O’Hara and several visual photo missions. John Martin was one of those premier mechanics that just knew what and how to do to make an aircraft hum. He later stayed on and spent 20 years in the Army and got out as an E-8 with a long list of accomplishments. During his 20 years he spent 2 years in VN, a tour in Korea, Germany and Iraq. His dedication was always top notch, but the real story that is so often untold is what his wife, Karen, did to enable him to make those choices. Wives are so often forgotten when it comes to service personnel as they are there during the absences taking care of the home, finances, children and making those dreaded moves for new deployments. Never should the families be underestimated as to their importance in the life of servicemen and servicewomen.
Another notable is Jerry Murphy, a school trained turbine engine mechanic. John and I rib him about us training him when it is he that looked over our shoulder and gave us needed info to become good engine men during our prop to engine transition. Again, enlisted taking care of other enlisted taking care of the pilots and observers. Jerry left after his year duty and then went to Ft. Hood. After DEROS he went to Mobile, AL to join the Air Guard and become a crew chief on a C-130. He joined the Mobile Fire Dept and worked his way to become a Captain and is now retired. He and his wife are fiends at flea market shops and they have an extensive and beautiful collection of antiques to include 2 Corvettes and a 56 Chevy. As for me, Bill Miller, I left service from Ft. Hood and went back to college. I got my bachelors and Master’s degree with a minor in Chemistry and major in Aquatic Ecology. While in college I joined the KSNG and worked on CH-54’s and later became a full-time mechanic for DoD. Before that I was a Park Ranger with the Corps and while in the Guard applied for and got a job as a Fisheries Biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. We are just three short stories of all those making the 225thAvn. Co such a success story.
The point of all this is that over 250 personnel supported and enabled a few each day to perform their mission and support tens of thousands of troops in the field giving them the best possible intel for completion of their mission. In my 18 months in VN those personnel working on the flight line maintaining our 20 or so aircraft that flew on average about 100 hours per month each gave us 90% available aircraft for missions assigned. It amounts to 36,000 hours or over 5 million miles of flying in hostile combat zones with zero mechanical failure due to maintenance. We maintenance personnel are rightly proud of our record/accomplishment and it was never taken lightly as we made sure our vehicle returned our pilots/observers back to us and their families.
Dwayne (Bill) Miller (presented to the Mohawker on July 7, 2018 for publication)
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Some Good TV Shows
Fall is almost upon us, and so is a new season of TV programs. As you may know I started my working life as a film editor for KOMO-TV in Seattle in 1966, and my interest in television has continued on through the years. So I am always anxious to see what new programs are offered each year.
Karin and I watched a new series this week called Warriors and Wolves, about a Navy veteran (Matt Simmons) who suffered from PTSD after getting home from the middle east. He, along with his trained psychologist wife (Dr. Lorin Lindner), helps other veterans overcome their PTSD through working with wolves and wolf-dogs. This Animal Planet series is filmed at the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center in Southern California.
This new series’ premier episode aired on September 1st on Animal Planet. I have a special place in my heart for my fellow soldiers and sailors who are victims of PTSD because when I got out of the Army in 1970 I experienced, although I did not know that it was PTSD, some of the same symptoms. I am grateful that God through his providence helped me eventually overcome it.
Another great program Karin and I discovered this summer when we visited our son and his wife in the “Other Washington” (DC, that is) was Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. This is Jerry Seinfeld’s online program about, you guessed it … comedians in cars getting coffee. Each episode Jerry arrives at various comedians’ homes (like Jim Carrey, Don Rickles, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Lewis, Jimmy Fallon and Chris Rock) in vintage cars and has a conversation with them as they go to various restaurants for coffee. It’s kind of like his long-running “Seinfeld” in that it is just kinda fun to watch … no particular point except you get to know comedians a little better.
And finally, for those of us who just religiously love old airplanes there’s the Netflix series Plane Resurrections. There is currently the 2016 series available in the US, and another year’s worth on the way. These guy in England who have the time and money to restore old relics have accomplished the near impossible with a North American P-51 Mustang, a T-6 Texan (or, as the English call it the “Harvard”) and, my favorite, a Navy Stearman biplane. Several years ago our friend Alex Berkeley and I had a chance to ride in Steve Sachs’ Stearman when we were at our 20th Annual Reunion in Nashville. We each had a wonderful time!
I recommend both of these programs to you!
