Local Veterans Enjoy Visiting Local Airports

The September 27th Warbird Fly-in in Tehachapi gave Captain Ed Sullivan (Rt.) of Tehachapi the opportunity to escort his neighbor and World War II veteran, Joe Tays, on his first trip to Tehachapi Airport. The 93 year old survivor of Pearl Harbor said that he wanted to see his first air show and the neighbor was glad to oblige. The weather was cold, cloudy and windy, but that didn't deter the two men on their mission. Some may recall that Tays, who had been awarded four bronze stars, was recognized by Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Assemblywoman Shannon Grove as the 2013 California Veteran of the Year.

In spite of diminished eyesight, the U.S. Navy veteran enjoys walking and takes great pride in the fact that he can get around on his own two legs. Joe's personal motto is "use it or you lose it". Joe met up with some friends from the Moose Lodge and the Tehachapi car club as he and Captain Sullivan reviewed the airplanes. Although Joe cannot see details, he could make out the shapes of planes like the Grumman Albatross. While he was posing for photographs beside a World War II Spitfire, two young women came over to be photographed with a hero of Pearl Harbor. After his tour of the planes, Joe was treated to a hot dog and coffee in the pilot's briefing tent where he met Captain Paul Tracy who had flown in from Camarillo that morning.

The following Saturday, Captain Sullivan, had the opportunity to attend the California City Air Show. This time his guest was local retired World War II Army Air Corps Captain Robert Wood, affectionately referred to locally as "Bomber Bob". While in his 20's, the Captain, now 87, flew 35 successful bombing missions over Nazi Germany and was commended by none other than General Dwight Eisenhower. After the war, Captain Wood became a civilian rocket engineer at Edwards Air Force Base.

While there, the men listened to a talk by aviation historian Barbara Schultz who was promoting her new book about Amelia Earhart. She also talked about her book "Pancho Barnes", about a local Antelope Valley character with whom Captain Wood was quite familiar. The two swapped stories of the good-old- days at Pancho's famous desert ranch/airport much to the delight of listeners. Both men enjoyed viewing the display of aircraft from the past which were sitting on the runway and a presentation on air travel of the future. All in all, it was quite an experience for both of them.

Captain Sullivan is himself a retired U. S. Military Sealift Command Officer who participated in the initial convoy deployed to the Indian Ocean by President Ronald Reagan to protect America's interests in the Middle East. He was also a state field representative involved in the efforts to build the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. He is the author of "Daddy's Not Comin' Home", the story of the US Merchant Marine involvement in World War II and a local business man.