You never know a person's story.
Dave Coy is a humble, enthusiastic gate guard at Carlisle Barracks PA, a civilian who is always happier than anyone else when it's pouring rain, or single digit cold, or summer sweatyhot- an immensely positive person and a great American. Met him at the airport near his home on his day off today- at the Shippensburg, PA grass strip- and together we flew 500-1000' over the ground in my taildragger up the Cumberland Valley and over Carlisle, PA near the mountains, and over his home- it was a fantastic spring morning today with blooms erupting, and farmers' fields and mountains which just last week were deadbrown- but now almost blinding bright green.
With the window open, looking down at Pennsylvania's rolling hills, Decoy shared through the headset his life with me- Vietnam-era enlisted infantry troop often on point who altered his diet so the jungle enemy wouldn't smell him- turned Air Force OV-1, OV-10, O-2 Forward Air Control flying enlisted observer- who survived a crash landing after being targeted by AAA over N Vietnam and hiked back to the crash site to destroy the radios, only to be shot at again and rescued by 3 Cobra gunships and a Jolly Green rescue helo- turned Army officer engineer, retiring as a Major after decades of service to his country.
Now, he's the world's best gate guard at the Army War College, and I bet at least 300+ Field Grade officers who greet him every day have no idea what type of person stands behind his badge. After seeing him for 10 months, it's my privilege today to finally know.
Return to Three Capes Website
With the window open, looking down at Pennsylvania's rolling hills, Decoy shared through the headset his life with me- Vietnam-era enlisted infantry troop often on point who altered his diet so the jungle enemy wouldn't smell him- turned Air Force OV-1, OV-10, O-2 Forward Air Control flying enlisted observer- who survived a crash landing after being targeted by AAA over N Vietnam and hiked back to the crash site to destroy the radios, only to be shot at again and rescued by 3 Cobra gunships and a Jolly Green rescue helo- turned Army officer engineer, retiring as a Major after decades of service to his country.
Now, he's the world's best gate guard at the Army War College, and I bet at least 300+ Field Grade officers who greet him every day have no idea what type of person stands behind his badge. After seeing him for 10 months, it's my privilege today to finally know.
Return to Three Capes Website
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