Against the Odds—: A Wonderful Life

By George I Felt Jr.

The chronicle of one man’s journey from a small town in Pennsylvania’s Appalachia through the US Marine Corps to flight school. He flew jets to naval aircraft carriers for landings and catapults, flew one hundred missions in Vietnam, and spent seven months in the jungle with the ground warriors. Upon retirement as a lieutenant colonel, he spent twenty years dividing his time between the life of a financial consultant and the teaching, handling, and participating in K-9 Search and Rescue. Now retired in West Florida, continuing his lifetime hobby of weightlifting, he recently set a world record. He shared this life with the love of his life, whom he met in fifth grade, and their love continues today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728306445

George I Felt Jr.

George Felt Jr. is the oldest of 4 children of a family in Western Pennsylvania. His father was a policeman and a minister. His mom was the neighborhood’s honorary Mom. He worked while in High School and ultimately joined the Marine Corps. After 3 years, he applied for and was sent to Flight School where he ended up flying jets. When he finished Flight School, in the Fleet, he flew the A-4 Skyhawk. There were 100 missions in Viet Nam and 7 months in the jungle as a Forward Air Controller. After Viet Nam, the Marine Corps sent him to Auburn for an engineering degree. When he retired, he became a Financial Consultant. Through interesting circumstances, he developed an interest in K-9 Search and Rescue. Eventually, he formed a 501.c.3 organization, teaching, handling dogs, and participating in true searches. They recovered several bodies, each a story in itself. With the recent passing of his oldest dog, he retired from SAR and started emphasizing his “hobby” of weightlifting. At 75, he have recently set three World Records.

Book preview

Against

the Odds-

A WONDERFUL LIFE

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GEORGE I. FELT, JR.

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2019 George I. Felt, Jr. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  03/30/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-0645-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-0644-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1     My Hometown Years

The Family

The town

Early Jobs

Girlfriends

Vehicles

Chapter 2     Why The Marine Corps?

Bill Westoven

Mr. Pinge

The Good Recruiter

Chapter 3     My Enlisted Times

Jim and Lance

Boot Camp

Infantry Training

Electronics School

MCAS El toro

The Big Choice

Chapter 4     Flight School

Preflight

Primary Flight Training

The Carrier

Advanced Flight Training

The Second Carrier

Wings! (and RANK!)

Chapter 5     First Operational Squadron

The A-4 Skyhawk

First Squadron, Family Stuff

Last Flight Before Vietnam (Almost!) (I Broke One!)

Chapter 6     Vietnam

Flight Missions

The Grunts

The Pistol

Sparrow/Hawk Missions

Going Home

The War Summary

Chapter 7     Flight Instructor

VT-7 Meridian

MCAS Yuma

Chapter 8     Iwakuni, Japan

Darla’s Visit

A New Friend

Chapter 9     Yuma Again

Instructor Again

Time for a Change

Chapter 10   Auburn

Chapter 11   Philadelphia

Chapter 12   Iwakuni, Again

Vietnam, Again?

Best Job Ever!

My Physical Year

Chapter 13   Cherry Point (Again)

AV-8’s

Executive Officer VMA – 223

Squadron to Group

The BIG Decision

Chapter 14   NARF

Check flight Pilot

ARBS

Chapter 15   My Second Career

Second Career, A Big Change

Chapter 16   Pets Leading to Search and Rescue

Chapter 17   Bullies

Chapter 18   A World Record?

Appendix 1   My Search and Rescue Dogs

Appendix 2   My Marine Corps Life   1961-1983

Appendix 3   1961-1983

Notes on Real Retirement

Acknowledgements

Darla J. Felt: my wife

I have acknowledged many times that Darla’s hard work and sacrifices have allowed me to be what I have become. Three years of separation, once when I went to war, and the accepting of all of the responsibilities of continuing to raise our family, is more than many wives could have endured. I have loved you for a very long time, and will continue to love you till my last breath – and beyond.

Mom and Dad Felt: my parents

Without the moral guidance and the wonderful example of a strong work ethic, I might have still been in Brockway, trying to make a living.

Brockway, PA: my hometown

To my wonderful early bosses who tolerated and guided a headstrong youth, and the loving, caring folks of the town. Most are all gone now, but I saluted you once, years ago.

Brad Dennis: my friend

Brad took an amateur dog trainer under his wing and introduced me to the incredible world of K-9 Search and Rescue. He and our searches added value to my life when I needed a new direction. I will be forever grateful.

Joanne Permowicz and Greg Feathers: my friends in dog training

These two put up with my learning curve in dog training and eventually taught me to speak dog. You two changed my life by adding a facet that I could never have done alone. My dogs and I send thanks and love.

Esther Felt: my beloved daughter-in-law

Esther has been my typist, proofreader and assistant through this writing process. I am sure that I could not have done it without her. So much typing, including corrections and rewrites and additions, that I could have never done alone. You have Blessed me!

Preface

F or years, some of the people who have gotten to know me deeper than superficially have said, George, you ought to write a book. I have been incredibly blessed to go places, do things, and survive situations that few people get to experience. (Most wouldn’t want all of them.) I have said that I am a Believer and have had a true Guardian Angel all of my life. I have made some good decisions and some not so good decisions, but most have worked out okay.

Last week a specific event prompted the start of the book. Last week we met with my son Greg, his wife Jane, two grandsons, Christian and Bobby, and Bobby’s girlfriend Devin, and of course Darla and me for lunch in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. At the restaurant table, I sat across from the boys and Devin. For about an hour I listened to them reminisce about yesteryears. They were goofy little stories of hiding from Jane, climbing into areas where they weren’t allowed – and on and on.

