Another hero just left us

With a very heavy heart I have to tell all my new friends here that my hero ... my father just had is last rights a few minutes ago. I'm sitting in my office right now and my sisters, who are with my father in Michigan just called me a little while ago and told me my father had enough. He was 87 years old and a darn good pilot. I've bragged about my dad a few times here so anyone who has read any of my posts knows his naval avaition career. He had a good one. My dad has been in ICU for over a week. I just got back last Thursday from being by his side for several days. I had a very hard decision to make ... should I stay with him in Michigan? ... or should I fly back to California?. He seemed to be improving when I left and I felt I had to continue with my life and resposibilities. Well I just hope I made the right decision. I should have stayed with him. .... I will be flying back hopefully tomorrow.

I'm OK with this though, I knew he wouldn't be with us long, I just didn't think it would be this soon, I thought he would have a few more months and I was working on bringing him out here to my home, but I guess I was just too late. When I left him last week I looked in his eyes and gave him a big hug and I left the hospital knowing that probably would be the last time I would be able to say goodbye. I hoped it wouldn't, but he had had enough.

He's now going to go up and move in with mom. I'm happy for them both today. I just hope my sisters will forgive me for not being there today.

All fighter pilots go to heaven right?

I hope you all don't mind me sharing this with you, I feel lost right now and just need to do something .... this post seems to help right now.

Mark

[bipe215]

Sorry about your Dad, Mark.

Steve G

[RickH]

Mark, please accept my heartfelt condolence for your loss.

[Warbird Kid]

Sorry to hear about your loss Mark.

It wasn't easy when my grandfather (a veteran too) went either.

You should be proud to have been able to know him, and that he had many happy years after the war. With his family.

And maybe all fighter pilots don't necessarily go to heaven, but maybe that big airshow in the sky!

I know i would want to spend an eternity there...

[Paul Krumrei]

Mark,

I cannot even imagine the pain that you are going through, so it is hard to tell you in words how truly deeply sorry I am to hear of your loss.

I thank you for sharing and I thank your father for providing the blanket of freedom before my time, to ensure that I can sit and type this message freely to you.

God Bless him and the rest of our veterans that have served to protect this great nation and I honor him in my prayers and thoughts as you go through this tough time.

God Speed dear sir and Blue Skies to you.

God Bless you and your family Mark,

Respectfully,

Paul Krumrei

[mustangdriver]

First off, I am sorry to hear of your loss. I had a friend pass away about amonth ago, and I learned the hard way never to put off saying something. Your father sounds like he was a rela hero. I ope that your family is strong in this rough time.

[ripcord]

Sorry for your loss.

[Tinker51]

Not that it is much in the way of consolation but at least you were able to say your goodbys.

I hope your anguish is brief and the good memories replace your pain and I thank your Father for his service to our country.

Thank you all .... I'm glad I shared this day with you. I don't feel alone now.

Good looking guy wasn't he? .... Is that the look of a fighter pilot or what? ... good bless him.

[Robbie Stuart]

Mark, I want you to know from the bottom of my heart how sorry I am for your loss. I lost my Fighter Pilot Dad a few years ago after an extended illness, & my Mom didn't last too long after him (they were married 64 years). My Dad was my hero. Lossing him & my mom was very hard on me, but such things happen with time, & are to be expected. It still hurts though. You & your family are in my prayers, Godspeed to your Dad.
My Heartfelt Regards
Robbie

[Second Air Force]

Mark,

Ellen and I send our condolences as well, and thanks to your dad for defending our country.

If it helps in any way, I had to do exactly as you did after my last visit with him, the only difference being that he left us before we got back to Texas that night. My family understood, and I'm sure yours will as well.

Godspeed, patriot!
Scott and Ellen

[RyanShort1]

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Ryan

UGH!!!! ... I just feel sick .... I am glad though that I'm sharing this with you all, your kind words are more helpful to me right now than you can imagine. Like I said, I'm in my office with the door closed and I'm only taking family calls right now. I knew this day would come and I just felt that working and carrying on with my business and living my life and NOT crawling in a hole and sulking would be the only way to handle this, ... yes, I'm very sad but I'm happy he has jumped back in his cockpit for his final mission and flown upstairs, I'm sure by now he's landed and is taxiing up to the ramp to shut it down and climb out to my mother who is waiting to give him a big hug. I'm sure the weather is great up there. I'm on the internet looking to get a flight out of here today. Travel agent, secretary, we all are working on getting me back there ASAP, but northern Michigan is a bitch to get too in a hurry. But I feel this office is best for me right now and I keep checking in on all of you who have been saying such wonderful things. It's so surreal right now, I hope you all don't mind this post, I'm not sure what else to do right now, I'm in a holding pattern right now with very few options. But again .... thank you all SO MUCH for your kindness ... This is all I need.

[bdk]

Keep your spirits up and just imagine what he would have wanted you to do. He sounds like he was a fantastic role model.

[vg-photo]

Condolences from our family to yours in this sad time.