|
Group Commander
 |
A Great Month and Some Thoughts
October has been such an exceptional month for me, that I
thought I'd share some of it with you. Only part of it relates to CAP,
but I think you'll appreciate the non-CAP part too.
The Alpine Mountain Flying event was fantastic as always,
and Lt Col Groggel and her team did a stellar job (as they invariably
do) managing the mission and getting everyone's training done.
Noteworthy at this year's Alpine was a pretty good contingent of
students from Oklahoma, who came down to take our training program for
mountain qualification. It's nice to see other wings reaching out to us,
to receive the high-caliber training we offer through this outstanding
Texas Wing Program. Some of you might be astonished to know that upper
levels of CAP command had some serious concerns about Alpine, and had
evidently suspected that it was some kind of boondoggle, but the
professionalism of the training, including the Incident Command Staff,
the instructors, the Safety Pilots, and the Safety Program, all spoke
eloquently for themselves and put those concerns to rest. I had the
privilege of flying with
– and evaluating
– Col Smith on his second qualification flight.
After the flight, he told me that he recognized the quality of training
and the high level of professionalism in our program, and that he would
be communicating that back to the Region Commander. I was glad to hear
that. I'm glad to see our wing get the credit it deserves for all of the
right things that we do.
Then I changed gears. My departure from Alpine was a
little bit different than it normally is, because this time I was
driving. Yes, driving. Some of you may already know that back in March I
took a vacation out to Big Bend National Park. I had a great time while
I was out there, and as I was making plans for the October Alpine, I
decided to head back down to Big Bend after the exercise was over. You
just can't have too much of a good thing. So I packed my telescope and
mountain bike, drove out to Midland to pick up George Villalobos (the
Air Force Reservist for Alpine), and we headed to Alpine. Then, after
the training was over, George and I went on to Big Bend.
If you've never been to Big Bend, you need to go. It's
the most remote national park in all of the National Park Service
System, and you can really feel that. On our last day in the park,
George and I mountain-biked all of Ore Road, starting at Dagger Flats
and going all the way down to the Rio Grande. On that 29-mile trek we
didn't see another human being. We spent about three and a half hours
pedaling, and another two hours when we stopped for lunch, enjoying the
sights, hiking out to the Ernst Tinaja, and changing flat tires (George
got three flats on that ride). Try to imagine spending five or six hours
biking through the desert mountains of West Texas, and not seeing
another soul. That ride was so remote that we took a GPS and satellite
telephone with us, just in case we had some kind of emergency! Let me
tell you, it was really something. And the views
– Wow
– Just spectacular! I'll tell you again. If you
have never been to Big Bend, go. I'm hooked on it. If you go, you will
be too.
Now that Alpine is over, we're staring at the end of our
calendar year. I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving, the holiday
season, and the new year. Actually, I have a hard time believing that
it's November already. We've got some reports to do and some awards to
consider, so please be thinking about that in the coming weeks.
In case I don't talk to you before then, "Have a great
and safe Thanksgiving."
Lt Col
Owen Younger, Commander
Tertia semper primoris |
|
New Staff Appointment
 |
Group III Deputy Group Commander -
South
This is
both a "Thank you" and a "Welcome," as this position is smoothly
transitioned into new hands.
I would like to thank
Maj Doug Wallace for looking after Group III squadrons in the southern
sector. In this capacity, he took some of the burden of command from me,
and helped with details, obligations, and conflict resolution. He kept
me informed of what was going on and helped me maintain an important
part of Group III on track. His contribution to Group III has been
significant, and helped maintain the high standard this command is known
for.
Now I welcome Maj Dan
Williams, commander of the Joe Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron, as the
new person in charge for this sector. He is uniquely qualified for the
job in that he possesses considerable command experience at the squadron
level, is a competent mission pilot, has shown true talent as a manager
of assets and personnel, and is proactive in seeking and achieving the
best solution to any problem. In his quiet and respectful way, he always
gets the job done with a minimum of fuss. More important still, he has
always commanded the confidence, admiration and respect of his
subordinates, peers, and superiors alike.
Group
III is lucky to have such individuals who, when asked, are willing to
shoulder the burden and responsibility of yet "another hat."
Lt Col
Owen Younger, Commander
Tertia semper primoris |
|
Aerospace Education
 |
Making the AE Program
Work for CAP
Recently, I had the
opportunity to attend the National Staff College. This was a
great learning experience and I highly recommend it. One of
our assignments was to work on the CAP retention
challenge. Currently, CAP as a whole is only retaining about
30 percent of our new cadets. Exit interviews indicate that
the lack of meaningful activities is one of the major
reasons for cadets leaving the program. This suggests to me
that many squadrons across the nation are not really using
the AE program as effectively as they could.
As a minimum, squadrons
should be taking advantage of the following AE activities.
-
Each squadron should
participate in the AEX program. This
provides six AE activities and an AE event such as a
field trip or an O’Flight day.
-
The Model
Rocketry program should be offered as well. Of
course, the AEX program and the Rocketry program really
go hand in hand.
-
Each cadet should have
the opportunity for O’Flights. Please
remember that this may be the main reasons cadets are
attracted to CAP.
Since money is often an
issue, we should pursue outside funding. One source
available to each squadron is the Air Force Association (AFA).
To support CAP’s aerospace education programs, the AFA
provides aerospace education grants to squadrons up to $250.
All the information and forms may be found on the National
AE web page: http://www.cap.gov/visitors/members/aerospace_education/
This year, the AFA Dallas Chapter funded our Group III
Rocketry Day. Of course, there are numerous local business
that offer grants. AEO’s should develop a good plan and then
pursue whatever finances are needed for the implementation
of that plan.
In summary, Aerospace
Education is an important part of our mission. As the Groups
III squadrons continue to provide strong AE programs, I know
that our retention rate for cadets will continue to be much
higher than the national average.
Ch (Maj) Ron Whitt, AEO
|
|
Cadet Programs
 |
Now is the time to put this event on your squadron's calendar.
Wreaths Across America will be held on Saturday, December 15
this year. With ceremonies all around Texas there should be one
near you. For more information on this program and to find a
list of cemeteries in Texas go to
http://www.wreaths-across-america.org/
Veteran's
Day Events
With barely over a week before Veteran's Day, I would like to
encourage each of you to plan on participating in a ceremony in
your area. Many areas will be having parades or ceremonies on
Saturday Nov 10 this year. Let's take this opportunity to show
our support for our Veterans past and present. (The poster
will print as an 11x14, and is 2.7MB in size.)
Group III CP Staffing Needs
Group III Cadet Programs needs a few good people with managerial
skill to be project officers for group-wide events over the next
year. Applicants need not be cadet programs officers to apply. If
you or anyone you know would like to help make Group III Cadet
Programs the best in Texas, please
e-mail me.
1st Lt Opal McKinney, CPO
|
Letter on
Cadet Participation in Emergency Services Missions, 7 July
Please read an important
policy letter from the National Commander.
