My Dad, Charles Franklin Hall, died suddenly and unexpectedly last night, March 25th, 2005 at the age of 74. I loved my dad dearly with all my heart and I now realize that he was the best friend I have ever had.
He was the kind of guy that any aviation fan would have loved to meet and talk with. He joined the USAAF in early 1947 and was there to witness the birth of the USAF. He became part of SAC as a engine mechanic on B-36s before becoming a flight engineer on KC-97Gs. He then transferred to Burmuda to fly with ASR (I was born on Kindley AFB Burmuda in 1964). After that he transferred to MAC at McChord AFB flying C141s where he eventually retired in 1975. While there, he was a crew member on "Operation Homecoming" bringing home the POWs from North Vietnam (I still remember all the "welcome home POWs" banners posted on base).
My dad retired two years earlier then planned after 28 years of service due to my mothers insistence. In 1975 dad was supposed to fly home on a C141 from Tokyo but missed the flight due to bad traffic in downtown Tokyo. That flight, with my dads crew, was mistakenly vectored into a mountain in the Olympic moutain range as they decended into McChord AFB. All on board were lost. I remember my frantic mother herding all us kids together in our home as news began to trickle down on base about the crash. I remember the phone call from my dad telling her he was still in Tokyo and alright. You can imagine my mothers and our joy at learning he was alive when we were expecting the worst.
After retiring Dad went on to earn a BA in Business at Clover Park College graduating at the Top of his class. He was an exceptionally intelligent man who dwelled in the details. Thats where he was most comfortable. He spent quite a few years as a electronics repairman before retiring fully to enjoy his extended family these past 25 years.
He loved life. He loved his wife. He loved his family and we are all at such a loss without him. We will continue and carry on but we will never be the same without him.
I know many here have disagreed with me on many subjects as we have progressed through these last several years, but I honestly have enjoyed so many of you here for so long that I thought I would share this part of my life with you as I cannot think of a better group of people to share the life story of my father with.
He was a wonderful man.
