“My son Travis brought out the numerous gifts after dinner last weekend and I was stunned to silence as the club items were sequenced before me.  I have not often pondered all your seat allowed in my life.  At that moment, with family and grandkids around me, the seconds long ‘ride’ provided me a chance to produce this gathering and most all of the DNA at the table.  I was dazzled by the club documentation, tie, patch and tack.  I was floored when he rolled out the watch and other items.  I usually do not like such honorarium. I even hated getting medals for doing my job and there were about four dozen of them.  This night’s very personal treatment finally got me to tears.

Your company’s job of producing an item that seldom gets used, but has to be perfect for only about a second, means most of the time you don’t get feedback. Here is my feedback; I sat in your seat for 12 years, or 2900 hours over 12 years.  I had about 450 of those hours prior to needing a ‘lift.’  The remaining 2450 hours were a bit more comfortable as I had a bunch more trust in your chair.  I almost took another rides several times as battle damage was an event, often, in my particular job back then.  I flew the Phantom both tours out of Thailand for 1200 hours during 420 missions.   Most missions were as a Forward Air Controller, ‘fast FAC.’  These missions had the most chances of attaining status as a Tie Club member.  I did get a tie from the MB rep, I think, but since I just kept on flying, I never wore it.”

A full account of Scud’s ejection can be viewed by clicking here.