Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Widewing on January 30, 2015, 11:57:02 AM
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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."
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:salute Alex Vraciu
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(http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wq5o2d1Cteg/maxresdefault.jpg)
(http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/8790/10014369_1.jpg?v=8CD55E975BA6A00)
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Vraciu seemed like such a nice guy, he never beat his chest and appeared to not glorify his actions in all the interviews I've ever watched.
Safe travels, you earned it. :salute
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:salute
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Fair skies and tailwinds Master of the skies. :salute
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:salute
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Fair skies and tailwinds Master of the skies. :salute
:salute
Yes. This one hits hard.
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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."
Sad! Mostly since I thought he had long since passed. I once had a chance to meet Papy Boyington, though as a kid I was too dumb to know the significance. Could you please post an obituary when it shows up.
boo
:salute
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His Obituary is here..
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/contracostatimes/obituary.aspx?n=alexander-vraciu&pid=174009213& (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/contracostatimes/obituary.aspx?n=alexander-vraciu&pid=174009213&)
You may leave a message for his family....
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:salute
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:salute Alexander.
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:salute
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:salute
Just no way to stop time. Must be a heckuva party going on in the big o'club in the sky though.
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:salute
His parents were originally from Transylvania; :rock
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:salute
Just no way to stop time. Must be a heckuva party going on in the big o'club in the sky though.
Yup.. <S>
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:salute
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:salute
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:salute RIP sir.
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:salute
Thank you, sir.
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Always felt a connection to him since I grew up going to the Intrepid Museum and later worked on it during High-School. :salute
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A Link to The New York Times article :aok
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/us/alex-vraciu-indestructible-ace-of-world-war-ii-dies-at-96.html?_r=3 (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/us/alex-vraciu-indestructible-ace-of-world-war-ii-dies-at-96.html?_r=3)
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I was overseas and could not post, but would be most remiss not to now that I am back.
Alex was a great guy and a dear friend. They don't make men like him more than once. I will miss him a lot.
:salute
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I missed this earlier.
RIP Sir and thank you for our freedom. :salute
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:salute :pray