Col Joe R. Smith, TXWG CC |
|
| Chaplain
 |
A Change of Duty
Our beloved Chaplain (Maj) Ron Whitt has accepted the position of Texas
Wing Chaplain, which had been briefly vacant as a result of Chaplain (Lt
Col) Nancy Smalley's acceptance of her new post at Southwest Region.
Rather than abandoning Group III, Ch. Whitt has now embraced all of
Texas Wing. A larger flock is his.
So for this month, since a replacement for Ch. Whitt has not been found,
I've selected a message written by U.S. Air
Force Chaplain (Lt Col.) Jeffrey L. Neuberger, 92nd Air Refueling Wing chaplain, on the subject of "Glorifying
God, Honoring Airmen, Serving All"
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor
|
Churches Ministering to the Military Family
I will be sharing a one-hour conference on Churches Ministering to the
Military Family at the Copperas Cove Public Library on Sat, Nov 10th at
11a.m. This is a dual approach to both the deployed member and the
family remaining behind.
The conference is designed especially for pastors, spouses, and children
or parents. The registration fee if $5.00 per person to defray room cost
and handout. Please send registration to – Ch. (Lt Col) George S. Kelly,
135 CR 4709, Kempner, TX 76539
Chaplain (Lt Col) George S. Kelly |
|
|
Chief of Staff
 |
Open Group III Staff Positions
Chief of Staff and Emergency Services Officer. For
details, please contact the Group
Commander
Lt Col
Owen Younger, Commander |
|
Finance
 |
|
Group III Patch Available
|
Are you on Group III Staff? Wear the Group III Staff patch
proudly. At $5.00 each, they are a bargain and show your
commitment to Group III and the CAP program. (Click on the image
for a larger view.) |
|
|
Group III Coins Available
 
Our mint
has delivered a batch of new
Group III Commemorative Coins, and you may own as many as you wish,
for $10.00 each. They make wonderful gifts for your loved
ones ... or even yourself. (Click on the images for larger
views of the obverse and reverse.)
To purchase either
Group III Patches or Group III Coins, please contact Maj Laurie
Lancaster -
laurielancaster@yahoo.com |
Maj Laurie Lancaster, FO |
|
Honor Guard
 |
Forney Homecoming Parade, 29 September
FORNEY, TX – As the Group III Honor Guard marched briskly down Main
Street in Forney, Texas a spectator felt compelled to yell out “Yeah
for America!” It was a proud moment for the cadets in the
Homecoming Parade for Forney High School.
The cadets marched sharply in front of the high school band. It was
a bit challenging at times, keeping the proper cadence even though
it was not in time with the band music. Representing Group III were
Honor Guard Commander C/Capt Rebecca McKinney, C/SMSgt Johanna
Cohen, C/MSgt Matthew Garcia and C/SSgt James Gulliksen.
Reunion of the 402nd Fighter Group, 13 October
ADDISON, TX – Tucked neatly between the vintage aircraft, at a
chevron of tables, the airmen of the 402nd Fighter Group stood at
attention as the Group III Honor Guard presented the colors. The WW
II veterans were truly grateful and impressed with the cadets as
they performed their ceremony last 13 October at the Cavanaugh
Flight Museum in Addison.
The 402nd Group is getting older and smaller, but its members still
retain vivid memories of their fighter days. One was a mechanic,
another one a pilot, still keeping in touch with each other and
getting together annually for a dinner and remembrance. Many of
their wives took the time to come and thank us for honoring them.
To add an extra challenge to the evening, the final table
arrangement was not settled until five minutes before the ceremonies
began. The cadets did an exemplary job of winding through the
aircraft and presenting the colors in a disciplined, military
fashion. Representing Group III at this event were Acting Commander
C/MSgt Scott Gulliksen, C/2Lt John Michael Leroy, C/SMSgt Daniel
Stolzer and C/SSgt James Gulliksen.
Waxahachie Practice, 21 October
WAXAHACHIE, TX – After a busy couple of days at an Emergency
Services Bivouac in Waxahachie, a dozen cadets chose to stay an
additional three hours to practice for the upcoming Veteran’s Day
Parade in Dallas. This practice was held on 21 October, with enough
Honor Guard members present to be able to practice both a Colors
Element and a Rifle Element.
C/SrA Tim Kleinmeier led the rifle practice, while C/SMSgt Johanna
Cohen led the colors practice. Both of these cadets, along with
C/TSgt Sarah Heitzmann, attended the National Honor Guard Academy
last summer. The Honor Guard is privileged to count them as members,
and grateful that they can rely on their expertise. The Veteran’s
Day Parade will start at approximately 1100 in downtown Dallas.
Training Meetings This Month
Our next practice will be in Waxahachie on Sunday, 4 November, from
1400 until 1700. We’ll be practicing for the Veteran’s Day Parade,
as well as discussing plans for Wreaths Across America – coming up
on 15 December.
Join the Honor Guard
For more information on joining the Group III Honor Guard please contact
C/Capt McKinney or
2d Lt Don Gulliksen.
2d Lt Don Gulliksen, HGO |
|
Inspector
General
 |
Inspection Status
Due to Capt Manley's slow recovery,
there are no inspections scheduled at this time. He
is expected to be back among the movers and shakers
soon, and he'll put together a new schedule at that
time.
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor
Inspection Schedule
| Charter # |
Unit Name |
Date |
Comment |
| TX-352 |
Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron |
21 April |
|
| TX-030 |
Group III |
5 May |
|
| TX-376 |
Waxahachie Composite Squadron |
4 August |
|
| TX-390 |
Addison Composite Squadron & TCA Flight |
9-10 June |
|
| TX-148 |
Waco Composite Squadron |
14 July |
|
| TX-391 |
Dallas Composite Squadron |
Day TBD September |
|
| TX-351 |
Pegasus Composite Squadron
|
11 August |
|
| TX-133 |
Irving Composite Squadron |
Early 2008 |
|
| TX-803 |
Red Oak Oaks Cadet Squadron |
17 November |
|
| TX-076 |
Crusader Composite Squadron |
Day TBD September |
|
Capt Steve Manley, IG
Civil Air Patrol Ethics Policy
On 25 August 2005, the National
Commander issued this
policy letter
as a guide for all CAP members. Please make sure that you understand
it, implement it, and remain vigilant concerning any violations.
Inspection Schedules
Unit inspection schedules are
now posted on the Group III
website's Squadron Support / Inspector General page.
Capt Steve Manley, IG
|
|
Professional Development
 |
Hold a Workshop
to study the
Senior Officer's Course (old ECI-13)
These are
the 4 volumes that govern this
course, offered below
in MS Word format (minus pictures and diagrams).
Vol 1 History, Mission, and Organization
Vol
2 Professional Knowledge
Vol 3
Communication Skills
Vol 4 Leadership
For ease of
use, download these document to your computer or copy them to a
disk. You might find it easier to study the material on your
computer.
Anyone can attend
the workshop, but it is best if each student is enrolled in the
000013 course. During the workshop, students will work through
all four volumes of the course, including the questions at the
end of each unit. Students
should also order the exam, so they can take it at the end of
the Workshop.
