The Paper • Page 5 • June 18, 2020
Father’s Day Celebration Cont. from Page 3 the point, but was void of any emotion. Here’s the way I look at our situation; I don’t know what the future holds in store for us, but I do know that I care about you. I know what’s it’s like to work for things that I value and that good things don’t always come easy. You are both of those things to me, well I guess that’s all I have to say.” Teresa pulled over to the curb in front of Terminal 2 and Steve got out of the car, removed his suitcase from the backseat and set it down. He walked around to the driver’s side window and kissed Teresa passionately on the lips, “I’ll be in touch,” and disappeared into the crowd.
Over the next six months, Steve and Teresa kept in touch by phone and email. Maybe fate was smiling on them because Steve received orders for the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base which was located 165 miles from Oceanside. In partnership with several other pilots, Steve purchased a two engine Cessna and began flying to visit Teresa when their schedules permitted. Three years into their dating, Teresa finished her residency and was now in private practice with several other surgeons. “Would you ever consider marrying me if I asked you?” Steve playfully inquired as they sat on the bench at the dog park. “I probably would,” Teresa coyly answered.
Man About Town Cont. from Page 4
https://youtu.be/yP8nSEum4-k
The problem is, you have an overwhelming desire to shoot these lousy bastards. They are not protesters exercising their right of free speech. They are looters, vandals, and deserve to be shot. The greater problem is, if you shoot them then YOU are in trouble with the law. You are allowed shoot one of these SOB's if they are attacking you with a knife, gun, brick, any implement that causes you to fear for your life, or that of your family. In that event you can shoot the idiot right square in the chest and you are probably not going to be arrested and/or prosecuted.
This information confirmed by Escondido Police Chief Ed Varso. ••••• On a happier note we are pleased to tell you about friends of ours who have reopened their businesses and are good friends of The Paper.
We will be listing a great many of them in next week’s issue. Scrape the cobwebs off your wallet and get out and support these folks!
Steve pulled out a ring from his pocket and before he could speak, Teresa said, “Consider it considered..yes.” Seven years after their wedding, Johnny graduated from El Camino High School and began attending Mira Costa Junior College, but instead of transferring to a four year university after getting his Associates Degree, he joined the Air Force and applied for parasrescue training. During this same time frame Steve’s career took him to Aviano Air Base in Italy for three years. Steve and Teresa worked out a travel plan where they alternated visiting each other every three months.
Steve applied to fly the SR-71 a long range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft attached to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, located 8 miles east of Marysville, California. When he was accepted for the 18 months assignment, Steve contacted Teresa with the news, “This will be my last duty station. I’ve got enough time in to retire and one of my buddies is currently flying a corporate jet for a software company in Carlsbad. He wants to be near his daughter who lives in Florida and is moving there the end of next year. I’ve talked to the company and sent them my resume, and they’re going to let me take his place. Their jet is based at the Carlsbad Airport and the executives only fly several times a months.” “Is this what you want?” Teresa asked.
“My time has come; do you think that you can get used to me being around more often?” Steve added, “I don’t want to cramp your freewheeling lifestyle.” “If you’re going to be around more, then I think it’s time for me to cut back on my schedule too.”
Three months later, one of his fellow SR-71 pilots, Lt. Colonel Rick Jason was flying a routine mission in the Middle East and became ill when an oxygen tank malfunctioned. He was forced to make an emergency landing in Iraq and was immediately hospitalized. Spy planes were highly secretive and it was imperative that it be returned to its home base as quickly as possible. A team of technicians had already been dispatched to Al Asad Airbase to make the necessary repairs and it was placed under 24 hour guard in a secluded hangar. General Stewart called Lt. Colonel Steve Whitman into his office, “I know you were planning on going home this weekend, but we have a problem and I need you.”
“My wife is a surgeon so she knows that plans are always subject to change when emergencies arise,” Steve replied, “What is the mission, sir?
“I need you over in Iraq fast. You’ll be flying an F-16 Falcon over and then bringing our blackbird back. Flight operations are waiting for you. I’ve also got your retirement paperwork in my desk drawer. If you are having any second thoughts,I can still give it back, otherwise I’ll send it in.”
“No second or third thoughts, I’ve been away from home much too long,” Steve answered, “Teresa is the ultimate military wife, always putting her needs behind those of the country and the Air Force. It is my time to put
her first for a change.”
“Actually there is another thing, “Your son is building quite a reputation in Pararescue. You should be proud,” General Stewart said. “He’s like his mother, always rises to the occasion,” Steve said.
