An American Hero Has Died

[WarpathEngineering]

Dutch Van Kirk, navigator of the Enola Gay died July, 28 at the age of 93. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/us/30vankirk.html?_r=0

I remember traveling to Louisville, KY for a gun show a number of years ago and coming across a table where this very nice elderly man was sitting in a chair. I said hello and probably made some mundane reference to the weather or the size of the crowd while I quickly glanced across the table before him looking for something of interest. Not finding anything with my quick glance I bid him good day and moved on. I didn't realize until I was an hour out of Louisville who I had spoken with and if I hadn't been driving several friends who had somewhere else to be I would have turned around immediately to thank him for his service and spend a little more time talking to this national treasure. Since that day, I've made it a point to pay more attention to the men behind the tables in the hopes of one day meeting up with Mr. Van Kirk again. Now I guess I'll never get that chance and that saddens me.

Remember to thank our veterans whenever you get a chance. Your freedom has been bought and paid by them.

 

[graygun]

I think someone may have posted regarding this but my memory is not so hot these days.

That's a nice story about having met and briefly spoken with him at the gun show. It's sad to realize that most folks from those days are departed. All from my parents' generation are in that number.