Category Archives: Memorials

A Gift of Wings – Forever Young

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Ed

Testimony of Pilot# 23 Be courageous and be brave And in my heart you’ll always stay Forever Young, Forever Young, Forever Young  Rod Stewart Throughout our lives we receive multiple gifts, many simply because we are loved. But for aviators, … Continue reading →

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Testimony of Pilot: Pilgrimage of Honor

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Ed

Testimony of Pilot# 20 On the evening of 10 January 1973 , VA-115 “A-rabs” aircrew Lt. Mike “Mondo” McCormick and Ltjg. Alan “Arlo” Clark, were catapulted from the  USS Midway, flying  “Arab 511.” They were on a single plane low … Continue reading →

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Testimony of Pilot: “I Am a Dragon, America the Beautiful Like You Will Never Know”

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Ed

Testimony of Pilot#3 From AIRSHIPS; Testimony of Pilot by Barry Hannah … Through Lilian I got the word that Quadberry was out of Annapolis and now flying jets off the Bonhomme Richard, an aircraft carrier headed for Vietnam.  He telegrammed her that … Continue reading →

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Remembered Sky: A Naval Aviator Lies in State

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Ed

 You Only Live Twice “My fellow Americans, whom I have gratefully served for 60 years, and especially my fellow Arizonians, thank you for the privilege of serving you and for the rewarding life that service in uniform and in public … Continue reading →

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Veterans Day 2017: What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Ed

Burns and Novick The Vietnam War – A Counter Anthology The PBS documentary The Vietnam War by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick has received critical acclaim  and has been recommended for showing in schools. It follows Burns reputation well as … Continue reading →

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Memorial Day 2015: Mondo and Arlo

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Ed

Sometimes on days like today, I find myself lost in the abstract –service to country, freedom, sacrifice, the flags, the tombstones of Arlington. The feelings are not wrong, indeed they are most important and necessary, but at the base are … Continue reading →

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Not on My Watch – In Memory of Dave ‘Snako’ Kelly

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Ed

I attended the Celebration of Life for Dave Snako Kelly on Saturday 3 May on-board USS Midway.Hot afternoon but not nearly as hot and humid as it was 42 years ago in the Gulf of Tonkin. Dave and all the rest … Continue reading →

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What kind of war was it? – “How do I know, I saw the whole thing backwards!” June 4-7, 1942 at Midway

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Ed

Battle of Midway, Commanding Officer, USS Enterprise, Serial 0133 of 8 June 1942 At Sea June 8, 1942 From: The Commanding Officer. To: The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Via: Commander Task Force Sixteen. (Rear Admiral R.A. Spruance, U.S. Navy). Subject: … Continue reading →

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Operation Homecoming Part 5: Always Leading and Always Will

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Ed

by Orson Swindle (USMC, Ret) Prisoner of War in North Viet Nam (Orson Swindle was shot down on November 11, 1966, released on March 4, 1973) Reproduced with permission of USNI and the author … for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity … Continue reading →

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Christmas ’72 Stories: (7) A Gentlemen’s Gentleman

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Ed

Linebacker II was halted on 29 December 1972.  The North Vietnamese agreed to come back to the negotiations in Paris. Having enjoyed Christmas, Midway left Singapore and celebrated New Years Eve at sea on the way back to the Gulf … Continue reading →

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