The Hanoi Hilton: All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Yes, I know that it became the U.S. Air Force under President Truman after World War II. If you...

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Yes, I know that it became the U.S. Air Force under President Truman after World War II.

If you don’t believe God is in control, consider this, in 1941, I was in the first grade and Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in that year, I was already wearing a World War I leather aviator’s cap with goggles. I wore that cap until I wore it completely out.

Sometime in the fall of 1941, the boys were playing war in a pasture just outside the school yard. We were throwing small yellow balls that grew on weeds in this pasture. One morning, when I had just got to school, I dropped my book satchel down and ran to enter the play war that was going on. I stepped up behind another boy and a third boy threw one of these hard yellow balls at him. He ducked and I was in directly in my left eye. The Ophtomologist said he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to save my eye. I did wear glasses for about six months and then was apparently o.k. after that. But there was a scar on the lens of my left eye that would haunt me later.

During my junior year in college, this scar on my left eye’s lens became the reason the USAir Force would not offer me a flight training contract! I was allowed to be commissioned and become a second lieutenant but could not fly! Only later when I was on active duty, a flight surgeon told me after a lot of tests that on average, I had 20/20 vision, but the Air Force did not need pilots, they did not even need officers. That was all before Viet Nam captured our attention. I seriously doubt that anyone, in the Air Force, or otherwise even knew where Viet Nam was located.
While it was a bitter pill, I had to come to terms that I was never going to fly for the Air Force, nor have a chance to take up residence at the Hanoi Hilton. This is where U. S. Air Force pilots spent time in prison if they were shot down and survived in sorties over North Viet Nam!

Well, to sum up, God did not want me flying and attacking small Asian countries. To face reality, it took me years to re-direct my life and plans to match my situation. A few years later, I received a letter asking me to consider coming back for one year’s duty. I do not know if flight training would have been on the table, but by then I had two small children and did not think this was the life that would be the best for them.

When I was in my 60s and having an eye exam, the ophthalmologist asked me to lie as flat as I could in the chair and look just over my left eyelid and see if I could read his chart. It was amazing, but I could read a perfect 20/20 from that position! He told me when I got older and had cataract surgery, the scar would be removed!
So, don’t ask me why, I don’t know, but it was enough to keep me from flying. Over my lifetime, I have had more than 20 different jobs, not counting promotions! Some I did not like, or felt they weren’t offering any reasonable opportunity for promotions.

Actually, I had rather take a chance in getting killed in combat, than being prevented from achieving my lifetime’s goal. I know many of you are tired of my whining about not getting a flying contract, but with this final harangue, I will try to avoid any future tantrums. Just Sayin…RJS

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

You go right ahead and rant Robert, you earned that privilege.

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

All of your stories and experiences depicted in your words are just fine with me RJS. Keep them coming!

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Robert J Samples wrote:

All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Yes, I know that it became the U.S. Air Force under President Truman after World War II.

If you don’t believe God is in control, consider this, in 1941, I was in the first grade and Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in that year, I was already wearing a World War I leather aviator’s cap with goggles. I wore that cap until I wore it completely out.

Sometime in the fall of 1941, the boys were playing war in a pasture just outside the school yard. We were throwing small yellow balls that grew on weeds in this pasture. One morning, when I had just got to school, I dropped my book satchel down and ran to enter the play war that was going on. I stepped up behind another boy and a third boy threw one of these hard yellow balls at him. He ducked and I was in directly in my left eye. The Ophtomologist said he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to save my eye. I did wear glasses for about six months and then was apparently o.k. after that. But there was a scar on the lens of my left eye that would haunt me later.

During my junior year in college, this scar on my left eye’s lens became the reason the USAir Force would not offer me a flight training contract! I was allowed to be commissioned and become a second lieutenant but could not fly! Only later when I was on active duty, a flight surgeon told me after a lot of tests that on average, I had 20/20 vision, but the Air Force did not need pilots, they did not even need officers. That was all before Viet Nam captured our attention. I seriously doubt that anyone, in the Air Force, or otherwise even knew where Viet Nam was located.
While it was a bitter pill, I had to come to terms that I was never going to fly for the Air Force, nor have a chance to take up residence at the Hanoi Hilton. This is where U. S. Air Force pilots spent time in prison if they were shot down and survived in sorties over North Viet Nam!

