Col. Webb hangs out at the airport almost every day. He comes out, drinks a cup of coffee, gives his opinion on what is right and wrong with the world, and then heads back home.
Loren Webb was an Army aviator. He flew in Korea, Germany, Vietnam and Iran. With all that experience he doesn’t tell many tales about his flying career. He even won an Air Medal but doesn’t say much.
Just the other day we finally got him talking about learning to fly. He was a high school student back in 1947. After school, he would be plowing in the field and would see P-51 Mustangs flying overhead. The planes came from Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Georgia. He kept thinking that if he wanted to get out of Ridgeland, South Carolina he would have to do something differently.
One day, he walked two miles out to the Ridgeland airport to look at the airplanes. Mr. Herbert Miller ran the airport and, after a few visits, Mr. Miller started giving young Loren Webb chores to do. Mostly the chores involved washing and cleaning. Any dirty work was handed over to Loren. It wasn’t long before flying lessons started.
Loren continued to work at the airport and would also get to ride with Mr. Miller on a trip he would take some afternoons. Mr. Miller had a friend on Hilton Head Island. The only way to get on the island was by boat or airplane. Mr. Miller would fly his Piper J-3 Cub over and land at the airport.
The airport was really a cow pasture. That trip was the greatest of all treats. They would fly the 22 miles and cross marshes and rivers. It was more exciting than Lindbergh going to Paris.
The most important thing he learned at the airport was the value of work and being responsible. As he learned more responsibility was placed on him. He learned to do simple tasks repairing airplanes.
He changed oil and did other tasks helping Mr. Miller repair planes and pumping gasoline. One day the Millers left to go on a trip and left him in charge of the entire airport.
He would have to do everything and watch about for the entire business. It was the greatest day of his life.
Finally, he got to solo and a whole new world seemed to be at his fingertips. A 17-year-old boy flying an airplane by himself is just the greatest of thrills. Loren recalled that his best flight was his long cross-country flight. He flew from Ridgeland to Hampton, South Carolina. Imagine navigating the 30 miles with just a chart and a compass. He even climbed the airplane up to 2,000 feet. He told his mother that he could even see the curvature of the earth. What a heady time that was.
High school ended and his friends were leaving for college or some job. He knew that once again something was going to change in his life. Soon he was headed to Clemson College to study for vet school or be a military man.
The most amazing part of this entire tale is the clarity he recalls his flights to Hilton Head and his trip to Hampton. Seventy years is a long time to remember this tiny part of his life. Flying combat in Vietnam or some of his long trips throughout Europe would be more memorable.
That just proves that the magic of seemingly simple things is our greatest memories. Simple things, simple tasks, and great memories are the things that make our lives worthwhile.
Go out and make a memory.
