HIGH FLIGHT

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth 
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth 
Of sun-split clouds--and done a hundred things 
You have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swung 
High in the sunlit silence.  Hovering there, 
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung 
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue 
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew. 
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space, 
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.  

        John Gillespie Magee, Jr.                                                                                                                                      1922-1941

In December 1941, Pilot Officer John Magee, a 19 year old American serving with the Royal Canadian
Air Force in England, was killed when his Spitfire collided with another aircraft inside a cloud.
Several months before his death, he composed his immortal sonnet HIGH FLIGHT,
a copy of which he fortunately mailed to his parents in the United States.

Serving in rememberance by wearing a  gold KIA bracklet, keeping dear comrades close at heart

"SPIRIT 03"
AC-130H  69-6567
On January 31, 1991, Desert Storm, while working a target over Kuwait,
14 gunship crewmembers reached out and touched the face of GOD.
They became GHOSTRIDERS.

P. Weaver     A. Galvan     W. Grimm     D. Walters     J. May
T. Bland     P. Buege     B. Clark     R. Hodges     D. Kanuha
M. Schmauss     J. Oelschlager     J. Blessinger     T. Harrison

POW/MIA FORGET ME NOT BRACELET