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1. 04:39 PM - Jack's Final Flight (Tom Gummo)
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| Subject: | Jack's Final Flight |
My friend Jack Starn, many of you knew him as KABONG, has passed away.
He has been sick for a long time and his heart just gave up. He hasn't
added his witty comments to the lists for the last several years but the
old timers will remember his emails.
For the new guys/gals on the list, Jack moved next door to me right
after I got the tail kit for the RV-4. It quickly turned into a Harmon
Rocket II, and Jack held the bucking bar for all 16,000 rivets (plus or
minus a few). During the five years of building Jack got cancer and had
to have his vocal cords removed and talked with a buzzer held against
his neck.
We had a few good years but he got sick again. They couldn't find out
why he lost 85 pounds and just got weaker and weaker.
Anyway, the email I sent to my EAA chapter is below.
For you all who might remember Jack-KABONG, please sent a short note,
you know just a line or two with a personal comment, and I will copy
them to a letter I will give the family.
The memorial sevice will be May 30th at 10:00 AM. Some RV guys/gals are
attempting to set up a missing man fly-by to start the service. After
the service, we will take him for his last plane ride.
Tom "GummiBear" Gummo
Harmon Rocket II N-561FS 350 hours
Major USAF Retired, F-4G Instuctor Pilot
http://mysite.verizon.net/t.gummo/index.html
*************************************************************************
*****
Everybody,
Jack took his final flight this morning, May 19, 2009
Last night, my wife cooked and we took the food up to the Starn's and
had a nice evening with them. Jack was up walking around and we had a
long talk about the Chino Air Show. He looked a lot better than his
current normal.
This morning I got a call and was told I had to come right away. When I
arrived, he was with three football coaches from the school where he was
"The Voice of the Ravens." He was unable to talk or raise his head and
his breathing was labored. The hospice nurse said that he could hear
us. The coaches prayed with him, sang a couple of songs and ended with
a Raven cheer.
I walked outside to call my folks who knew Jack and to cancel my trip to
visit them this weekend. When his nephew came out and said it was all
over. He was surround by family and friends.
A couple hours later, the folks came to pick him up and we gathered on
the front lawn to say Good-bye as they loaded him into the truck.
The Air Force decided to say "Thank you for your service" and a plane
from Edwards AFB broke the sound barrier overhead. So Jack was loaded
with a sonic boom.
As I get the details for his memorial service, I will send them to you.
Please keep your thoughts and prayers for his family,
Tom,
Proud to say he was my friend.
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