Who They Are, Part I

It's been asked by a few of you, "Who are those folks?" That is, the people up on the masthead, who are they, why are they up there? Well, it's something I've been meaning to get to for probably a couple of years. Our FNG Beans raised the topic again, as did our old friend over at HMS Defiant. So here we go. (And yes, you lot in the back can quit mumbling "it's about time.") First and foremost, the two gentlemen who are the real reason why you're here reading this. Guys I counted among "the best friends I never met," to quote the chap on the left. Welcome to Part I of "Who They Are." (Just too much to convey in one post. Gomen nasai.)

The man on the left is Captain Carroll F. "Lex" LeFon, Jr., United States Navy (Retired). He had a marvelous blog, Neptunus Lex, which, sadly, is gone, though its echoes linger on at The Lexicans. Career Navy, Annapolis graduate, fighter pilot, blogger, and a fine husband and Dad. A man's man, a gifted writer whose days on this Earth were cut short on a snowy day at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada. Nearly out of fuel and certainly out of options, Lex almost got his bird down, but it was not to be. He lost his life doing one of the things he loved, flying fighters.

I first ran across his blog when searching for information on some rumblings coming out of my son-in-law's squadron, back in 2011. Lex had a great take on what was going on, let's just say that there was a whole lot of political correctness going on, honorably retired aviators getting letters of admonishment added to their files, etc., etc. Big Navy did not cover itself with glory. Something they seem to have become quite adept at as of late. (Though Big Navy is still head and shoulders better than Big Air Force, my old gang.)

I would read Neptunus Lex every day, it was a part of my morning ritual to check it out while sipping the morning coffee. The day Lex died was devastating for many, even for the many who only knew him through his writing. I cannot begin to imagine what his wife and kids went through, knowing them now as I do (a nicer group of people you'll never meet).

After a few days I realized I needed something, I supposed that eventually I would have moved on, forgotten all about blogging and found some other thing to occupy my mind. For some reason I decided to take up blogging myself. I suppose it's rather like war in the old days, there's a guy carrying the banner, the guy to rally to when things go completely to Hell, if he goes down, you pick up the banner and continue the fight. Metaphorically speaking of course. So I started this blog you are reading at this very moment.

Such as it is.

Lex inspired me to start writing, all y'all keep me at it. It's fun on its best days, therapeutic at times, and let's face it, I like to write. I'm sure there are days when it's more fun for me than it is for you.

Now that fellow on the right is Master Sergeant Norman "Buck" Pennington, United States Air Force (Retired). Also a blogger, he was a huge supporter when I first started writing, always checking my grammar, chastising me on comma placement, and always providing encouragement and ideas. His blog, Exiles In Portales (EIP) still exists. Every now and then one of Buck's sons will post something, one of Buck's last wishes was that they try and keep EIP up as a going concern. The boys try, but they're both serving officers, one Navy, one Air Force, and families of their own, so it's hit or miss.

Buck's passing was, like Lex's, out of the blue. While Buck had medical issues (if you're past 60 you probably know what I mean) it was nothing that seemed imminently dangerous. But one day Buck posted that he was having trouble breathing (I believe he had COPD). A couple of days later we learned that he was gone.

Buck and I corresponded frequently, he made one trip to the East Coast when I knew him, I thought seriously of heading down to Virginia to meet up with him. My own medical issues nixed that idea. "Next time," we both said. Well, next time won't be in this life.

So top of the masthead, the home of heroes I like to call it, though truth be told, the masthead ain't big enough to hold all of my heroes, the two fellows who grace the top of the blog, Lex and Buck. There would be no blog if it wasn't for them. They were family in many ways. I miss them dearly.

I'll get to those other guys, and one dear lady, in the days to come. All heroes in one way or another, some of them paid the ultimate price for their service. All of whom I remember in my own small way.