[GH85Carrera]

We lived on base and Hickam AFB in 1969 and 1970. As a kid, there are lawns to mow 12 months per year. One of the Generals houses that I mowed was a interesting man. Like all kids I preferred cash, but he wanted to write me a check. So he invited me into his study. On the wall was a African spear that looked cool. He said he was speared with it. He had joined the Army Air Force as a private, but he already had a private pilots license. He was a rare pilot non officer. He said he carried a letter from his General stating he was not to be arrested for impersonating an officer while wearing sergeant stripes and pilot wings. He was still arrested regularly, so they promoted him to an officer. On one mission they landed in a savanna in Africa for some reason I don't remember. The local folks did not like that and came running out throwing spears and arrows. They hurried back on board but he got stuck with a spear. Obviously he survived and was a rare individual to go from private to general. Of course the Army Air corp became the Air Force.

I was just a stupid kid and he was an amazing man to me, and dad was shocked when I told him about the story. He said he was a great officer, but not known as the friendly type.