Blessed, How to sum up a career....
Dec 19, 2020 08:57:46 #
Sent to me from an old squadron mate from back in the late 70’s. Thought I'd post it since it defines many of the feelings many of my squadron mates have about their career choices. I can personally relate and I've also have been blessed to have served and to have enjoyed a career full of excitement, adventure and even fear. Don't know who call sign "Shadow" is; he didn't sign it, but obviously a naval aviator... 'Shadow' really sums it. This letter relates to the feelings and emotions many in the Navy and I'm sure the Air force feel about their flying career....it is good!
When you think about it… I firmly believe we all shared one of the most exciting, fulfilling and incredible lives than the other 99.9999% of the human race. We saw Mother Earth as few ever have… we saw beautiful skies like no others have… we traveled the world over. We were lucky enough to interface with magical machines and learned to master them! We knew the thrill of the catapult, the joy of an "OK Three Trap" and the concentration required to make a night trap at minimums. We saw the moon and stars at their most vivid best, experienced the awesome power of a level Five Boomer and witnessed incredible lightening at night from above it. Exhilarating low levels around mountain peaks, down in incredible canyons and the beautiful and incredible sentinels of Monument Valley as they burst from the desert floor.
We saw skiers from above as they came down a mountain on fresh powder snow, leaving beautiful twisting trails behind them. I’ll never forget the night I saw my wingman flying into the largest Harvest Moon I’ll ever see and the incredible silhouette of his magnificent machine as it appeared to be suspended in space, like he was part of the moonscape itself.
We saw the earth as few people have… incredible shorelines, marshes, limestone escarpments, incredible mountain ranges… great canyons around the world and the eerie but beautiful shadows of islands, cast upon the waters from a setting sun… and speaking of the sun… I dare say we have seen the most beautiful sunsets one could ever see from a vantage point that only us very few will ever experience.
We knew the thrill of adventure… and the smugness of taking off at sunrise as the nine to five drones down below were just awakening… bursting through a low cloud cover to be greeted by a magnificent rising sun framed by mountain peaks. I was often reminded of a Jack London quote I first read as a youth; “Tis the easiest thing in the world to live a placid and complacent life… but to do so... is to have never lived at all”! My friends, we didn’t have that problem.
We have memories like no others… and in my mind I still reflect and say to myself, one of the greatest gifts I received from it all... was the other incredible human beings that shared the experience that I got to meet along the way! You were special… we were special!
We were blessed!
Shadow
When you think about it… I firmly believe we all shared one of the most exciting, fulfilling and incredible lives than the other 99.9999% of the human race. We saw Mother Earth as few ever have… we saw beautiful skies like no others have… we traveled the world over. We were lucky enough to interface with magical machines and learned to master them! We knew the thrill of the catapult, the joy of an "OK Three Trap" and the concentration required to make a night trap at minimums. We saw the moon and stars at their most vivid best, experienced the awesome power of a level Five Boomer and witnessed incredible lightening at night from above it. Exhilarating low levels around mountain peaks, down in incredible canyons and the beautiful and incredible sentinels of Monument Valley as they burst from the desert floor.
We saw skiers from above as they came down a mountain on fresh powder snow, leaving beautiful twisting trails behind them. I’ll never forget the night I saw my wingman flying into the largest Harvest Moon I’ll ever see and the incredible silhouette of his magnificent machine as it appeared to be suspended in space, like he was part of the moonscape itself.
We saw the earth as few people have… incredible shorelines, marshes, limestone escarpments, incredible mountain ranges… great canyons around the world and the eerie but beautiful shadows of islands, cast upon the waters from a setting sun… and speaking of the sun… I dare say we have seen the most beautiful sunsets one could ever see from a vantage point that only us very few will ever experience.