Well, to sum up, God did not want me flying and attacking small Asian countries. To face reality, it took me years to re-direct my life and plans to match my situation. A few years later, I received a letter asking me to consider coming back for one year’s duty. I do not know if flight training would have been on the table, but by then I had two small children and did not think this was the life that would be the best for them.

When I was in my 60s and having an eye exam, the ophthalmologist asked me to lie as flat as I could in the chair and look just over my left eyelid and see if I could read his chart. It was amazing, but I could read a perfect 20/20 from that position! He told me when I got older and had cataract surgery, the scar would be removed!
So, don’t ask me why, I don’t know, but it was enough to keep me from flying. Over my lifetime, I have had more than 20 different jobs, not counting promotions! Some I did not like, or felt they weren’t offering any reasonable opportunity for promotions.

Actually, I had rather take a chance in getting killed in combat, than being prevented from achieving my lifetime’s goal. I know many of you are tired of my whining about not getting a flying contract, but with this final harangue, I will try to avoid any future tantrums. Just Sayin…RJS

All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S... (show quote)

Found your story fascinating and so sorry you were never able to fly! Might have had a different outcome with the technology today but, as you said, it wasn't meant to be. And maybe saved your life for us!!!

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

Robert J Samples wrote:

All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Yes, I know that it became the U.S. Air Force under President Truman after World War II.

If you don’t believe God is in control, consider this, in 1941, I was in the first grade and Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in that year, I was already wearing a World War I leather aviator’s cap with goggles. I wore that cap until I wore it completely out.

Sometime in the fall of 1941, the boys were playing war in a pasture just outside the school yard. We were throwing small yellow balls that grew on weeds in this pasture. One morning, when I had just got to school, I dropped my book satchel down and ran to enter the play war that was going on. I stepped up behind another boy and a third boy threw one of these hard yellow balls at him. He ducked and I was in directly in my left eye. The Ophtomologist said he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to save my eye. I did wear glasses for about six months and then was apparently o.k. after that. But there was a scar on the lens of my left eye that would haunt me later.

During my junior year in college, this scar on my left eye’s lens became the reason the USAir Force would not offer me a flight training contract! I was allowed to be commissioned and become a second lieutenant but could not fly! Only later when I was on active duty, a flight surgeon told me after a lot of tests that on average, I had 20/20 vision, but the Air Force did not need pilots, they did not even need officers. That was all before Viet Nam captured our attention. I seriously doubt that anyone, in the Air Force, or otherwise even knew where Viet Nam was located.
While it was a bitter pill, I had to come to terms that I was never going to fly for the Air Force, nor have a chance to take up residence at the Hanoi Hilton. This is where U. S. Air Force pilots spent time in prison if they were shot down and survived in sorties over North Viet Nam!

Well, to sum up, God did not want me flying and attacking small Asian countries. To face reality, it took me years to re-direct my life and plans to match my situation. A few years later, I received a letter asking me to consider coming back for one year’s duty. I do not know if flight training would have been on the table, but by then I had two small children and did not think this was the life that would be the best for them.

When I was in my 60s and having an eye exam, the ophthalmologist asked me to lie as flat as I could in the chair and look just over my left eyelid and see if I could read his chart. It was amazing, but I could read a perfect 20/20 from that position! He told me when I got older and had cataract surgery, the scar would be removed!
So, don’t ask me why, I don’t know, but it was enough to keep me from flying. Over my lifetime, I have had more than 20 different jobs, not counting promotions! Some I did not like, or felt they weren’t offering any reasonable opportunity for promotions.

