Having spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and growing up interested in aviation, he just thought it was neat. “When he knew she was watching, he would always do a victory roll for her,” Leah Thompson wrote. He flew in the Vietnam War out of his home base at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. His return landing was met with water from the base fire truck and champaign, as is Air Force tradition. While up in the air, he got to talking with him about his history and time flying in the Air Force.