We knew the thrill of adventure… and the smugness of taking off at sunrise as the nine to five drones down below were just awakening… bursting through a low cloud cover to be greeted by a magnificent rising sun framed by mountain peaks. I was often reminded of a Jack London quote I first read as a youth; “Tis the easiest thing in the world to live a placid and complacent life… but to do so... is to have never lived at all”! My friends, we didn’t have that problem.
We have memories like no others… and in my mind I still reflect and say to myself, one of the greatest gifts I received from it all... was the other incredible human beings that shared the experience that I got to meet along the way! You were special… we were special!
We were blessed!
Shadow
Dec 19, 2020 09:16:28 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
I’m not an aviator, but these words certainly convey the wonder and thrill to us vicarious flyers.
The cockpit view videos of night time carrier landings I’ve seen told me I didn’t have the cojones for that business.
Stan
The cockpit view videos of night time carrier landings I’ve seen told me I didn’t have the cojones for that business.
Stan
Dec 19, 2020 09:29:19 #
Dec 19, 2020 09:31:56 #
Dec 20, 2020 09:21:43 #
Dec 20, 2020 09:58:16 #
Beautifully said and having flown a lot in a small plane, I can relate. I doubt, however, this was a WWII Vet where the mortality rate for bomber crews was 50%. How about it; any combat Vets out there who felt the same way about their job? Were you able to separate the good from the bad, while on a mission?
Dec 20, 2020 10:19:45 #
fourlocks wrote:
Beautifully said and having flown a lot in a small plane, I can relate. I doubt, however, this was a WWII Vet where the mortality rate for bomber crews was 50%. How about it; any combat Vets out there who felt the same way about their job? Were you able to separate the good from the bad, while on a mission?
No he wasn't a WWI Vet, maybe Vietnam....I'm sure those who were imprisoned in the Hanoi Hilton, some over 8 years, had a difficult time separating the good from the bad. As a combat vet who flew gunships in Vietnam, there were highs and lows, good and bad and those had to be separated when you got back to base, if you got back...Cheers and Merry Christmas
Dec 20, 2020 10:21:07 #
sr71 wrote:
And did you have the sense to have a camera with you?
Guess he didn't....
Dec 20, 2020 10:48:15 #
Blaster34 wrote:
No he wasn't a WWI Vet, maybe Vietnam....I'm sure those who were imprisoned in the Hanoi Hilton, some over 8 years, had a difficult time separating the good from the bad. As a combat vet who flew gunships in Vietnam, there were highs and lows, good and bad and those had to be separated when you got back to base, if you got back...Cheers and Merry Christmas
Any gooney birds?
https://www.dc3dakotahunter.com/blog/see-how-the-vietnam-c-47s-gooney-birds-came-to-their-horrible-end-by-the-dakota-hunter/
Dec 20, 2020 13:35:01 #
Triple G wrote:
No but I worked with them and Black Shadows in Vietnam in the Central HighlandsDec 20, 2020 17:16:43 #
I always wondered why the aircrews always thought their shite didn't stink while us maintainers kept our heads down and worked long into the night fixing the birds that you guys were always breaking! So you could take 'em back up in the morning and break 'em again!
Dec 20, 2020 17:17:48 #
Blaster34 wrote: No but I worked with them and Black Shadows in Vietnam in the Central Highlands
No but I worked with them and Black Shadows in Vietnam in the Central HighlandsGlad you made it back. Thanks for your service.
Dec 20, 2020 17:40:13 #
Triple G wrote:
Glad you made it back. Thanks for your service.
Thank you triple G
Dec 21, 2020 01:41:47 #
Dec 21, 2020 07:42:04 #
Retired CPO wrote:
I always wondered why the aircrews always thought their shite didn't stink while us maintainers kept our heads down and worked long into the night fixing the birds that you guys were always breaking! So you could take 'em back up in the morning and break 'em again!
We broke a bunch of them for sure...had to keep you working
However without the maintenance crews, we wouldn't have the greatest Naval Aviators and Air force pilots flying the best a/c in the world...Cheers and Merry Christmas
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