American History in Real Life
Movies in the past have often shown characters that were touched by historical events. Yet sometimes, the truth is often more fantastic than anything Hollywood can devise. These stories of real people show how the events of the past touched their lives. Some times the stories are dramatic, sometimes simple, but all in all they weave a tapesty of the richness of the American experience.-
Recent Posts
- Bridge and the Art of War August 19, 2021
- Some thoughts on combat July 31, 2021
- The Brotherhood of Warriors January 20, 2021
- My special love – The F-4 Phantom II October 7, 2020
- Homestead or Don’t Drown August 23, 2020
Subjects
Copyright notice- An American Family, 2013- 2021
© John Norvell
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Author Archives: jenorv
Bridge and the Art of War
June 1973 turned to July. Most days, everything went as planned: TO-Take Off, rendezvous with the tank, take on gas—we loved the big gas station in the sky—get the target information. Contact the FAC; drop some surprises on the commies, … Continue reading
Posted in 13 TFS, American History, Combat, F-4 Phantom II, Thailand, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB, Veterans
Tagged agent orange exposure, Vietnam War
2 Comments
Some thoughts on combat
From the end of May to 15 August 1973, I flew combat missions over Cambodia. That was the focus of every day – combat: brief, refuel, bomb, and RTB. Now it was over. The air war had ended by direction … Continue reading
The Brotherhood of Warriors
For the past months, I have been going through all the letters I wrote to my wife from SEA. 16 June 1973: just when I was getting somewhat settled into my combat routine – we lost one. An F-4 took … Continue reading
Posted in 13 TFS, Air Force, American History, Mather AFB, Military history, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB, Vietnam War
Tagged 8th Air Force, B-17, Bombadier, WWII POW
5 Comments
My special love – The F-4 Phantom II
By 2016 I had not thought about flying fighters for a long time. My good friend from Alaska, the former Capt Jim (now Lt Col retired) suggested we meet in Dayton and go through the Air Force Museum. Jim was … Continue reading
Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Air Force, Alaska, Alaskan Air Command, American History, Arizona, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Fighter Aircraft, Navigator, Vietnam War
Tagged Air Force Museum, Combat, Udorn
5 Comments
Homestead or Don’t Drown
In August 1972, immediately after basic survival my wife Bonnie and I were married. We then went on our honeymoon. She went to Arizona – my assignment and been changed to Luke AFB, outside Phoenix, and I… Well I … Continue reading
Rabies Shots
Today Dear Reader I have one word for you: Bats. I sense your confusion. Is this another political commentary, an observation on 2020, or am I giving an insight into my general mental health? Well, no, it’s about the mammal: … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Norvell Family History, NY, NY History, Ontario Co
Tagged Bats, Rabies Shots
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At Fairchild 1972
After my graduation from navigator training in July 1972, I went almost immediately to basic survival training. When I got the F-4 aircraft assignment, I knew that this virtually ensured that I would find myself in combat soon. To … Continue reading
Posted in Air Force, American History, Combat, F-4 Phantom II, F4 emergency, F4 PhantomII, Family History, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot lingo, Fighter pilot slang, Luke AFB, Mather AFB, Navigator, Navigator Training, POW training, SEA, Vietnam War
Tagged Fairchild AFB, Pow camp exoeriences, Survival training, Trek
9 Comments
Silver Wings at Last
UNT Graduation 3538th NTS Mather Air Force Base – July 25, 1972 That long ago afternoon at Mather, the Officers Club ballroom filled with family and friends gathered to celebrate the occasion. The wives waited in their finest, ready to … Continue reading
Posted in Air Force, American History, Mather AFB, Navigator, Navigator Training
Tagged Graduaton, High Flight, Undergraduate Navigator Training, UNT
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Thoughts from the Pit
As I completed my time at Luke upgrading into the backseat some thoughts crossed my mind: 1. The Ejection seat was my friend and I took great care to make sure that everything was right. When I stepped in the … Continue reading
In the Land of the Brown Bars
In early November 1971 I, an older captain who had been non rated for nearly four years, arrived at Mather Air Force Base, outside Sacramento, California, for undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT). I settled in the BOQ (bachelor officer quarters) … Continue reading
Posted in American History, Mather AFB, Navigator, Navigator Training
Tagged 1970s, Mather AFB, Sacramento, Undergraduate Navigator Training, UNT, Vietnam
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