This blog is solely dedicated to Clarksburg Ohio World War II veterans and the men who so selflessly served their country from my village. But in this case, I must stray from the topic a bit.
Two young, brave Marines flying in their AH-1W Super Cobra were killed while training between El Centro and San Diego yesterday. I found out about it yesterday evening around 930pm when a good friend of mine, a young, brave friend, I admire greatly, sent me an instant message through my Facebook account to talk about their deaths. He had to talk. He was looking for someone to talk to, because it bothered him greatly. He had lost two close friends, one 27 and one 26 years of age - in their prime of their lives - working hard and selflessly everyday to defend a country that I am not entirely sure totally appreciates them. He too is a very young AH-1W Super Cobra pilot and it makes me damn proud. He is an amazing kid. He graduated with top honors in college and at the top of his USMC flight class and instead of choosing F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets -- he chose the REAL challenge -- the Super Cobra - a down and dirty, close air support attack helicopter that has taken on substantial design changes from its predecessor, the AH-1 Cobra which flew combat missions during Vietnam - but still is an antique -- and as he mentioned to me last night, can still figure out a way to kill you.
My buddy is what... 24, 25 himself? I've lost track. I got to know him when he and another great young man volunteered to help me manage the needs of the military pilots who so graciously flew into my air show in Arizona for eight years. At this time, he was 15, 16 years old. It was essentilly his opportunity to ask EVERY question in the book and try every fighter jet, cargo plane, and helicopter in the United States inventory on for size, while he hit the books in high school and dreamed of becoming a pilot. He literally hauled a ton of ice, soft drinks, bottled water and snacks to these pilots from dawn to dusk in the hot Arizona heat, and built lasting relationships with them int he process. They all tried to recruit him, but those damn AH-1W pilots from Pendelton and the Red Dragons crew in the CH-46 seemed to have the biggest impact on him, as we watched from afar. Afterall, the intention of our air show was to bring the United States Armed Forces together with strapping, intelligent young men and women potentially interested in an military aviation career. But what they all could figure out, was that this guy was already ready. He was prime for the pickin'... a damn near shoe in. So... long story short (actually it's not that long - hell he just graduated college two years ago), my air show days are over and the ambitious 15 year old is now flying Super Cobras defending our country.
Any chance I get to talk to him about his experiences is a true pleasure. In fact, it's a true pleasure for all of us who worked hard to produce the show for hundreds of thousands of people from the Phoenix metropolitan area to enjoy. We share our stories of talking to him. He and his counterpart, his best friend during high school, who chose the Air Force route and is equally pulling his weight as a C-17 cargo pilot, were incredible workers and I admire them greatly. They appreciated the opportunity to participate in the air show and be able to get up close and personal to the pilots and their jets and helicopters, and we appreciated their incredible enthusiasm and work ethic, especially considering the fact they were TEENS!
I am touched deeply by how hard he works, how strongly he feels about this country, and how much risk he takes to defend our freedom, while many ungrateful people in Southern California sharing living space with him ignore his efforts and in some case shun his existence as a nuisance to their lifestyle. it's amazing to me that more people are worked up about the truthful comments that came from the mouth of Miss California USA, than going out of the way to make a true patriot like my friend, or his two friends who were killed, comfortable in the state they live. Strange ungrateful times we live in. Do these people really know how good they have it? Hats off my friend! My thoughts and prayers are with you always. Semper Fi!
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