Sunday, July 13, 2014

Off to war

My co-worker has kept me up to date on the progress of her daughter who did a service transfer from the Air Force to the Army with the intent of becoming a pilot.  Usually people join the Air Force to be a pilot but she took the opportunity to become a Warrant Officer in the Army and then attend helicopter flight school.

Her mother is so proud of her daughter and has kept me up to date as she has moved through the Army system, becoming a Warrant Officer and then graduating from flight school.  Her daughter is now a Blackhawk pilot and set to head overseas to see the elephant.

Her daughter is in town on leave so mother and daughter came to see me and say hello.  Back in the day for me, all of the Army Warrant Officer aviators were guys, some with Vietnam war experience and a couple almost too young to be served in the officer's club.  Now I hear from the daughter that her instructor pilots are retired Vietnam war era Warrants.  She told me that the 'old guys' who taught her have outstanding skills and the best stories.  I hope that someday she will be an old, bold aviator too.

She is off to fly in the most challenging terrain and conditions experienced by Army aviators since Vietnam.  She'll be flying machines left behind by other units, in winter.  I wish her all the best of luck coupled with the skill those old warriors taught her at flight school.  She is excited and eager to go.  her mother is so proud of her, and worried.

The new Warrant Officer shook my hand as she left my office and looked me in the eye and said 'Goodbye Sir'.  My eyes got watery as she turned away.

Please come home safely to your mother, please.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all of the freedom loving folks on planet Earth!

We skipped the traditional 4th of July home town parade this morning in order to get ready for our semi regular 4th of July family and friends gathering and cookout in our backyard.  

We realized at the last minute that we didn't have pretzels on hand for our guests so the Missus and I set off for the local drug store to get some.  As we set out I heard the very distinctive sound of a Merlin/Packard aircraft engine and after a quick scan - there is was!  An invasion striped P-51 doing some wide circles over town.   We got to see three passes before it flew on.  What a memorial to our Greatest Generation and the 4th of July!

A fellow veteran gave me a copy of the Declaration of Independence yesterday.  I've never read the whole thing but yesterday I found time to do so.  What a magnificent document!

Happy 4th of July everyone!