OT: A Great American Passes

By: Chachi
on December 8, 2016, 4:17 PM | 17 comments

In September 1990, I was a young Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Navy helicopter pilot stationed on the island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. The buildup to Desert Storm was going full swing and a large Congressional delegation arrived on Bahrain to visit with the sailors, soldiers and airmen who were daily arriving in the region.

I had the privilege of meeting then Senator John Glenn and flying him from Bahrain out to the Battleship USS Wisconsin. I can honestly say that he was and remains one of the few politicians that I genuinely respected and admired. He never uttered one complaint about riding in an old, hot H-3 helicopter in temperatures around 100 degrees for the 30 minute ride out to the Wisky. I suspect it was not his first time riding in the H-3 over the ocean, since many astronauts did.

All that aside, I always considered him an American hero who served our nation with great distinction, a living example of both "Ut Prosim" and "Invent the Future". May he Rest In Peace.

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Comments

Alum07's picture Alum07
🦃 LEG KING 🦃
| 9 years 7 months #

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

HokieFan4Ever's picture HokieFan4Ever | 9 years 7 months #

Thank you for sharing this story and for your service! Know that there are still those out there that genuinely appreciate your's and Senator Glenn's service to our country.

"GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM LITTLE BROTHER, THE CUP IS COMIN’ ON HOME!”

HokieMacGruber26's picture HokieMacGruber26 | 9 years 7 months #

This makes me very, VERY sad.

weavez22's picture weavez22 | 9 years 7 months #

What a great story. I consider everyone involved with our space program American heroes. The Gemini, Mercury, and Apollo astronauts paved the way for the Space Shuttle. NASA is currently building on the legacy of the STS program and is moving full speed ahead toward the goal of landing a man on Mars.

Those early guys that strapped a rocket on their backs with no fear were in a class by themselves. RIP

"We were at the pinnacle, and we did it for years," Foster says. He pauses, nods, takes a deep breath. "And I did it with the best guy in the business."

AZHokie22's picture AZHokie22 | 9 years 7 months #

Man 2016 just end already

Illinois Hokie's picture Illinois Hokie | 9 years 7 months # ^

"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

bluehokie2006's picture bluehokie2006 | 9 years 7 months # ^

I saw a meme on Facebook that went something like this:

kid: "Tell me about 2016."
dad: "Well, it started with a gorilla getting shot . . . "

Illinois Hokie's picture Illinois Hokie | 9 years 7 months # ^

Dicks out.

"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

HokieFan4Ever's picture HokieFan4Ever | 9 years 7 months # ^

RIP sweet prince...

"GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM LITTLE BROTHER, THE CUP IS COMIN’ ON HOME!”

HorseOnATreadmill's picture HorseOnATreadmill
| 9 years 7 months #

Oddly, as I hear this news, 'Alien' shows up on my random. In whatever way is best, I salute John Glenn!

IfishVTIam's picture IfishVTIam
| 9 years 7 months #

Never met him, never saw him, but remember oh so well when I was twelve years old watching coverage on a tiny black and white TV at school as he orbited the earth. What a thrill. Godspeed, indeed.

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

jae1837's picture jae1837
AWESOME SAUCE
| 9 years 7 months #

Fare thee well Mr. Glenn. Thank you so much for your service to this country. May you find peace on your final voyage home.

Go Hokies!

InEnemyTerritory's picture InEnemyTerritory
PIE!
| 9 years 7 months #

Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo were all must-see-tv for me when I was a kid.

Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor.

VPIhokieME's picture VPIhokieME
'_'
| 9 years 7 months #

I just watched the movie called "The Right stuff" with Ed Harris as John Glenn. I highly recommend it.

Onward and upward

HorseOnATreadmill's picture HorseOnATreadmill
| 9 years 6 months #

Sorry for bringing up an old thread but...

Is there a reason that we aren't going to shoot John Glenn into outer space, to explore the universe for eternity?

Musky's picture Musky | 9 years 6 months #

Didn't he have a great ride!?

Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