Not all heroes die young

 

This photo is one of a true American hero.  His name is Charles "Chuck" Yeager.  Most people know him for being the first person to ever break the sound barrier.  But long before that his list of accolades and his reputation preceded him.  After joining the the U.S. Army Air Forces as a private in 1941 he was not eligible for flight training due to his age and educational background.  Because the US joined WW2 less than 3 months later he was granted approval for flight training.  He was trained as a fighter pilot and shipped overseas in Nov 1943.  On his eight mission in March 1944 he was shot down over France.  He escaped to Spain with help from the Maquis or French Resistance.  During his stay with them he helped construct bombs for the group using skills he learned from his father.  Although regulation prevented escaped pilots from flying over enemy territory again he was reinstated to flying combat.  In a statement years later he said  "I raised so much hell that General Eisenhower finally let me go back to my squadron" Yeager said. "He cleared me for combat after D Day, because all the free Frenchmen—Maquis and people like that—had surfaced."  On Oct 12, 1944 he became the first pilot in his group to make "ace in a day" a recognition of downing five enemy aircraft in a single mission, two of which were scored by not firing a single shot.  After he flew into firing position the pilot of one aircraft panicked and collided with his starboard wingman.  He finished the war with eleven and a half official victories.  After the war he became a test pilot and achieved breaking the sound barrier.

Among his awards were the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with Bronze leaf cluster, the bronze star medal with bronze valor device for helping rescue airman from occupied France and a Purple heart among many others.  He retired from military service as a Brigadier General on June 22, 1969.

To many his accomplishments may not mean anything.  For those of us who served in the military we realize just how remarkable this man was.  He was a shining example of American patriotism and valor.  I woke up and saw he had passed away today and my first thought was "We just lost a hero".  The idea of American heroes is often trumped by Hollywood and the superhero movies we love so much.  Often the war movies that commemorate men like him go unnoticed and taken for granted.  Without men like Chuck Yeager our country may not have continued to exist.  He is a true American hero and proof that not all heroes die young.

R.I.P. Charles "Chuck" Yeager 2/13/1923 - 12/8/2020