To sign up for
the course
and
request the
exam online, go to the AFIADL website –
http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afiadl/
–
and select
e-Customer Support. To register, you need to fill out an
AFIADL Form 23. The course material will be sent to your home
address of record.
Your can plan the workshop for a single day, or
you can cover the material over a four-week span. Pick whichever
will work for your unit and best help students progress through
the entire correspondence course.
If
you have questions on how to conduct this Workshop, or would
like to set one up for me to conduct, please contact me.
Senior Member
Training Opportunities
|
Date |
Course |
Place |
Comments |
|
23-25 November |
STEP/TLC. Details on
Texas
Cadet website. |
Camp Mabry - Cost $45, Register by 7 Nov. |
Contact:
Lt Col Dawn King |
1st
Lt Vanessa Smith, PDO
tx438pdo@yahoo.com
|
|
Public
Affairs
– Veterans Day Event
 |
Veterans Day Parade - Saturday, 10 November
All cadets and senior members in the Dallas and surrounding areas are
invited to march in the Dallas Veterans Day Parade on 10 November 2007.
This is a Saturday morning, the day before the actual Veterans Day.
Participants will meet at the Reunion Arena, Parking Lot
E, at 8:30 a.m. for lining up. 1st Lt Opal McKinney, I, and other
members will be available to answer questions on that morning. We are
hoping for a great member turnout this year, not just cadets.
The UOD will be Service Dress with Jackets if you have
them, or Class B with a tie otherwise. Also, bring something to keep
warm while lining up, such as a light-weight blue jacket. Civilian coats
will not be worn while marching, but are OK for before and after the
parade. Please contact me
if you need answers.
Here's the route information
for those who cannot march but would like to view the parade.
Maj Paul Perkins, ESO |
|
Public
Affairs
– A Friend's Passing
 |
In Memoriam Brig. Gen. David Lee "Tex"
Hill, USAF (Ret),
11 October
TERRELL HILLS, TX
– The dry style of official obituary writing doesn't
do justice to a living legend, and that's exactly what David Lee "Tex"
Hill was. I know he would have much preferred a celebration of life,
because he lived his to the fullest, was heavily involved in the caring
for others, and generously gave of his time, assets and good name in
pursuit of worthy causes. He was affable, candid, endowed of a superb
sense of humor, a natural leader, and blessed with a sharp mind and
clear intelligence. We were lucky to have him around for over 92 years.
The litany of his achievements is truly impressive.
Born in Korea
on July 13, 1915, the son of
Presbyterian missionaries, by
1941 he was an accomplished dive-bomber and torpedo plane Navy pilot.
When given the opportunity, months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, he
agreed to resign his commission and join Col. Claire Chenault's American
Volunteer Group – the legendary Flying Tigers – that flew
Curtiss P-40 Warhawks (the Allies called them Tomahawks) –
with Chinese Air Force markings. The unit's patches, whimsically
designed by Walt Disney, depicted a Bengal tiger, a Panda Bear, a
Cowboy... but the planes wore the painted jaw of an ominous, ferocious
tiger shark, blood-red tongue showing inside.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, America was late in
joining the fray, smarting from the loss of naval ships and life, and
the public was starved for successes. The Flying Tigers gave these to
them. In spite of engaging much more maneuverable Japanese fighter
planes, the American aircraft had better armament and could withstand
greater punishment in battle. As the American pilots fought on, they
improved their tactics and were able to prevail against a more numerous
enemy aerial force. In short, the Americans always won and the American
people loved them.
1.
2.
3.
4.
[1] The Disney-designed American Volunteer Group Squadron patch.
[2] An artist's rendition of a P-40 in Flying Tigers' markings
after a Zero "kill." [3] A photo of a Commemorative Air Force
P-40, restored to flying condition and painted in Brig Gen's Hill's own
paint scheme. The inset shows "Tex" Hill in the cockpit, on the ground
(Photo copyright CAF). [4] After presenting Cdt Emily
Brandt with her Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell Award Certificate in 2005,
"Tex" Hill offers his congratulations and some impromptu advice. (He
always referred to the cadets as "my cadets.") Standing in rear are Capt
Dave Badal, squadron commander and (seated) Capt Thomas Adams.
On July 4th, 1942, the American Volunteer Group was
disbanded and its assets absorbed into the U.S. Army Air Force's 23rd
Fighter Group. As he re-entered service in U.S. uniform, "Tex" Hill
accepted promotion to Major and became the first commander of the 75th
Fighter Squadron, earning the sobriquet of "Shark One." This proud call
sign would stay with him for the rest of his military aviation career.
During the closing months of World War II "Tex" Hill commanded the 412th
Fighter Group, the first jet unit in the Army Air Forces, flying the
Bell XP-59 first and later the Lockheed P-80.
In the end, he was credited with 18-1/4 kills, making him a "Triple Ace
Plus" ("Ace" denotes 5 kills, and he had become an Ace in a matter of
weeks when first flying over China).
It is said that the military wear their service
record on their chest. Among many others, "Tex" Hill wore
the Distinguished Service
Cross (awarded belatedly, in 2002, for WW II service), the Silver Star,
the Legion of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, the British
Flying Cross and six Chinese combat decorations.
He logged 3,500 hours, flew
150 combat sorties, tested the first U.S. jets, and after WW II joined
the Texas Air National Guard, again flying as a fighter pilot during the
Korean Conflict. Then, at age 31 he became the youngest Brigadier
General in the Texas Air National Guard's history.
He made his home in Terrell
Hills near San Antonio, where in 1942 he met and married Mazie Caroline
Sale of Victoria, TX, his surviving life-long companion and mother of
his children. John Wayne
portrayed him in the 1942 movie The Flying Tigers and later met
him in person. On the spot, the two men became life-long friends,
sharing many hunting parties and country outings.
Honors followed "Tex" Hill all his life, among
others: in 1997 he was inducted into the Confederate Air Force's Combat
Airman Hall of Fame; in 1999 he was inducted into the Texas Aviation
Hall of Fame; in 2002 the San Marcos Composite Squadron, Civil Air
Patrol was renamed the David Lee "Tex" Hill Composite Squadron in his
honor – and at that time he was made an honorary life member of the U.S.
Civil Air Patrol; a tree was planted in his name in the prestigious
International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas; and he was
honored by the Texas House of Representatives who introduced H.R. 483 to
acknowledge his distinguished service to our nation.
In addition, in 2003 a street was named after him at the Heaven's
Landing Airpark near Clayton, Georgia along with four other WW II
Fighter aces – Chuck Yeager, Bud Anderson, Robin Olds and Gunther Rall;
he was also inducted into the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame and the
Former Texas Rangers Foundation. Being honored at major air shows
throughout the country became a commonplace, and in 2006 he was inducted
into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
"Tex" Hill was a complex man, who earned the
admiration, respect and loyalty of those who served with him. A truly
moral man, he loved flying but loved people even more. As a result, he
cared about the present and the future, even though he himself was
nearing the end of his road. On March 23rd, 2005, when he presented the
Gen. Billy Mitchell Award to Cdt Emily Brandt, he addressed the cadets
of the David Lee "Tex" Hill Composite Squadron,
"The world has changed," he said, and advised those
who thought of entering a life of service in the military to expect many
uncertainties in a changing, ever-shifting political climate.
