Happy Birthday to my Dad!
Today, July 22, he would have celebrated his 106th birthday. I hold the highest admiration for this very giving man.
He experienced a distinguished military career and continued to be active in the community during his retirement years.
He graduated from West Point in 1931 and completed the first Army Air Corp class of pilots. They were the first to deliver Air Mail.
On December 7, 1941, as an Air Force Major, he was in the control tower as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He “directed a flight of B-17s to safe landings all over the Hawaiian Islands between waves of Japanese attacks.”
His military career continued to be filled with many important roles. He retired in 1965 at the rank of Lt General. The Hwy 78 outside Randolph Air Force Base is named for him, “Gordon A Blake Hwy.”
You can read his complete biography at Lieutenant General Gordon Aylesworth Blake. But we could learn so much more from this remarkable man and father than what is listed. Miss you, Dad!