Monday, September 3, 2018
Stamp of Approval
Whenever I travel I look to buy a coffee mug as a souvenir. Often I get one that relates to airplanes. I have one from museum at Naval Station Tillamook and also a nifty mug with the space shuttle Discovery from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. When we were in DC in July I found a mug that fulfilled both my need for coffee and for a mug with an airplane at, of all places, the US Postal Museum (thus the photo at the top of this article)!
If you are in our nation’s capital be sure to take an hour or so to visit the Postal Museum, it is fascinating to see how important and amazingly efficient the postal service is. Below are some of the images it took in July.
Some of the great stamps the US has produced |
The 1918 Inverted Jenny misprint |
My son Tim in the Post Office Museum lobby |
Some examples how the mail was delivered in the early 20th century (above & below) |
Some Drago Wisdom
Our friend George Drago sent me some gems of wisdom and I would like to share them with you:
"Old Ironsides"
The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).
However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the USS Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."
Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."
Making Jamaica on October 6, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.
Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there November 12. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.
On November 18, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.
By January 26, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.
The USS Constitution arrived in Boston on February 20, 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.
GO NAVY!
"Chillaxing"
********************************
"How a Clock Works"
In case you were wondering how a clock works and how to keep it accurate, click on the YouTube link below...
Mohawkers Reunion 2018
It will be Reunion time soon (October 25-27), so I wanted to remind everyone that the deadline to register for this great party in Reno, Nevada is coming up soon! Go the OV-1 Association website to get the skinny on all the activities, cost, etc.
By my count 21 Blackhawk/Phantomhawk soldiers (plus their guests) will be in attendance. Here’s the list of guys who are planning on being in “The Biggest Little City In the World” this year: Joe Beckham, Don Bernstein, John Britten, Joe Floyd, Andy Gramlich, Larry Haglund, Steve Hammons, Arlan Lando, Bobbie Luthi, Gilberto Mendoza, Dave Nelson, Bill Page, Ben Perez, Ron Pitcock, Bob Riha, Ernie Serna, Loren Schrock, Alan Summers, Gary Todd, Art Winslow and me.
If you are not signed up yet, do so quickly I hope to see you there!!! If the past few Reunions are any measure, our Director of Parties (John Bosch) has put together another event worth attending and remembering!
Saturday, September 1, 2018
A Day at the Museum
Recently my granddaughter Maddie and I visited the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle. Maddie is nine years old and her first visit to the Museum of Flight. It was kind of a whirlwind tour through their wonderful exhibits in the Great Gallery and new 3 acre Aviation Pavilion.
We had a wonderful time exploring the many antique aircraft in the Great Gallery, including the 1928 fighter Boeing 100/P-12/F4B, a 1966 replica of the 1916 Boeing B&W, the iconic Douglas DC-3, and a helicopter most of us rode at one time or another fifty years ago the Bell UH-1H Iroquois (Huey). In the Aviation Pavilion Maddie and I walked through several of the wonderful planes also: the British Airways Concorde, the “City of Everett” Boeing 747-121, the first 747 built which was built in Everett, Washington in 1969, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and VC-137B "Air Force One".
We also enjoyed ourselves walking through “The Red Barn” which is the first building Bill Boeing used to build his first wooden airplanes. All in all we had a wonderful time together. Below are some pictures while we were at the Museum of Flight.
If you are ever in Seattle (also known as the “Jet City”, “Queen City” or the “Emerald City”) a must see stop is the Museum of Flight, which, according the Wikipedia, is the largest private air and space museum in the world.
A model of an early biplane in the Red Barn |
Maddie point to a wooden airframe |
One of the many great displays |
A Coast Guard rescue helicopter |
The Great Gallery at the Museum of Flight |
Friday, May 25, 2018
Remembering Our Brothers
On this Memorial Day weekend of 2018, please join me in remembering our friends who made the supreme sacrifice while serving our country in Vietnam too many years ago. Be sure to turn your volume up and then click the title link below to see a tribute to them. (Note that it may take a few seconds to load on your machine)
Mohawkers Finally Come Home
Bob Nopp and his infant son Scott at their home in Salem in 1966
Bob Colby sent this article to me this morning and I thought it would be appropriate to post it on The 225th Observer this Memorial Day weekend of 2018. Please take a few minutes and read the whole article about our brother LTC Robert (Bob) Nopp and his observer PFC Marshall F. Kipinaof the 131st Surveillance Airplane Company who have finally come home after being MIA since 1966.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
A Truly Wonderful Memorial!
There is a wonderful exhibit at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver. Please click on the link https://lestweforgetsculpture.org/ to see what our friend George Drago sent to me this last weekend.
