Danged right he was an Air Force pilot! (Page 2)

"Stand by for a fighter pilot!"

I will say this - it's very comforting to look overhead and see people who are ready and waiting to swoop in and help - whether it be putting steel on target or picking up wounded (yes, helicopter pilots count, too).

Helicopters don't fly - they're so ugly the Earth rejects them.

Ex Air Force here.  Seven year's service. 

My father was 16 yrs old in a one-room school house outside of Nashville, TN.  The principal came in the room one winter Monday morning saying, "Children, I have some bad news.  Pearl Harbor has been bombed."  My Dad's family were sharecroppers and too poor for radio or TV.  He took a train to Nashville the next day with 15 other boys from school, they lied about their ages, and signed up.  Dad went in the Navy.  He participated in 18 major battles on a "baby flattop" and was eventually blown off the fantail by a kamikaze (suicide airplane) at Okinawa.  He was plucked out of the water, unconcious, by a destroyer. 

Just wanted to talk for a minute.  I lost him December a year ago.  I hate to see that generation go.

I enjoy the bantering back and forth between the military services on BT.  I'm glad to see everyone proud of their various military heritages.

You win, dude.  Your old man was a bad-arse and I'm sorry to hear about your loss.  Sounds like he did some good work during his time, though.

Here's to absent friends (lifts glass).

Except... he did make ONE mistake... he let his son join the Air Farce... shame.