I received this from Barrett Tillman this morning...
"This one hurts: Alex Vraciu, America's top living fighter ace, died in Sacramento yesterday, age 96. Got word from my "cousins" who've been keeping me updated. Al lost his beloved Kay in 2003 and remained in his Bay area home until a couple of years ago when he entered assisted living.
Al was one of the most charming, and disarming, people you'd ever meet. He was really good with kids (had 5 of 'em!) but once in awhile you'd see the steel beneath the velvet. When you know someone for 40+ years, you learn a lot, and I can say that in all that time I never-ever saw anything in Alex other than a gentle, thoroughly decent man. His combat and career records were what he did--the way he lived is who he was.
There's a joyous reunion in progress far-far above the contrail level.
We now have about 82 living US aces including 27 USN and four USMC."