Madam President
It has been my policy not to share my political beliefs on this blog. So……it was refreshing, in this era of generally snarky political humor, to receive an email from our friend George Drago about the not-so-far-fetched possibility of a future president of the fairer sex. Please continue reading, I think it will bring a smile to your faces it did mine…..
The year is 2024 and the United States has just elected the first woman president.
A few days after the election the president-elect, whose name is Debra, calls her father and says, "So, Dad, I assume you will be coming to my inauguration?”
"I don't think so. It's a 10 hour drive.”
"Don 't worry about it Dad, I'll send Air Force One. And a limousine will pick you up at your door.”
"I don't know. Everybody will be so fancy. What would your mother wear?"
"Oh Dad," replies Debra, 'I'll make sure she has a wonderful gown custom-made by the best designer in Washington.”
"Honey," Dad complains, "you know I can't eat those rich foods you eat.” The President-to-be responds, "Don't worry Dad. The entire affair will be handled by the best caterer in Washington; I'll ensure your meals are salt free. You and mom just have to be there.”
So Dad reluctantly agrees, and on January 20, 2025, Debra is being sworn in as President of the United States. In the front row sits the new president's dad and mom. Dad, noticing the senator sitting next to him, leans over and whispers, "You see that woman over there with her hand on the Bible, becoming President of the United States?”
The Senator whispers back, "You bet I do.”
Dad says proudly, "Her brother is a Army Aviator.”
Monday, May 7, 2018
Joining the United States Air Force!
As I was waiting for my friend Howard Stott to have coffee at the Lake Forest Park shopping mall early in April, I was standing in line to get my cup and a man behind me called out “Gordy.” I turned around and the man said he saw my name on my cap. (My 225th comrade Miguel Anza gave me a nifty 1st Aviation Brigade had with “Gordy” embroidered on it when we were in DC for our annual reunion a couple of years ago.)
Anyway, he introduced himself as Bruce Erdos and we got to talking. Seems Bruce is a fellow Army veteran and, if I remember correctly, managed to not go to Vietnam but served honorably in the Army nevertheless. Bruce’s dad served in Korea and then as a firefighter flying airplanes dropping water on forest fires. Bruce invited me to meet with him and six or seven USAF vets at a Denny’s near McChord Field next to Fort Lewis (now both part of Joint Base Lewis McChord).
On April 21st I drove down to McChord and had a delightful time with these Air Force vets. I’m sure most of these guys are a little older than me, but we all have a common love for airplanes and flying! It’s never too late to meet new people and share our our often shared experiences in the service to this wonderful country we call the United States!
Seattle's Museum of Flight
In March of 2017 my grandson Jacob and I visited the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle. We had a great time looking at their very large collection in several galleries. Jake might be a budding photographer because he spent lots of time taking pictures inside the Great Gallery and new Aviation Pavilion. There is a replica of the Wright Flyer, examples of restored early Boeing aircraft including the Model 80-A Tri-motor and replica of the Boeing B&W, even a Lockheed M-21 Blackbird with a D-21B Drone. In the Aviation Pavilion the original 747 prototype (named the City of Everett), VC-137B used as Air Force One when the President was aboard, a British Airways Concorde, a B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-29 Superfortress , and a WB-47E Stratojet, plus several jetliners, are all available to walk around. Some the aircraft are open to walk through, also.
Seattle is one of the birthplaces of commercial aviation in United States, and in the suburban cities of Renton and Everett still manufactures every 737 and 747 that is flying. We were at the museum several hours and still didn’t see everything because it holds one of the largest air and space collections in the US.
Jake and I had a wonderful time and plan on visiting again! If you are ever in Seattle, it is well worth the time to visit this amazing museum.
(Pictured above is Jake taking pictures of two of the great aircraft on display at the Museum of Flight at BFI in Seattle.)
Returning to Seattle Children's Hospital
Today I had the privilege of attending a retirement celebration for a former colleague at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Barb Michieli, a retired US Army major in the Medical Service Corps, celebrated her last day after 16 years as Children’s Radiation and Laser Safety Officer with a reception attended by colleagues, friends and former employees.
I first met Barb when I was recruited to be on the Children’s Emergency Response Team (CERT) in 2002 after the September 11th attacks. We both served several years on the CERT Team, participating in trainings and drills.
I had not been back to Seattle Children’s since my retirement 2 years ago and it was wonderful seeing so many of my former coworkers! Happy retirement Barb!
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