"Terrorism," he said, "is a cruel and nearly invisible enemy." He then
expressed his admiration for our modern Armed Forces, and reaffirmed his
faith in America's youth. "You, too, may need to play a part in this
fight. But if you do, I know you'll do well." Then he added, "We always
have." And his nearly-centenarian face lit up with a bright spark of
remembered youth.
In a recent conversation,
the Air Force's chief of staff, Gen. T. “Buzz” Michael Moseley said,
“Tex Hill has forgotten more about leadership and what's important than
most of us will ever know.”
"Tex" Hill took his leadership obligations very
seriously, and always went that extra step for those he befriended. On
September 15, 2007, he sent an e-mail to U.S. Army SGT Thomas Adams,
currently deployed in Iraq,
telling him, "I'm
praying
for you, Tom, and for your safety. I hope you'll come visit me when you
return home." SGT Adams, who is also a Captain in the U.S. Civil Air
Patrol, recently wrote to me saying, "I guess I'll have to go to the Ft
Sam Houston National Cemetery. I hope to be home in January, after
over 15 months of combat operations in sunny Iraq."
"Tex" Hill embraced
life fully, and enjoyed his fun. Quite active in the Commemorative Air
Force, he had attended their Annual Air Show for 20 years, only missing
this year's because of his failing health. CAF
Col. Ollie Crawford reported on October 7th,
As you know, his health has been on the decline for a
long while. I try to see him every day and see if he or the family are
in need of anything. As you can imagine, his wife and daughters are
highly protective of his privacy, but I would like to pass on a
remarkable thing that happened this past Thursday. He sleeps most of the
time, but that morning he woke up and said that he would like to have a
party.
Several friends were notified and arrived that
afternoon to visit with the great man, a visit that could well turn into
a farewell. And there were surprises. Our own John Agather has one
of the finest singing voices I have ever heard, and presented his
version of the Mills Brothers and Frank Sinatra – which Tex seemed to
enjoy very much. Another old time friend played a guitar, and Tex joined
in by playing a harmonica.
His doctor called to see if he was still with us, and
when he found out what was going on he rushed over to join the
party. Mrs. Hill was rather upset about the whole event, but told me
yesterday that it was Tex's party, and that she was happy after the
fact, especially since Tex had survived the ordeal. When I saw him
yesterday, he did rally for a short time and held my hand for a few
minutes, but was in no shape to visit. Today was another day of deep
sleep.
The official notice reported that, "Gen
Hill, 92, died of congestive heart failure"
at his home in Terrell Hills. His wife, Mazie, and his two surviving
children, Shannon Schaupp and Loma Skinner, both of South Carolina, were
at his bedside. Before he died, his wife told him, “You’re free to go.”
He is survived by 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous
other relatives.
"Tex Hill was a genuine
American hero and a Texan of the highest caliber," said Gov. Rick Perry.
"Whether he was flying from the decks of a carrier as a naval aviator,
fighting with the legendary Flying Tigers of the American Volunteer
Group, winning a Distinguished Service Cross or commanding the first jet
unit in the Army Air Forces, he always led from the front."
Col Ollie Crawford said, "Tex
was a close personal friend and hunting companion." Then, speaking for
all of us, he added, "He will be missed by all who knew him."
His funeral was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, October
16 at the Alamo Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio. His last
flight took place at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:30
p.m, when it had been planned to have aircraft over-fly the burial site in his honor, including four
Apache helicopters from Fort Knox, followed by four A-10s from Moody Air
Force Base, in turn followed by four P-51s, and then a lone P-40 –
spanning 70 years in military aircraft design. Low ceilings, however,
prevented this intended show of respect.
The funeral procession was led by about 20 veterans
on their motorcycles, and the end of the column was so long that it
stopped traffic. A USAF burial and honor guard did the grave-side
honors, the flag was folded, and General Looney, a 3-star officer,
presented it to "Tex" Hill's widow Mazie. The honor detail fired the
customary three volleys in farewell, as taps sounded in the distance.
"Amazing Grace," played on bagpipes, closed the very moving service.
1.
2.
3.
4.
[1] Amid American Flags, the widow departs for the cemetery.
[2] At the burial site, the Honor Guard takes "Tex" Hill's
flag-draped coffin from the hearse. [3] Gen. Looney presents the
folded flag to Mazie Hill. [4] At the end of the ceremony, Gen.
Looney's colors are retired. (Photos: 2d Lt Amy O'Neil, CAP)
As a child, Tex Hill had gone to school at the San
Antonio Academy. Four young men from that school stood at attention, in
uniform, and rendered a military salute to the legendary ace, perhaps
the most famous alumnus of their school. Had he been able to, "Tex" Hill
would probably have said, "What's all this fuss about?"
(Parts of this article
were contributed by CAP Lt Col Tex Collins, CAF Director of Public
Relations Kay Crites, CAP Capt Thomas Adams, CAP 2d Lt Amy O'Neil, Express-News writers Carmina Danini and Sig Christenson, and U.S. Air Force staff writers.)
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, PAO |
|
Public
Affairs
– About Another Legendary Pilot
 |
U.S. Air Force Dedicates Statue of
Brig. Gen. Charles "Chuck" Yeager
SOUND
BARRIER PARK, CA – When Maj. David Lee "Tex" Hill re-entered service in
the U.S. Military after the "Flying Tigers" Squadron had been disbanded,
being one of the few US pilots with actual combat experience, he was
asked to contribute to the war effort by speaking to aviation cadets
across the country. Cadet Charles "Chuck" Yeager, in Luke Field, AZ, was
one of them and, by his own account, he and his classmates instantly
idolized this tall, lanky, easy-going Texan who, in their mind, was some
sort of god of war. "He had actually shot down other planes in the air,"
he recalled, upon learning of "Tex" Hill's passing away last 11 October.
“[Tex Hill] has been a role model for a whole
lot of fighter pilots. He was in the right place at the right time, and
also was able to take advantage of the situation,” he added, as reported
in the San Antonio Express News.
"Chuck" Yeager himself went on to serve with
distinction over Europe, where he shot down five German Messerschmidt
Me-109s on a single mission. By the end of WW II, he had been credited
with 11-1/2 kills, including a Messerschmidt Me-262 jet fighter which he
bested with his slower – but highly
maneuverable – piston-engined Mustang
P-51. When the war was over, he became a well-known test pilot.
On 14 October 1947, less than a month after the creation of the U.S. Air
Force, the Bell X-1 rocket plane, which then-Capt "Chuck" Yeager had
named "Glamorous Glinnis" in his wife's honor, was launched at altitude
from the belly of a modified B-29, and reached a speed of Mach 1.06 at
al altitute of 43,000 feet over the Mojave Desert, near Muroc Dry Lake,
CA, landing safely in an unpowered glide. Prevailing security
considerations kept the news unheralded for 18 months, since many had
thought this an impossibility at the time. This is why "Chuck" Yeager
didn't get a whole lot of recognition when his record flight was finally
announced. The Bell X-1 that he flew is now displayed at the Smithsonian
Institution (photo at right).

