Landing on an aircraft carrier

Ethan, in the summer of 1966 during our midshipman summer indoctrination in Pensacola, Florida, I got to make an arrested landing in a T-28 Trojan on the USS Lexington (CV-16)... this is a T-28... it has a VERY powerful engine which made it very easy for us to take off again:
This is the USS Lexington (CVS-16)... it's now a museum in Corpus Christi, Texas:
This is what it looks like making the final approach before you touch down on the carrier. This video is of an A-6 Intruder landing... I had several Naval Academy friends who flew this aircraft. See if you can see the little green light on the left side of the flight deck. This is called the "meatball" and helps the pilot correct his final approach/decent.


Here is a video taken from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier as they recover several jets (they call it a "trap"). This is always a VERY dangerous operation but it's especially dangerous at night. While I was in Vietnam one of my destroyer's duties was to be in what is called a "plane guard" station behind the carrier's starboard quarter about 2000 yards (approximately one mile) while the carrier (as I recall the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS Constellation) recovered aircraft returning from bombing runs into North Vietnam. At night the returning pilots could see our masthead light and better line up their final decent with the meatball. I can remember hearing the whine of the jet engines as these young Naval aviators flew just over the top of our ship's masthead light... in the pitch black darkness... low on fuel... exhausted from hours of being shot at and now they had to face the extreme stress of touching down and trying to catch one of the four arresting cables to stop their plane. As soon as their landing gear touched the flight deck they had to give their plane FULL power for an instant (called hitting the "after burner") so if they missed one of the cables they still had enough speed to get back in the air, circle and try to land again. (click on this image to see some arrested landings... some miss and have to go around again):Naval Aviators are the world's BEST pilots... here are the wings they earn after successfully completing flight school:I love you, Ethan... be sure to tell Caleb that I love him too.
Granddaddy
PS. I'm still trying to figure out how I can read to you over the phone?... call me sometime 931-598-9160.
Lord, bless the Dails and put Your hedge of protection around them... prosper everything Phillip puts his hand to and heal baby Caleb completely... in Jesus' Name... AMEN and AMEN.

In Loving Memory of My Big Buddy Baxter

I am deeply grieved to report that Baxter, my dear doggie friend of 10 years, passed over this morning to the "Rainbow Bridge" (below). This blog post is to honor his life and faithfulness. I am a life-long dog lover but this pooch was really special. I truly believe dogs are a gift from God. He provided us with dogs to teach us many Godly examples:

• Unconditional love
• Faithfulness/Loyalty
• Instant forgiveness
• They never worry about what to wear or whether you will feed them
• Dogs want to spend time with you like God wants you to spend time with Him
• They will forsake their own to be with you
• You are the center of their universe

Thank you, Lord for Baxter's life... wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge, big boy.
I love you, Baxter,
Your Best Buddy Dave
(with a tear in his eye and a hole in his heart)
************** My video tribute to Baxter's life


************ The Rainbow Bridge (please click on this image to enlarge)
************ God and Dog

********** This was the tornado that touched ground last Thursday... one mile from my house:
************ GRAPHIC video of tornado damage (you may not want to show this to Ethan?)

************ Surprised Kitty

************ Cute pictures:



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************* Here's You and Mommy Ice Skating Together

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

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I love you, Ethan,
Granddaddy
P.S. Call me sometime: 931-598-9160.
Lord, bless the Dail family and prosper them... especially speed Caleb's complete healing... in Jesus Name... AMEN!

It's COLD here in Tennessee...

It's chilly willy here in Tennessee but the wood stove keeps the house toasty warm. Here is a weather map that shows the temperatures across the country and Portsmouth is COLDER than where I live. Brrrrrr (click on the map to enlarge it... 20 degrees for me... 18 degrees for you)! I hope you like these little videos that I've learned how to make for you. I thought we could try letting me read Winnie the Pooh to you a little at a time. Remember, I gave you a copy of the book at your birthday party. Your Mommy could help you follow along as I read the story to you. It might not work but I'd like to give it a try if you're willing? We live so far away from each other it's the only way for me to get some "Granddaddy story-time" with my little man.



Well, I hope you enjoyed Sha Na Na... they take "doowop" songs from the 1960s and rearrange them in a fun way with goofy dancing. I like to watch them.
Don't forget to tell Caleb that I love him... I love you too,
Granddaddy
PS. Call me sometime: 931-598-9160.
Lord, cover this precious family with your Holy Spirit and give them all good things... especially speed Baby Caleb's healing... in Jesus Name... AMEN and AMEN!

Happy 2010, Ethan...

Happy 2010, Ethan!
Isn't this the craziest thing you've ever seen, Ethan!?... a flying lawn mower... click on the picture to watch the video:Here's a preview of a movie I bet you'd like to see... Toy Story 3 (click the picture):
It was sooooo GREAT to meet you in Tulsa at your birthday party, Ethan... I hope we can get together again real soon. Don't forget to tell Caleb that I love him!
Love to my WONDERFUL grandsons,
Granddaddy
PS. Call me sometime: 931-598-9160
Lord thank you for the Dail family... for Phillip... for Jordan... for Ethan... and for Baby Caleb... PLEASE bless them mightily in 2010... in Jesus Name... AMEN and AMEN!

Happy New Year, Ethan...

I love you, little man... be sure to tell Caleb that I love him too.
Granddaddy
PS. Call me sometime: 931-598-9160.
Lord, bless the Dail family in the New Year... put a hedge of protection around them, completely heal Caleb's foot and prosper them financially... in Jesus Name... AMEN and AMEN!

My prayer for Ethan & Caleb for the New Year

To see my prayer for you two boys, click on this image:
I love Ethan & Caleb,
Granddaddy
PS. Call me sometime, boys: 931-598-9160
Lord, please bless my precious little boys and their family in 2010... in Jesus Name... AMEN.