tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232112655035482837.post1657032268939478371..comments2024-02-11T00:20:16.619-08:00Comments on Robin Chapman News: Airborne From the Skies of Blue Robin Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10503563386747084298noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232112655035482837.post-5737225943398481332013-01-25T17:30:32.729-08:002013-01-25T17:30:32.729-08:00Steve,
My condolences on your father's passin...Steve,<br /><br />My condolences on your father's passing. My father died quite a while ago, in 1992, but your wonderful blog post brought back some terrific memories.<br /><br />(And FYI, I read your post because I am an occasional reader of Robin's blog. Long, long ago…in college…she and I were friends, and there was even a "military" connection.)<br /><br />I am a bit older than you, and my father was much older than yours (my father's 100th birthday would have been last month), but some of my memories are similar to yours. <br />• My father was also an 82nd Airborne paratrooper, and was stationed at Ft. Bragg in the early 1950's.<br />• Like you, I had an Army uniform as a child - including boots! (And I also "got to" wear the real thing years later, as an Army officer in the 1970's).<br />• My father was in WWII, and met my mother - who grew up in Nice, France - while forcing the Germans north from the French Riviera.<br />• I also remember pestering my Dad with Army questions... in many ways the worst of those memories was one day in the 50's when I peppered him relentlessly about how many Germans he killed in the war.... As I recall other boys in the neighborhood were bragging about their fathers’ war heroics, and I wanted to brag as well. Anyway, in that annoying way that young boys can have, I asked again and again... I remember my father trying to deflect, avoid and evade... I but I would not let up. Eventually he gave me a number, but I kinda knew then, and was certain soon thereafter, that he just gave me a number to shut me up. It was not the kind of question that should have been asked.... and, young as I was, deep down I knew that, and I did not forget it.<br />• The Army gave my Dad his choice of final assignments (we were in Germany at the time), and he chose California. I believe he was a Lt. Colonel at the time, and his specific job was to be the Army liaison to the film and TV industry. and as I recall his office was small - maybe 3 officers and 10 people - and located somewhere in North Hollywood. We settled in the San Fernando Valley.<br />• One of my Dad's primary jobs was technical consultant to the TV show "COMBAT." I don't think it involved any real difficult work...but, looking back on it now, why shouldn't he have had a "cush" job to finish his career? He was 50+ years old, a veteran of both WWII and Korea, and had certainly "earned" it. So he became a big fan of Vic Morrow and Rick Jason, and subsequently was also technical advisor for at least the pilot for The Rat Patrol. While he had seen some of the horrors of war - and like most of his generation, he would not talk about it - I think he was proud of his association with Combat. <br />• Growing up in a military family, I was a bit jaded by the military stuff, and, typical of many sons, unimpressed by whatever my father was doing at work. But I do have great memories of my father taking me to the set of Combat while I was in high school.... I guess it was in the Franklin Canyon you mentioned... although my memory would have suggested one of the canyons a bit west of the Valley. Both Vic Morrow and Rick Jason - particularly Jason (who I believe also had a role on the Virginian?) were very courteous to my father, and friendly to me.... so that was a real treat. (I should add that one of the other lasting memories I have was how "fake" everything seemed on the set, and how real the same scenes seemed on TV later, after guys like you do your magic.)<br />• As a final footnote, some things in life do seem to come full circle: I now have a son, an Army Captain and chopper pilot (Blackhawks), who is also Airborne qualified.<br /><br />Anyway, paratroopers, the Army, a kind, strong father, "Combat"... it sounds like you have terrific memories, and you are smart to cherish them... as you said so well, your father will be with you always.<br /><br />Again, please accept my condolences...thanks for sharing your memories, and for triggering my own.<br /><br />Chris Covington<br />Lafayette, CaliforniaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03961579059872188113noreply@blogger.com