Over 28 years after his historic flight, and after he had retired from
the Air Force, Congress passed a resolution on 23 December 1975 awarding
him the newly-created Congressional Silver Medal of Honor, which was
bestowed upon him by the President of the United States during a
ceremony at the White House on 8 December 1976. It would seem that the
honors due him had been completely fulfilled. Not so. By all accounts,
after retirement he had become "a useful permanent fixture" at Edwards
AFB, where he made himself available as an advisor and took every
opportunity to get into an Air Force jet's cockpit for some "quality
stick time."
With the birth of the Internet, news travel freely. This is how CAP Lt
Col Roy D Hill got a message sent to him by Lt Col John Petlin, USAF
(Ret), a former B-52 pilot. Thereupon, Col Hill sent it to CAP Lt Col
Tex Collins, who in turn sent it to me. It appears that someone who
calls himself "Desert Dan" (I Googled the name but didn't find any sure
hit) has circulated a home-spun report on "Chuck" Yeager's bronze statue
that the U.S. Air Force dedicated in his honor last 30 August at Sound
Barrier Park, CA, near the Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air
Force Base, CA. At one time, Gen Yeager had commanded this school, so it
is a fitting place for him to be remembered.
Below is
Desert Dave's article (slightly edited, of course; I worried about one
of the quotes, but who am I to censor a general?).
The Continuing Adventures of Desert Dave and his Camera at Large
There are precious few things that'll get me out of bed at 4am, but add
an invitation to hear General Chuck Yeager speak at the dedication of a
statue of his likeness at the "Sound Barrier Park" in the heart of
Edwards AFB to the short list.
Chuck seemed a little bit humbled by the honor (no, really!), but he
also managed to get a few licks in. "I'm a bit PO'd," he quipped,
"watching all these airplanes buzzing around and I'm not flying them."
"I'm 83 and I could fly in an F-16 with no problem, but General Bedke
doesn't think so," referring to the Air Force Flight Center commander,
Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, who some years ago stopped letting him fly Test
Pilot School fighters. His last military flight was a supersonic hop in
an F-15 to open the Edwards Air Show, four years back. Yeager was age 79
at the time.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
[1] It was a fairly small ceremony, but check out the front row
of guests! [2] (L-R) Clay Lacy (record-setting aviator, Clay
Lacy's company shoots about every piece of air-to-air film you'll want
to see, including virtually all airline commercials), Frank Borman
(yeah, the flew-around-the-moon Apollo 8 guy), Bob Hoover (greatest
pilot ever lived, period), and Baron Hilton (an accomplished aviator,
and the next best Hilton to meet after Paris). [3]-[4] Media
coverage was very light. There were no more than a half dozen
photographers, a few from the Air Force, a couple from the local desert
newspapers, and me; so I guess these would qualify as "rare historic
photos", huh? [5] Yeager ended his speech by joking with Bob
Hoover that they were getting close to running that last checklist.
"When we do," he said, "the last item will be – Man, we had a ball."
(I'll bet they did!)
Back to
Googling, I took a look at
www.chuckyeager.com, which was interesting but didn't offer me what
I was looking for. So I Googled some more and found
http://www.engineerscouncil.org/Yeager/Gallery/StatueDedication.htm
(obviously a page from Chuck Yeager's official website) from which I
lifted the following paragraph:
In the soothing shade of the
large cottonwood trees of Sound Barrier Park, an assemblage of Yeager’s
contemporaries and other aviation luminaries participated in a
resounding tribute to the life and career of Chuck Yeager. The event was
opened by a pair of F-16’s which laid down a sonic boom over the park,
to the delight of approximately 200 in attendance. Maj. Gen. Curtis
Bedke, commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, fondly remarked,
“General Yeager inspires all of us and when he retired he didn't leave
us behind. He continues as an advisor to many commanders at Edwards AFB
and we hope to have many, many, many more years of his friendship. He's
been called a legend, a hero, the real deal, the most righteous of all
those with the right stuff.”
Truly,
Chuck Yeager's is best defined as "a life well-lived."
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor |
|
Public
Affairs
– An Editorial Adventure
 |
Why I Chose "The Amazon Jungle
Marathon" for Newsletter publication
DRIPPING
SPRINGS, TX – When 2d Lt Michael Bownds, Addison Eagles Composite
Squadron's PAO, sent me the article that appears immediately below, he
wrote, "Although the event has nothing to do with CAP, I think it is
extraordinary." So I read it. And yes, he was right, it is
extraordinary. The prose wasn't perfect (however, since I edit every
single word that appears on this newsletter, that didn't bother me one
bit), but the narrative's openness and honesty were devastating. As a
bonus, his descriptions bordered on poetic, and his matter-of-fact
description of untold dangers and hardship had the bloom of first
thought, truth, and personal commitment. In a way, it had a "coming of
age" ring to it. To put it mildly, the piece won me over in a heart
beat.
I've
never set eyes on SM Judah Mordecai Epstein, yet I feel I know him
intimately. I've seen his picture, of course, and that tells me that he
looks as young as he is, but a picture is, truly, only skin deep.
There's a whole lot more to people than their looks. The article I had
before me, with all its flaws, was a testament to determination,
self-test, and competitive team spirit.
"Competitive team spirit" might seem like an oxymoron, but it really
isn't. It's very easy to be individually competitive, and even win every
now and then, but that's the kind of person who will get you killed in
combat. And anyone who has served in the military knows how dangerous
that kind of individual can be. On the other hand, those who are
team-oriented, and capable of uniting in harmony to put the collective
strength to the test, are a different breed. To them go the spoils,
because they win the skirmish, the battle, and the war.
As I
examined the thoughts that reading this article had elicited in me, and
digested the author's grammatically undisciplined and scattered
narrative, which acquired a literary form of its own that had been given
to it by the jungle in which it had been born, I said to myself.
"Michael is wrong. It does have something to do with CAP, after all."
SM
Epstein's article exemplifies the core value of "Excellence," as well as
"Service before self." He took his body, the temple of his soul, and put
it to the test under the most trying of circumstances, entering the most
extreme and brutal competition known to modern man, voluntarily
undergoing an ordeal that would have made most people blanch, turn away,
and go home. Not he. Instead, he overcame all obstacles, relied on his
strengths, managed his weaknesses, directed himself wisely, and won. No,
don't take me wrong, he didn't come in first out of the jungle. By
winning I mean that now he counts himself in the 60% of entrants who
finished the race. That's all he had set out to do, and he has done it.
In the process, he proved that it certainly helps to be well
trained, but without heart you won't get very far.
He also
proved something else. You don't have to be a PAO to get published. You
only need to send in good stuff.
