Coast Guard pilot and medical professional, “Sticks,” joins us to talk about his path to a commission in the Coast Guard by way of the Merchant Marine Academy. He talks Leadership Training and some of the funny things that happened along the way; like losing his sword as the Regimental Executive Officer in his senior year – and totally gooning the drill commands – and how he recovered.
After a couple years in the fleet he was off to flight school. This week’s show title comes from a remark to his wife that came out wrong. He was totally focused on getting a clean bill of health for flight school when he got some bad news and some good news – and Fig and I took the opportunity to add, “it’s mine?” to bust his chops a little.
We spend some time talking about what it takes to get through API – Aviation PreFlight Indoctrination at NAS Pensacola; the training you must pass to get the opportunity to start flight school. There’s lots of cool aviation physiology covered this week.
We close out this week talking about getting through the primary phase and the “HT’s” and one of the friendships he made there. Ultimately he talks of the loss of his friend and fellow pilot, Dale Taylor. More details about this are in the book , NIGHT FLIGHT The Courage and Calling of a Coast Guard Pilot, by Dale’s widow, Teresa Taylor, and Mark Wyatt available on Amazon telling all about LCdr. Taylor.
Our second hour with Sticks will cover real-life rescue missions and some of the extreme danger Coast Guardsmen regularly face; and call it a Tuesday at the office!
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2 thoughts on “Are You Sure It’s Mine? Episode 30”
Greetings all…
I want to make a few brief comments…
1. If you are a young person, interested in aviation or have questions about life at a service academy, please reach out to Repete and Fig (or me JBHall.RN@Gmail.com), and I will be more then happy to make time for you and give you insight to the application process and what you might expect.
2. In this episode, I mention a pilot, LCDR Dale Taylor, USCG; who tragically lost his life in service to our country. We were at Pensacola, FL at the same time and often passed each other on the way to the briefs or post flight. I felt it important to remember Dale, in that when we do not speak or recall their names and sacrafices, we lose that aviator second time. What I recall most about Dale was his professionalism and kindness, the latter is in too short supply these days. With out fail, if you had a rough flight he was always there with support & encouragement. Dale lighten the load for me more then once when I was a Pensacola. I just want to make sure, that this message rings through. I would suggest that you can but and read the book that Dale’s wife Teresa wrote.
3. Lastly, I was a pilot in the USCG, I served and did the best that I could. I do not claim, under any circumstances to be an exceptional pilot. I met the standards and did what was asked of me. What I will point out, is that the USCG has absolutlely phenomenal aviators and aviation crewmen. I was humbled and honored to serve with them and in appearing here, I hoped the set the foundation of what amazing work the USCG does. I can assure you, that CG aviators who may follow me here will leave you in awe of their accomplishments.
Repete and Fig…
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to appear, share my story and give me an opportunity to relive a part of my life I that I thought would be sitting in the dust bin of history.
Semper Fi…
Semper Paratus…
So Others May live…
ACTA NON VERBA…
Sticks
Stop with the humility, Sticks. There’re folks alive today because you put your ass on the line to go get ’em from the jaws of a raging sea. You didn’t do it alone and you didn’t invent the helicopter – but it was you, in the seat, risking everything to make a difference. That’s heroic, my friend. Service to others. mic-drop
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