[Moose4]

Good morning, everyone. I'd like to join everybody in thanking all those who have served this country in the Armed Forces. As a lifelong professional civilian, I've never been able to pull my weight except by paying taxes, while you've been out there defending us and enabling us to become the greatest country in the world. We can never repay the debt we owe you.

I'd like to put in a request for prayers for the friends and family of Joseph Tobul. Tobul was flying his restored F4U-4 Corsair "Korean War Hero" at the Celebrate Freedom Festival here in Columbia, SC yesterday, in formation with other aircraft flown by his son and two grandsons. His Corsair lost power and began spewing smoke. Joe Tobul tried to make it back to Owens Field, but when he couldn't, he deliberately steered the Corsair into a wooded swamp to avoid slamming into a subdivision. He crashed 75 yards from two houses and was killed instantly. Joe Tobul was a Marine veteran of Korea, from Santee, SC, and was 68 years old.

Here's a link to the thread on the crash from yesterday.

More pictures from the Celebrate Freedom Festival

This is a picture I took of "Korean War Hero" the day before it crashed, on Saturday:

And here's an appropriate picture, from the start of the show on Saturday: Joe Tobul in "Korean War Hero" (flying lead) and his family flying their T-6 Texans in the missing man formation:

God bless you Joe. And thanks.

}:-)4

[Billie]

Thank you so much, Moose, and what a terrible tragedy for the friends and family of Joseph Tobul. Prayers for comfort for them. Thank you for the photos.

[Mama_Bear]

Oh, what a tragedy! My heart goes out to Joseph Tobul's family and friends.

The missing man formation always brings tears, even if I do not know the "missing man". I believe it represents all who have perished in service to their country.