05/29/2026
Who's ready for some history?! This week's installment looks back on Memorial Day and remembers those we have lost, while also sharing the story of Colonel Steve Austin, "The Six Million Dollar Man."
"Good Memorial Day fellow aviation history enthusiasts. Amongst others today as I’m certain you all are, I’m remembering friends, squadron mates, and fellow Marines killed in service to our nation. These include my best friend, Major Al Butler, USMC, killed in action in Beirut near the bitter end of the time the Multinational Peace Keeping Force was deployed there until President Reagan pulled the Marines out, squadron mate and Marine Captain and former Chicago Bears Lineman “Bacca” Pagel killed in an AH-1T mishap (he hit power lines in Italy while on a training flight), and the Columbus, Ohio Reserve Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines whose unit was decimated when 22 of them (+ a Navy Corpsman) were killed in Iraq in 2005 mostly, by IEDs and snipers.
We honor all those who sacrifice their futures for our presents…and the families who endure their absences for the rest of their lives.
But let’s lighten the mood a bit and get into the “way back” machine and read about an aviation-related TV program many of us in the 60–90-year-old range (or more) remember. In fact, many of us wanted to “be” Colonel Steve Austin, including me."
For the full write-up head to our Aviation History Archives on the Moore County Airport website at https://www.moorecountyairport.com/aviation-history/
Photo Courtesy of NASA