Capt Arthur E. Woodgate, PAO |
|
Public
Affairs
– A Jungle Experience
 |
The Amazon Jungle Marathon
–
The World's Toughest Foot Race, 8-14 October
ALTER DO CHÃO, PARÁ, BRAZIL – My life-long
dream had been to travel through the Amazon, a jungle alive with
flora that holds the key to so many scientific discoveries and fauna and
terrain to astonish any adventure seeker. Having experienced several
adventures throughout the world, I sought to compete in the extreme
challenge that would be my Amazon adventure. The Jungle Marathon,
advertised as a 200 km extreme, ultra-marathon, unsupported foot race
deep in the Amazon Jungle of Brazil, fit the bill.
In this
race, every participant needed to carry all his equipment for the 7-day
duration, including food and gear. The nights would be spent sleeping in
hammocks in the jungle or along the Tapajós River. Additionally, the
difficulty is not so much the 200 km distance, as the intensity of the
treacherous terrain and slopes spawned by the harsh jungle conditions.
Upon
arriving at the departure point, in the small beachfront town of Alter
do Chão (in the State of Pará), I met other
competitors from all over the world who had come for this extreme
ultra-marathon. All told, there were 46 of us. Some adventurers told
stories of surviving gun battles with poachers while photographing wild
mountain gorillas, or embarking upon a canoe trip down a river in the
Congo in the midst of a civil war. Nearly all of them had previously run
other ultra-marathons elsewhere, including the South Pole, the Sahara
Desert, Mongolia, the North Pole, the jungle of Borneo, and more. They
had come to the Amazon to challenge the event known by all extreme
ultra-marathoners as the toughest race on the planet (in 2006
– with no American competitors–
only 59% completed the race).
Not
until arriving in Brazil had I dreamed that in a single leap I would go
from the tame 8-mile "Turkey Trot" Thanksgiving road race I'd run on the
flat terrain of Dallas, Texas to the hardest race in the world. Perhaps
I should have trained better by first entering other ultra-marathons in
tough terrains abroad
– or at least in Colorado's Rocky
Mountains. Or I could have competed in simple marathons at home, or even
a half-marathon or two. But none of these races had peaked my
interest. I bore easily and don't like to run unless there is something
interesting to catch my attention. So the thought of running through the
largest and most diverse jungle in the world appealed to me, unaware of
the immense struggle that would lay ahead for me, should I enter it.
1.
[1] Half-lit
by a spectacular sunset, this is the support crew boat (and the boat
that everyone traveled on for the 11 hour ride from Alter do Chão
to the base camp) moored by
the bank of the Tapajós
River.
Two and
a half days before the race began, race participants and volunteers
boarded a boat for an 11-hour journey down the Tapajós River, headed for
the small village that would serve as the jungle base camp. I had
planned to meet more of the competitors, but to my dismay I'd caught a
bug and developed a cough with 102° F fever. Suddenly, my immediate goal
turned into improving my health before the start of the race by resting
in my hammock as much as possible. Soon, tired and weakened by the
fever, I felt as though I'd already completed a jungle marathon; but
this proved only that I knew nothing about this race's extreme
toughness.
As the
boat approached land at the jungle base camp, my only concern was
whether the race doctor would let me run the race, since the sickness
combined with extreme physical exertion could potentially cause
permanent internal damage. Fortunately, the following two days were
allotted for race preparation and jungle survival training. The training
was very short, but we were warned of the numerous venomous snakes (if
bitten, stay calm, perform first aid, and wait for assistance), taught
how to lessen the chance of a rare jaguar attack, and cautioned about
the many insects, as well as plants with devilish spikes and thorns. The
jungle trainer
– an experienced Brazilian soldier
– showed us a normal-looking piece of
grass and then proceeded to use this single blade of grass to quickly
cut through a 2-inch thick piece of raw piranha meat without much
trouble.
View Zagalski's
videos of 2007 Jungle Marathon posted on YouTube
In the
remaining time, we prepared our race equipment to make our packs as
light and efficient as possible. Racers spent the time packing and
unpacking, again and again. In my inexperience, I had brought along too
much food and gear, so much so that I couldn't fit it all inside my
pack, though I'd tied much gear to the outside.
2.
[2] Before the race,
Mark & Becky assisted me in removing excess food and gear to lighten my
extremely heavy pack.
A couple
of experienced racers, Mark and Becky, took pity and helped lighten my
load, taking out much of my food and some gear. They also lightened some
of my necessary gear by reducing the amount. For example, I had a small
package of waterproof matches, but after the overhaul I was left with
only 3 matches. Even after all the reductions, my pack still weighed
well over 30 pounds, while the average competitor's bag weighed only 20
pounds. My food was mostly trail mix, protein bars, and MREs. These were
substantial nourishment, but much heavier than the backpacker dehydrated
food that most racers carried. Fortunately, Mark and Becky let me keep
my 2 packets of ice cream (dehydrated!), since they only weighed 3/4
ounce each.
Thankfully, my fever subsided the day before the race, but my cough
worsened. Nevertheless, I felt much healthier and was strong enough to
race. After hearing from the race organizer that Stage 1 was the
toughest
– though shortest
– of the 6 stages, I planned to take
it easy and simply complete the stage without injury.
Day One, 8 October
– As the race started, I
found the terrain to be extremely treacherous. The day began with a
creek crossing that drenched us all up to our chests. Then came the
ground that was so covered with exposed roots that one could easily trip
and fall, or what's worse, sprain or break an ankle or leg, or tear a
knee ligament (ACL). There was another ever-present danger as well
– impaling oneself on the many
protruding spikes, roots, thorns, and other unknown dangerous jungle
objects.
Therefore I took great caution, since falling with my heavy backpack
could very likely injure me. I also had to be cautious of the deep,
leaf-covered holes in the ground. If I caught my foot in one while
running, I could easily break or at least sprain my leg or ankle. To
increase the physical demands, we spent the entire day hiking up and
down extremely steep and slippery hills. The ascents and descents were
so near-vertical that I had to grab onto trees and roots to pull myself
up; otherwise, I would have slipped down the hill. We have no such hills
near my home in Texas. Nor did running in the Dallas parks include
finding large obstructions along with small hidden traps.
3.
4.
[3] At the very start
of the race, on Day 1, I quickly realized that this was going to be hard
work. [4] I was happy to find this Tyrolean rope cross on Day 1.
In the
jungle, I had to climb over and under fallen trees and logs, and
sometimes over and under at the same time! This constant negotiation of
hazards was so tiring that I had to sit and rest wherever I was, even on
the jungle ground covered with insects and perhaps venomous snakes. When
the support crew sweep team caught up with me, Dos Reis from the
Brazilian Military Jungle Special Forces used his machete to cut a
walking stick for me. Little did I know then how invaluable this stick
would become. With my stick, I stayed on the course and finished the day
before dark
– to a cheering crowd on the beach
campsite, adjacent to the jungle.They cheered because I had been in the
jungle the longest of all competitors. They cheered because it was my
first ultra-marathon. They cheered because even though I was green, I'd
gone on to finish the stage, and on that stage we'd lost two racers
already. By the end of Stage 2, nine others would fail to continue
because of weather, humidity, heat, exhaustion, dehydration, or
injuries.
