DU3 Reintroduce yourself thread

[av8rdave]

100. My first name should be pretty easy

The nick obviously is based on my occupation.

I was born in Jamestown, NY and moved to the Youngstown, OH area when I was 12. My family moved to Baltimore my senior year of high school, so I lived there for one year before going to Colorado to attend the Air Force Academy.

I was in the first Academy class in history to include female cadets, so I saw firsthand the steep uphill climb faced by (essentially) a minority striving to break through a major barrier. That had a lasting impact on my world view. Those women were among the smartest, toughest and bravest people I've known.

Through some sort of major oversight, I managed to graduate from there in 1980, and attended Air Force Pilot Training at Willims AFB, AZ. When I graduated in 1981, I was selected to remain there as an instructor pilot. I had the privilege of teaching some great people to fly the T-37. It was hard but exciting work, with a combination of aerobatic, instrument and formation flying.

In 1985, my next tour took me to Wurtsmith AFB, MI, where I served as an aircraft commander on the KC-135 air refueler. For the next couple of years, I flew missions in the US, Europe and the Middle East.

In 1987 I completed my service obligation and went to work for a major airline, where I have worked ever since. I'm presently based in Detroit, where I fly both domestic and international trips.

I have a daughter, son and daughter in law, all in their 20s, and all living and working in Texas. I am separated/soon to be single, and living in the Detroit area while I figure out where to go next.

I joined DU in the fall of 2003. I am the typical DUers worst nightmare. I like the music of Rush, and thanks to 24 years of living in Dallas I'm a Cowboys fan, which isn't easy these days. I'm also a huge Crimson Tide fan, since my son and DIL graduated from there.

I love the blues as well as classic rock. My favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, John Steinbeck, Christopher Moore, Cormack McCarthy, Isaac Asimov and Molly Ivins. I enjoy most documentaries, and despise Fox "News," Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc. I believe that supply side economics is the greatest and cruelest hoax foisted upon a society in modern times.

My military background has a lot to do with my affection for service member and veterans, who have become mistreated members of our society. Our nation nowadays misuses military force, and mistreats those that are ordered to carry it out. As John Kerry once said, "it's important not to confuse the war with the warrior."

That's pretty much me in a nutshell.