“You might have had a little to do with how he turned out.”
Despite cruising at Mach 2, Steve found himself searching for more power after being accustomed to the SR-71,and its speed of Mach 3 plus. He was descending from 30,000 feet as he entered Iraqi airspace when his plane was struck by a surface to air missile. ISIS fighters had just received a shipment of portable missile launchers from the North Koreans and Steve was unlucky enough to be the first one targeted. The F-16 immediately went into catastrophic failure and Steve barely had enough time to radio a Mayday before ejecting. A Seal Team on a reconnaissance patrol was immediately diverted to the crash site when they came across a group of enemy fighters heading to the same destination. After a brief and fierce firefight they reached the downed aircraft. Master Chief Naeler radioed in with a status report, “Pilot is not in the aircraft, we will immediately start a grid search.”
American units conducted an extensive search for the Air Force pilot for an entire week before calling it off. Two years passed and the official term for Lt. Colonel Steven Whitman was missing in action. Teresa was devastated and struggled to make it through each day at her medical office. Johnny Mendoza was also heartbroken and found that the best way to deal with his grief was to focus on his career. When Delta Force operatives raided an ISIS stronghold, they found some valuable Intel. When General Stewart was notified, he went to the Whitman home in Oceanside. When Teresa opened the front door, she was startled and apprehensive to see her husband’s former commanding officer, not knowing whether he had good or bad news, “Good evening General.” “I have some information about Steve, we think we might know where he is.” General Stewart then proceeded to explain how Delta Force found information on a laptop about an American pilot being held in a prison in Iran. “You think it’s Steve?” Teresa asked nervously.
“He’s the only pilot that we have missing at this time. It’s the best lead we’ve had so far.” “You’re going after him, aren’t you? Teresa inquired. “Absolutely, a rescue mission is being planned right now,” General Stewart promised.
“Keep me posted,” Teresa could tell that General Stewart had something else on his mind, “I’m appreciative that you came here to tell me in person, but there is something else, isn’t there?” “ This is a strongly defended installation and the men that are going after Steve are elite top tier operatives. There are risks involved, just like any
other mission behind enemy lines,” General Stewart continued, “I could assign Johnny be part of the rescue team, but then you would have two in harm’s way instead of just one. I won’t do that without your consent.”
Teresa held her emotions in check, then responded from her heart, “There’s a special bond between Steve and Johnny and one of the things that both my men have in common is doing their patriotic duty. Not a day goes by that I’m not aware of risks and loss. My husband has been gone for almost two years and this is the first news that I’ve gotten that he still might be alive. On the other hand Johnny puts his life on the line to bring downed pilots home to their families so they don’t have to endure what I’m going through. So if you’re asking me about assigning Johnny to this mission; my answer is this; if he’s the best man for the job then use him, if he’s not, then find someone better.”
General Stewart looked at Teresa with admiration and respect, “Steve always told me you were the ultimate military wife, he neglected to say that you were also the ultimate military mother. You have my word that I’ll do my best to bring our boy home safely.” Teresa embraced the Air Force officer, “I have no doubt about that.”
The C-17 Globemaster held ninety highly trained top tier operatives from Seal Team Five, Delta Force and Air Force Pararescue and their equipment. The plane was cruising at 30,000 feet when the green light came on and the men jumped out in the dark skies in rapid succession. All ninety were gone in less than two minutes and maintained their freefall until they reached 2,000 feet, at which time they deployed their chutes. Their drop zone was laser marked by a satellite circling a hundred miles above them. Each one of these parachutists had made hundreds of jumps, so landing accurately in pitch blackness was not only required, but second nature to these warriors. Once they touched down, the men slipped on their night vision goggles and moved out in single file. They reached the outskirts of Evin Prison, notable as the primary site for the housing of Iran’s political prisoners since 1972. It was 0400 hours and the Navy Seals took the north and west sides while Delta Force took south and east. Air Force personnel would do the insertion since it was their man inside the walls.
When everyone was in position, the pararescue personnel approached the front gate and eliminated the two guards with accurate headshots. They moved across the courtyard and breeched the metal door with an explosive charge. Once inside the stone structure they methodically moved down the long halls, releasing prisoners as they went and killing the Iranian soldiers. A guard was taunting Steve in his cell when all of sudden his face went blank and he fell over dead when a bullet went through his temple. Johnny walked over and looked through the metal bars at his stepfather, “I hope that you don’t mind that I came without calling first,but I was in the neighborhood.” “If I’d known you were coming, I
Father’s Day Celebration Cont. on Page 6