Day Two, 9 October
–
After a full night's rest, Stage 2
began very early in the morning. The distance was much longer, but I
kept my hiking pace because the terrain was too rough for running. The
hills remained very steep and by the time I'd reached the final
checkpoint, I was told that another racer
– Derek from Hong Kong
– and I were not allowed to
continue to the finish line for the day. Why not? Because many racers
had encountered several jaguars! A couple of Brazilians had crossed the
finish line knives in hand, in case of an attack. A racer just in front
of me had heard a jaguar in the bushes just feet away, and then saw the
jaguar as it gave a loud warning purr.
5.
6.
[5] The team from
Spain stayed together. Here they're shown using teamwork to traverse the
jungle. On this day, one of the teammates suffered severe dehydration
accompanied by painful leg muscle twitching and cramping. Sadly, he had
to drop out of the event. [6] The finish line at Stage 2.
Normally, jaguars leave an area that has many people as they are quite
elusive and extremely rare to see in the jungle. But these jaguars
remained in the territory and were undeterred by our collective
presence. Instead, it seemed that they might have been tracking and
stalking us! If Derek and I had gone on, we would have been trekking
through this section at dusk and perhaps dark, which would have greatly
increased my chances of using my favorite stick in an attempt to fend
off an attacking jaguar. Humans cannot outrun jaguars, neither can we
out-climb them. Our only option for survival is to be loud and raise our
bag over our head to appear larger and possibly intimidate the
jaguar. But if attacked, the only chance of survival is to protect one's
neck and throat and fight back by attacking vulnerable points such as
the jaguar's eyes.
There is
a downside to this last strategy. Even if a racer were to successfully
fight off a jaguar, which would be insanely difficult, the racer would
nevertheless be ripped to shreds by the jaguar's powerful teeth and
claws. Therefore, the race organizers took Derek and me on an alternate
route out of the jungle, we got into a small boat, then went back to
hiking through a less hazardous part of the jungle... where nevertheless
we encountered a venomous snake. We arrived at the base camp late in the
evening. By the end of Day 2, my body was completely exhausted. For the
remaining five days, I would need to rely solely on willpower and
determination to complete the adventure I had began.
Day Three, 10 October
– Stage 3 was a much longer
stretch than Stages 1 and 2. I determined that I would have to move much
faster in order to keep pace and complete the stage. My race pack
remained extremely heavy and I knew that the load would slow me down, so
I ditched what I didn't deem absolutely necessary and gave some of my
gear to Ivan
– a support crew medic
– to return to the boat. Gone were my
extra two pairs of socks and pair of underwear (this left me with only
the socks and underwear I was wearing), gloves, camera; bag of protein
powder; and even my bug spray (although it was quite light, it wasn't
essential for running). This trimmed 5 pounds off my pack.
Now I
could move faster than before and developed a "jungle run/jog" as I
tried to imagine myself moving smoothly like a jaguar. Although the
terrain remained amazingly tough, the trail opened up in some parts and
the course was not a never-ending, constant array of steep hills. Of
course, many steep hills remained, but at times the course
"flattened". However, these so-called "flat sections" were as steep as
the toughest hill that Dallas had ever offered me for training.
7.
8.
[7] In the Brazilian
jungle, the word "uphill" acquired a new meaning for me. This is one of
the many swamp crossings that provided relief in the midst of so much
climbing. [8] Most of the time, the terrain was so steep that it
was exhausting even on the downhill. What had started as a lark turned
into a life-changing experience for me.
To my
dismay, near the end of the stage the steep hills returned. A few were
so downwardly steep (and I was so tired) that I sat down and slid down
them, although I risked sliding into or on top of any creature that
lived on the jungle floor. In spite of all this, somehow I completed the
stage shortly after dark, and that gave me an idea of the time. My watch
had broken earlier, during a torrential jungle rain, so I rarely knew
the exact time. It was difficult to gauge time visually, since the thick
canopy blotted out the sun even at noon, immersing me in a green
darkness. (I should have mentioned that this part of the Amazon is known
as "the rain forest.")
Now that
I was at camp and began preparing for a night's rest, I realized that
not only had I lost my watch, but the waistband on my bag had rubbed my
skin raw. I worried that this might keep me from carrying my pack
(and prevent me from completing the race), but the medics taped my waist and I was
OK after that.
Day Four, 11 October
– As Stage 4 began, most of
us had awakened exhausted from Stage 3's extreme difficulty. My ten-hour
sleep didn't seem to help, and I felt I would have needed another 10
just for decent recovery. But fortunately Stage 4 turned out to be much
shorter and not as difficult. We had some much-needed respite, as
sections of the course ran through villages and away from the jungle
treachery. Even so, armed guards were placed at certain points near the
beginning of the course because of additional jaguar sightings.
Although I didn't see any, my time had come for something potentially
worse for a long distance runner
– blisters were starting on my feet.
This was
something nearly all of us had to deal with, and a common problem even
since Stage 1, because the humidity as well as swamp and creek crossings
kept our feet wet throughout most of the marathon. I think I'd been able
to delay my blisters until Stage 4 because of the time and care I'd
taken to balance over roots through the swamp crossings each day,
keeping my feet relatively dry (less drenched, anyway), but they were
still wet. Of course, crossing the way I did slowed my progress, but may
have helped my feet. But now that I had blisters and also needed to move
faster through the jungle, I took less care to keep my feet dry and
ended up suffering like the others.
9.
[9] The campsite
always seemed like a bit of heaven to us. Safety and rest were uppermost
in our thoughts.
Stage 4
was a milestone for me. For the first time, I was able to complete a
stage a few hours before dark. This finally gave me time to eat my food
and rest for Stages 5 and 6. All the previous days had been so rushed,
that I could hardly find the time to eat properly. After my meal, the
medics taped most of my toes (and both heels) to prevent further
blistering. I could now face Stage 5 with my feet well prepared.
Day Five, 12 October
– As it turned out, my feet
would desperately need the help, as Stage 5 was by far the longest,
covering 44 km of jungle and 43 km of village trails. Throughout the
race I hadn't believed that the distances were actually as advertised.
The stages had been so arduous that the mileage had felt significantly
greater! Other racers agreed, and one of them actually tracked part of
the course with his GPS and determined that we'd been right!
Apparently, the distances that the race organizers provided were in
"Brazilian Jungle Kilometers," and the equivalent value in miles or
kilometers is unknown. Because of Stage 5's great length, it would take
us two days to complete it. Any racer who didn't leave checkpoint 4 by
4:00 pm on this day would have to sleep deep in the jungle until dawn
before he would be allowed to continue. Of course, this was necessary
because the area between checkpoints 4 and 5, "The Dark Zone," was thick
jungle often inhabited by jaguars, and it was unsafe for racers to
traverse it in the dark.
