RealTown's RealTalk

Reference - VETERAN'S DAY 2008

I know that Veteran's Day was last Tuesday, but since I am at the end of my ePRO assignments, I have decided to share a little tidbit of info of mine.

I was previously associated with the Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve & Army National Guard (all some time ago). When I joined the Aeromed Unit (at then, Norton Air Force Base), as part of our proficiency examination, we took a trip to the Military Pacific Theater. It was an amazing trip to Hawaii, Japan, Okinawa, The Philippines (Clark Air Base, since destroyed by Manitubo Vocano), & back to Hawaii, then home. Talk about jet lag!

However, the trip being unusual, we lost an engine and some other plane problems between Japan and Okinawa where we had the engine changed. I got to know the pilot who was having his check ride when the incident happened. He handled the plane perfectly considering the danger we may have been in and landed the plane at Okinawa without mishap (although it was to the music of fire engine wails). Most of the reserve pilots that were flying the 141's at that time were also pilots with various airlines, as was he, just doing their military duty.

Some months after this trip, though, this pilot was killed in an auto accident by a drunk driver. I guess my point here is that no matter how difficult or dangerous your job is in this lifetime, the unexpected can kill you, and drunk drivers are the shame of our society.

Pegi Prior, Keller Williams Realty.