Ttown Aubie wrote:
Jim I totally agree with you. There is definitely a bond between the the members here which can only be described as family.
Speaking of family, 8th grade promotion was this week. My daughter Emma was a school ambassador, President of the National Junior Honor Society, made A honor role and received the award for highest GPA for the entire 8th grade class of Hillcrest Middle School! Now on to high school. So proud her!
Congratulations Joe! You all have every right to beam over your Sweetie, well done, all of you!!
OOOPS! TOPP................ Look closely and you'll see Chili and me standing on a pickup truck out there on the grounds of AFW............
Chandler and I just got back from one of our favorite events, The annual Memorial Day Picnic at "The Circle T Ranch". This celebration of our freedom, our country and the entrepreneurial spirit is always a treat and a privilege, but this year was especially meaningful. My Buddy Matt Byrd was honored and his full military retirement after 33 years in the Air Force was held at the beginning of the celebration. I videoed the retirement ceremony in it's entirety, very moving. Those of you who have come to The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show have probably met Matt, a select few have had an opportunity to be in the air with Matt and Ross on one of our missions. Some of you know a little about Matt's history, few know the full history of Lt. Colonel Matthew E. Byrd, and it's awesome.
Some of the highlights of Matt's distinguished career , A10 pilot, winning Top Gun recognition multiple times, asked to "disappear" into the bowels of a Lockheed Martin Skunk Works project for a period of time where he test flew the first "invisible" fighter jet. Matt's test flights and evaluation experience made him a perfect candidate to take the 117 Stealth Fighter into combat and he did so ably on numerous fronts including Desert Storm and Kosovo, being awarded several Distinguished Flying Crosses among the commendations. As if those achievements weren't sufficient for any career, Matt was asked to join The Thunderbirds in the era of The Talon and then transitioning to The F/16, Matt was Thunderbird #2, right wing. He then was asked to be a NATO IP where his responsibilities included instructing our students, instructing our instructors, and overseeing the instruction of our allied pilots and their instructors. He spent a decade in The Middle East, based in Abu Dhabi, doing things that fall into the "I could tell you but................." category.
The regs state that 30 years in The Air Force and you're done, Matt stretched those rules to 33, and I could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, the papers may say "retired" but the heart of this warrior will never retire.
There was more "Brass" in a attendance than anyone could count, but the day was all about a genuine American Hero. Anyway, suffice it to say that Chandler and I were honored to be invited to a very moving celebration of a very rare man and a good friend.
"Number 8" has decided his time in the oven is coming to a close. Looking forward to meeting James Reilly Wilson III, we're going to be great buddies. Better go charge batteries and blank memory cards
This tank has been a mascot at various events in Switzerland for many years. Due to its peculiar painting it is probably the most popular Swiss tank ever.
This year I was offered a ride on it. There were two drivers, Rene and Felix. Now, Rene drives it the way you would drive a piece of history that is over 40 years old, Felix instead has a very "aggressive" driving style, as you can see in the picture. Well, I was lucky, I was on it with Felix driving, the best tank ride of my life
3 am and James Reilly has us on our knees. Some complications and an emergency C section , he’s now in the NICU. I saw him for a split second as they rushed him from delivery to where he is now. God has this and He is ever faithful, we are resting on that confidence.
Praying that the NICU stay was SOP for the emergency C-Sect, and that mom is doing well, too.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
3 am and James Reilly has us on our knees. Some complications and an emergency C section , he’s now in the NICU. I saw him for a split second as they rushed him from delivery to where he is now. God has this and He is ever faithful, we are resting on that confidence.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
3 am and James Reilly has us on our knees. Some complications and an emergency C section , he’s now in the NICU. I saw him for a split second as they rushed him from delivery to where he is now. God has this and He is ever faithful, we are resting on that confidence.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
3 am and James Reilly has us on our knees. Some complications and an emergency C section , he’s now in the NICU. I saw him for a split second as they rushed him from delivery to where he is now. God has this and He is ever faithful, we are resting on that confidence.
JW
In prayer for James Reilly, you, your family and medical staff.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, James stabilized around 5:30 this morning and he's continuing to improve. Mom is battling nausea (from Magnesium Laura?) Candace had pre-eclampsia with her first, showed no sign of it this time, until Friday morning when her BP spiked and they admitted her, induced late yesterday afternoon, then about midnight everything hit the proverbial fan and it was "Katy bar the door" for about six hours. But, because "God is Good.................All the time!" We are out of the woods and very grateful. I think he would be much better off at the hangar with his Papa...........
And, amidst the chaos, my sincerest gratitude to all of you who served, and to those who unselfishly made the ultimate sacrifice, for the free air I so causally breath each day. May God bless you, and your families this Memorial Day weekend, and always............yet another debt that cannot be repaid.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, James stabilized around 5:30 this morning and he's continuing to improve. Mom is battling nausea (from Magnesium Laura?) Candace had pre-eclampsia with her first, showed no sign of it this time, until Friday morning when her BP spiked and they admitted her, induced late yesterday afternoon, then about midnight everything hit the proverbial fan and it was "Katy bar the door" for about six hours. But, because "God is Good.................All the time!" We are out of the woods and very grateful. I think he would be much better off at the hangar with his Papa..............Show more →
JW
Wonderful Report ... looking forward to seeing shots of James at the hanger in a pedal plane!
And with a hat tip to Texas, I just realized Papa is JW and James Reilly is JR.
Duxford this weekend The weather was not good for some of the time (very hazy) and apparently worse yesterday. Here is the new livery of the French Dassault Rafale 2018 exhibition aircraft
I had that with my second, but avoided the c-section and NICU journey, mine developed when I showed up thinking I was in labor, they were going to send me home but changed their minds. Afterwards they gave me phenobarbital. Any number of things may have caused the nausea, including the anesthesia. Hopefully the nausea will resolve quickly and everyone is back home soon.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Good Morning Everyone,
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, James stabilized around 5:30 this morning and he's continuing to improve. Mom is battling nausea (from Magnesium Laura?) Candace had pre-eclampsia with her first, showed no sign of it this time, until Friday morning when her BP spiked and they admitted her, induced late yesterday afternoon, then about midnight everything hit the proverbial fan and it was "Katy bar the door" for about six hours. But, because "God is Good.................All the time!" We are out of the woods and very grateful. I think he would be much better off at the hangar with his Papa..............Show more →