In the
early afternoon, after realizing I wouldn't make the cut-off time, I
took my time and enjoyed my hike. I found a feather from a very large
bird and affixed it to my bag. I stopped and chatted in a mixture of
Spanish, Portuguese, and English and shared some of my trail mix
– that I'd been carrying for
5 days
– with the Brazilian military
sweep team that followed me. Although I felt much more comfortable in
the jungle on this fifth day and moved more fluidly, I was the only
racer to arrive at checkpoint 4 after the cut-off time. Therefore, I was
the only competitor to sleep deep in the jungle along with a few support
crew members and a few Brazilian soldiers.
Before
reaching checkpoint 4, I found it exhilarating to traverse through the
thick jungle darkness with only my small flashlight. I felt like a true
adventurer as the jungle and its nocturnal life awakened at the fall of
darkness. The plethora of mysterious sounds from unseen creatures
engaged me into an unknown world where around every tree and under any
plant might lurk creatures large or small, poisonous or non-poisonous,
but foreboding nevertheless.
10.
[10] Without the
support crew, I don't think anyone of us would have made it. Our
gratitude and admiration at the work they did is boundless.
Throughout the race, when I tired, I kept resting on the living jungle
ground. I ignored the dangers from my apathy born out of absolute
exhaustion. Fortunately I didn't get insect or snake bites while sliding
or resting on the jungle ground, even when I rested on or near ant
piles. I theorize that I had become so dirty and spent so much time in
the jungle, that I had become "one with the jungle." It seemed as if
insects crawled onto me and then off without biting, as though I were
simply part of the jungle floor.
During
our jungle training we'd been told that everyone was guaranteed to get
stung by large wasps and bees, and indeed, everyone else was in fact
stung multiple times and bit by mosquitoes, ticks, and perhaps
leeches. To prove the jungle insects' size and aggressiveness, one
support crew member had shown me a picture he'd taken of a gigantic wasp
eating a tarantula. Throughout the competition, I had spent by far the
longest time in the jungle and was certainly the most exposed to
insects, wasps, and bees. However, since I had "merged" with the jungle,
I got no bites or stings.
Day Six, 13 October
– Day 6 was a continuation of
Stage 5. I awoke at checkpoint 4, deep in the jungle, and still had to
complete 53 "Brazilian Jungle Kilometers," but by now I was so tired
that I could barely walk. My left leg from below the knee up to the hip
had been in great pain the past few days. I couldn't let that beat me. I
remembered that I just needed to go on placing one foot in front of the
other. I used my stick so my arms would help propel me, and on the
straight paths I used it like a kayak paddle, pushing off the ground for
extra propulsion. While ascending hills, I used my stick as an anchor to
pull myself up; and when going down, as a balance.
My stick
had now become my best friend. I wouldn't have traded it for anything,
not even an all-you-can-eat-buffet of fresh food. Although I had tired
of eating trail mix and protein bars, I kept at it because I needed the
nourishment. But by the fifth day, I could no longer drink my protein
powder mix. Actually I'm quite used to protein powder, but at home I
normally mix it in a blender with milk and a banana for a smooth and
tasty treat. Here in the jungle I only had water to mix it with, using a
piece of paper as a funnel to meticulously scoop the powder into a small
bottle. Even after shaking the bottle vigorously, the mixture was
inconsistent and lumpy at best. For the first four days, I could stomach
it, but by day 5 it began to taste like vomit and smelled like dung. I
refused to consume any more of it and therefore gave the remainder to an
excited Brazilian soldier, Dos Reis, the one who had cut me the walking
stick. I got the better part of that exchange, as far I was concerned.
For most
competitors, the greatest challenge was to achieve sufficient hydration
and replenishment of electrolytes and salt. The jungle heat and humidity
quickly depletes us of these necessary elements. But for me, my toughest
challenge had been the steep hills. After the race I heard that we'd
climbed over 16,000 feet of cumulative altitude gain and loss! My home
in hill-free Dallas did nothing to prepare me for this ordeal, but it
did train me for the extreme heat and resultant loss of electrolytes.
I grew
up playing sports all summer in the Texas heat, and my body must have
adapted. Throughout the race I simply drank a lot of water in small
amounts, throughout the day, and also drank a couple of servings of
Gatorade and Sustain drink mix powder along with a couple of electrolyte
tablets per day. Although I remained hydrated, my body suffered total
exhaustion and I struggled to complete this longest of all days. Mark
and Ivan from the support crew walked with me to encourage my movement
– and probably to ensure that
I didn't keel over and die!
11.
[11] The
Tapajós River is as
beautiful and seemingly untouched when standing by its banks as it
seemed to be when viewed from the air. This aerial photo fails to
suggest the hardships awaiting the adventurer on the ground.
This
part of the course traversed between thick jungle and a beautiful beach
that overlooked the sun setting over the ocean-like wide river. Although
too tired to take notice of such a picturesque landscape, I stopped and
forced myself to look and remember the magnificence of my
surroundings. I struggled to drum up the energy just to appreciate it. I
had to fight to keep focused on all the beauty about me. My body simply
didn't care, but I willed myself to enjoy it, just as I willed myself to
go on. Miraculously, I completed Stage 5 at 10:15 pm on the second day
allotted, and was surprised to find several fellow competitors still
awake, waiting to cheer me across the finish line.
Day
7, 14 October
–
This day, devoted to the sixth and
final stage, began early in the morning after just a few hours'
sleep. Most competitors had the opportunity to rest all night and part
of the previous day. Stage 6 was supposed to be an easier day, rather
than a foot fight through hostile jungle vegetation, but I found it
quite long and arduous because of my complete fatigue built up during
the preceding days. The lack of sleep and rest, the constant hot sun,
and trekking through the sand had tested my body far more than anything
else I'd ever experienced.
Nevertheless, I started the morning with a jog, as I longed for the
finish line that promised a buffet of fresh food including spaghetti and
chicken with ketchup. I mention the ketchup because I put it on
everything. At various villages throughout the course, chickens roamed
near the trail and I mentally conspired to use my favorite stick as a
spear to hunt one of them. But the chicken would have to wait until the
finish line.
12.
[12] During this grueling race, I truly learned the meaning of
exhaustion. (All photos: Gil Serique, State of Pará,
Brazil)
When my
body remembered its extreme fatigue, I ended my jog and went back to
trekking, using my stick for extra propulsion. After many hours of
struggling through my body's pain, I could now see the finish line. I
had actually planned to run across the finish line, but by the time I
reached it I was amazed that I was even able to hobble.
After
seven grueling days in the jungle, I joined the 60% of competitors that
had completed this race. My reward for such an accomplishment? A buffet
lunch and dinner, a T-shirt, a medal, and, yes, my favorite stick that I
got to keep. I was not going to let go of it, this new friend of mine,
after it had helped me through the harshest of terrains and climates. Of
course, there was the pesky little problem of getting it through U.S.
Customs, but I would deal with that obstacle later.
Home at Last
– Now that my new friend and I are
back in the States, I am home and resting, replenishing my body with the
same foods that I had such difficulty eating on the course
– trail mix, protein bars,
and yes, protein drinks that no longer taste like vomit and smell like
dung! The milk and banana do help with that!
SM Judah Mordecai Epstein, Addison Composite Squadron |
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