Project White Horse Forum

Forty years ago this first weekend in April 1973, the last of the POWs from NAS Lemoore California returned home. Included were my squadron mates Mike Penn and Al Nichols.  The VA-56 Champs had lost LTJG Gary Shank, LCDR Smokey Tolbert, LT John Lindahl, and AO2 Clay Blankenship. USS Midway and Air Wing Five had [...]

With Max Carey The best definition I have ever heard of a vocation is that it’s the place where your great joy meets the world’s great need. For you to build that vocation will take both compassion and courage. There are infinite possibilities for you for joy, for service, to make a contribution, and we [...]

An “in-work” story On April 10, 1972, Midway steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, bound on a 7800 mile voyage to the Vietnam War Zone.  This in itself was not uncommon.  What made this cruise different from proceeding ones in the ship’s history was the fact that Midway was deploying over seven [...]

As the day closed on September 11 2001, we began the process of “doing what we know”- we had been attacked – strangely suprising to some in other lands, Americans strike back hard when treaded upon – so we went to war in the way we know how.  The events of September 11, 2001 were of such magnitude, [...]

Boundary Condition #3 (3) The Project White Horse 084640 post for Fourth of July 2010 noted that we celebrate our country’s birthday in the warmth of summer recalling the day we declared our right as free and independent states, the day the signers pledged their lives, fortune and sacred honor, but that we would do [...]

Those of us who came home must never forget those who could not

Boundary Condition #2 (1) November 14, 1910, Eugene Ely makes the first take off from a ship from a wooden platform on the bow of the USS Birmingham; December 23, 1910 LT. T.G. Ellyson reports to the Glenn Curtis Aviation Camp at North Island, as the first naval officer to undergo flight training; 18 January [...]

In the 234 years of writing and speeches about America -  what it means, what it offers its citizens, what it does,  should do and stand for – by Presidents, Generals, Admirals, poets, the press, observers, citizens, and leaders – none are more compelling and important than the final sentence of the Declaration of Independence. Yet, on the [...]

Addendum to the previous post “Testimony of Pilot: I am a dragon, America the beautiful like you will never know” For Marie Rossi,  Pat Patterson, Sam Dorn, Gary Shank, Smokey Tolbert, John Lindahl, Gene Goodrow, Mike Bixel, Mike McCormick,  Ray Donnelly, Arlo Clark, Harry Hicks, Chuck Andres, and Randy Anderson.  You are remembered – You live [...]

I think ordinary Americans do a pretty good job remembering  our vets and in  particular, those who have given their lives in service of this country.  I like hearing the stories about folks in airports recognizing those in uniform as they return home.  But its always been important for me, on a very  personal level [...]