My Heroes

I hate using the word hero because it doesn't exactly fit. Maybe "those I admire" would be a better descriptor. Many people I know look up to movie stars and athletes. I tend to not give a hoot about either. However, the early astronauts and early military pilots are a bit different. Did you ever give it much thought as to how much courage it took to get on the top of a rocket and go on a three day journey to the moon and then a three day trip back? Or how about to climb in an airplane day after day for missions over Germany with very high odds that you weren't coming back. We owe these men a women a lot!

I have passed up a couple of opportunities to see US Presidents because they don't do much for me. Just another politician. However, give me a chance to see an Apollo astronaut and I'll make drastic measures to be there and on time. With that said, I had the opportunity to meet and talk to one of these folks last night.

Mr. Hoover is the fellow in the tan suit and mustache. Federal Judge Mullins (my co-worker) is on the far right.

For those of you that have no idea who Mr. Bob Hoover is I suggest you Google him. It a nut shell he is a WWII fighter pilot who was shot down and spent 18 months in a POW camp. After multiple attempts to escape he was successful and stole a FW 190 and flew back to freedom. He was also back up pilot for Chuck Yeager when Chuck broke the sound barrier.



In addition, he was the test pilot for the F86, F100 and multiple other airplanes. Most remember him as the airshow pilot in his Shrike Commander and P51. Mr. Hoover is 86 years old now and is still married to his first wife. Among many of the early aviators that he has met, Orville Wright is one of them. I started years ago using my pilot logbook sorta like a diary of my aviation exploits.



To date I have autographs in it from Neil Armstrong (first man on the moon), Col Bud Anderson (famous WWII fighter pilot), Gene Krantz (Mission director for Apollo 13), Dick Rutan (First man along with Jeana Yeager to fly around the world without refueling. I might add that he did this in an experimental airplane), and now Bob Hoover. These folks have tremendous courage. I tend to think about them the night before I have to go in for a dentist appointment.

Turn up the sound and take the time to watch these two clips of the amazing Bob Hoover. He is a true American hero.