Actually, I had rather take a chance in getting killed in combat, than being prevented from achieving my lifetime’s goal. I know many of you are tired of my whining about not getting a flying contract, but with this final harangue, I will try to avoid any future tantrums. Just Sayin…RJS

All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S... (show quote)

RJ, I agree with the responses so far. I don't believe anyone's gonna be complaining about it if you expand on any of your prior posts. Just thinkin'. 🥜.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

Robert J Samples wrote:

All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Yes, I know that it became the U.S. Air Force under President Truman after World War II.

If you don’t believe God is in control, consider this, in 1941, I was in the first grade and Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in that year, I was already wearing a World War I leather aviator’s cap with goggles. I wore that cap until I wore it completely out.

Sometime in the fall of 1941, the boys were playing war in a pasture just outside the school yard. We were throwing small yellow balls that grew on weeds in this pasture. One morning, when I had just got to school, I dropped my book satchel down and ran to enter the play war that was going on. I stepped up behind another boy and a third boy threw one of these hard yellow balls at him. He ducked and I was in directly in my left eye. The Ophtomologist said he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to save my eye. I did wear glasses for about six months and then was apparently o.k. after that. But there was a scar on the lens of my left eye that would haunt me later.

During my junior year in college, this scar on my left eye’s lens became the reason the USAir Force would not offer me a flight training contract! I was allowed to be commissioned and become a second lieutenant but could not fly! Only later when I was on active duty, a flight surgeon told me after a lot of tests that on average, I had 20/20 vision, but the Air Force did not need pilots, they did not even need officers. That was all before Viet Nam captured our attention. I seriously doubt that anyone, in the Air Force, or otherwise even knew where Viet Nam was located.
While it was a bitter pill, I had to come to terms that I was never going to fly for the Air Force, nor have a chance to take up residence at the Hanoi Hilton. This is where U. S. Air Force pilots spent time in prison if they were shot down and survived in sorties over North Viet Nam!

Well, to sum up, God did not want me flying and attacking small Asian countries. To face reality, it took me years to re-direct my life and plans to match my situation. A few years later, I received a letter asking me to consider coming back for one year’s duty. I do not know if flight training would have been on the table, but by then I had two small children and did not think this was the life that would be the best for them.

When I was in my 60s and having an eye exam, the ophthalmologist asked me to lie as flat as I could in the chair and look just over my left eyelid and see if I could read his chart. It was amazing, but I could read a perfect 20/20 from that position! He told me when I got older and had cataract surgery, the scar would be removed!
So, don’t ask me why, I don’t know, but it was enough to keep me from flying. Over my lifetime, I have had more than 20 different jobs, not counting promotions! Some I did not like, or felt they weren’t offering any reasonable opportunity for promotions.

Actually, I had rather take a chance in getting killed in combat, than being prevented from achieving my lifetime’s goal. I know many of you are tired of my whining about not getting a flying contract, but with this final harangue, I will try to avoid any future tantrums. Just Sayin…RJS

All I ever wanted to be a fighter pilot in the U.S... (show quote)

Just keep writing my friend. I have one of your books and love reading about your family history and life tales! I’ve learned so much about the early days of life in Texas!

Barnacles Loc: Northern California

As you mentioned, none of us had ever heard of a country called Vietnam. In that timeframe, wasn't the world calling it "French IndoChina"?

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, I believe you are correct, it was known as French Indo China. We were dragged into this conflict when the ruling group, the Diem brothers were assassinated. Actually, we had no dog in that fight, but because we were afraid of the communists taking over that we entered the conflict. We should have taken notice what had happened to the French military. Just Sayin...RJS

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

I was acquainted with a number of pilots who spent time in the Hanoi Hilton. Few of them came home the same. Marriages ruptured, excessive drinking, mood swings, suicides and not a lot of people who could or tried to understand what they had endured.
Count yourself as fortunate, you didn't miss a damn thing!

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Hello Major! Yes, you are absolutely right, I did not miss a thing.

I don't know if you saw the movie Catch 22? (think that was the title.)
When I saw it the first time, I laughed myself silly. But when I saw it the second time, I was older and had a son that could have participated in another war, and it made me ill! Just Sayin...RJS