I looked for an opening to get into the conversation politely. Finally, mention was made of schools their friends were applying to. I said, Are any of your friends looking at Auburn? The conversation stopped. Christian turned my direction, looked at me as though I had two heads and said, No. Before they could re-engage in the conversation I said, Do you know that I graduated from Auburn? Again, as though I had two heads they turned unenthusiastically and said, No. Then back they went to their private conversation.

The situation amused me, but more, demonstrated to me that not only do they not know me, They don’t care! I thought, what if I had said, Can you imagine flying a single seat jet airplane faster than the speed of sound? Or, Can you imagine landing a jet on an aircraft carrier in the ocean and getting catapulted off of it?

I wonder if they’ll ever know of my blessings. Maybe someday they will read this.

Weeks after I wrote the above, I saw a commercial on TV that touched me. An elderly grandmother looks lovingly into the crib of her grandchild and tells of working so hard all of her life. It ends with, For all that I went through, if it gives you the opportunity to be anything you want to be, it was worth it.

When you read about where I came from, IT WAS WORTH IT!

I have had a wonderful life! That statement is the foundation for this book. I grew up in a wonderful and loving family, in a very special little town. I made the right choice going into the Marine Corps. I have been married to my wonderful Darla for 53 years. I have survived a war, both in the air and in the jungle. There were countless special moments in all of that living. All of it made me what I am today, and made me consider writing this.

However, since I have been writing I am troubled at times by a dichotomy. Is this a History for my following heirs, or is it an ego trip that I shouldn’t be on? In talking with a couple trusted friends and a couple relatives, their answer was, ‘Don’t worry about it. Just write. Some may take it as ego. They shouldn’t matter. Your Grandchildren deserve to know." Okay, on we go.

I often tell people that I am probably one of the happiest people they will ever know. Many have replied that it shows. It is not B.S., as I truly am that happy. Life has been an incredible journey!

An autobiography is difficult. For instance, all of my stories about encounters with bullies are of me winning. I swear they are the truth. I think it is important to know that that is who I was, and who I am at this writing. To me it is not ego; it is just part of my life. Recently in a couple conversations I said that I believe that a large part of the bullying in schools is that there aren’t enough heroes anymore. Too few people are willing to step in when they see it. This may be a little strange, but I think of it often, my hero as a kid was Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys. He was always the good guy, and he always protected the weak. Who could we name to take his place? Where have our heroes gone?

George Felt

July 2018

Introduction

L ately, thinking about my book, I thought it is appropriate to list rather momentous events in my life. In chronological sequence they might look something like this:

- In 5th grade Darla moved to Brockway and joined my school. Next year was our first date, our 6th grade prom. In our teen years her best friend at the time claims to remember me leaning in a car window and announcing that I was going to marry Darla someday. They laughed!

- At 16 or 17 years old I bought my first Harley, a 1948 Springer knucklehead. I have said that when I see Dad in Heaven my first question will be, Why in the world did you let me buy that Harley?

- At about 16 Mr. Joe Foster took me on as a training partner. He taught me much that I still use today at 74. I was blessed to have the opportunity to thank him before he passed.

- In high school I was inspired by Harry Pinge who taught Health, PE and gym. He was a former Marine and although small in stature, he commanded respect. He was tough as nails and everyone knew it. He became my good friend after I was a Marine and I cried when he died.

- I qualified for electronics school going into the Marine Corps and as a young enlisted man, incredibly ended up in Training Devices School and ended up working on the old 2f23 jet simulator. Perhaps some ego crept in, but after flying it for a while and feeling good about it, I thought, Why not try to fly the real jets? About two months after making the decision and applying for Flight School, I was standing in the Pensacola airport wondering what I had done.

- Darla and I professed to be just friends, but Christmas of 1963 I took a trip to Jacksonville, FL to see her again. Six months later we were married.

- November of 1964 I received my USMC aviator wings. Darla was there to see it!

- Greg was born in 1965.

- Shawn was born in 1967.

- March of 1966 I went to war.

- August of 1966 I finished my 100 missions and went to the grunts.

- In 1975 I graduated from Auburn

- In 1983 I retired from the Marine Corps.

At this writing our family structure is constantly evolving. Our older son, Greg, and his wife Jane have moved to a quiet section just outside of Charleston. They’re building their new house there.

Their oldest son, Greg, is married to his long time girlfriend, Ali. Greg graduated from UCF and has a very good engineering job, and Ali recently finished Pharmacy School and is a licensed Pharmacist.

The middle son, Robert, also graduated from UCF and was recently married to Devin, his long time girlfriend.

The youngest son, Christian, is starting his second year at UCF.

All of the above are in the vicinity of Orlando

Our younger son, Shawn, and his wife, Esther, live here in Pensacola in one of our former homes. They bought it from us years ago.

Their older daughter, Alex, graduated from UCF and was immediately hired by Homeland Security. She is currently working in D.C., and also working on her Masters Degree.

Their younger daughter, Elise, just started her first year at the University of FL. She wants to be a Paleontologist.

Chapter 1

MY HOMETOWN YEARS

I ’ve wondered at times as to how to start my book. It seems that I remember in an English Comp. class being told, Just start at the beginning. That said, my beginning is the Felt family in Brockway, PA.

Dad was a hardworking wonderful man who loved God and loved his family. He worked three jobs to make a living, none of which paid anything, but none of us ever knew that we were poor, and I know now that we were very poor. Dad finished 8th grade but quit school to go to work in the mines during the depression.

Mom was also a hard worker, mainly trying to keep us fed and clothed. She repaired my clothes and made many of the clothes for my two sisters. She was also the listening post for all of the neighbor ladies’ problems.

Besides providing the moral guidance for our lives their busy and full lives left little personal time for