"So, I recognized the boy in the boat. The grandchild of Czarist Russian émigrés and son of a Scandinavian émigré, the boy in the boat grew up in the wilds of the Northwest coastline. Latchkey kid, parents scraping by, chooses flight school in lieu of an "invitation" from LBJ in '65.
The governments straps a $3 million Huey gunship to his backside first tour, he gets a 6-month vacay flying the Czech border in an unarmed CH-34, and finally, straps a +/- $11 million Cobra gunship to that same backside for his return engagement, second tour.
All in all, the boy in the boat went on to fly 996 combat missions in Vietnam over the two tours, never losing a man and never losing a gunship. Bronze Star, Air Medals, Distinguished Flying Cross.
Understand, though, if driving the boat and the helicopters weren't dangerous enough, the boy in the boat went on to become a high school shop teacher and 25 years after that, married some feral Texas chick.
We can only hope boys today get a chance at a life like that..."
Great Story, Irish- I spent summers at his age in a small house on Bass River (Cape Cod). We'd borrow a Mr. Fairweather's boat with a similar Johnson - If that wasn't enough, a buddy's carpenter father rigged up a sail on his daughter's pram, and we played 'Kon Tiki' for days. All I had strapped to my butt by a 'grateful government' was a T-10 parachute... Had I a choice, I would take the shop teacher route versus corporate drone in a heartbeat. As to Texas women, Alan Jackson said it all, and the boy in the boat wins there as well. Thanks for the back story and something to really smile about.
ReplyDeleteOdd that this boy from Oregon would chime in, but I spent a month at a relatives lake home in south central New York State in 1969, I fished every day there. My mother grew up there. Great Uncle let me use his boat. I caught a 23 inch walleye, on my last evening fishing before going home. I really miss that place. Lake Geneganslet.
ReplyDeleteI would make sure she is taking zinc, along with a nutritional supplement called quercetin. The latter helps your body absorb the zinc, and the zinc is an antiviral. Wouldn't hurt to take Vit. C and D as well.
ReplyDeleteHelluva Story. Brings back great memories, and pays tribute to the youth of our country. !!
ReplyDeleteTough, and smart, he married a southern girl. I am curious as to what state he lives in. May God bless him and his family all the days of his life.
ReplyDeleteps I would bet dollars to donuts most of us had a knockout childhood. I did not know how good I really had it till Mom then Dad passed.
ReplyDeleteCool pictures with an even cooler backstory added in about the subject. Amazing who these stories reach.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense that a boy that young, that adventurous, that fearless would be a leader. Hero’s are harder to find given the soyboy basement dwelling encouragement from our educational system.
ReplyDeleteIs that YMATA? I think I learned about his Blog through you. I look forward to his posts on Sundays or early Monday am.
ReplyDelete