104 yr. old WWI pilot found

12 October 1999, 06:23 AM

I have managed to locate another WWI pilot. Some may recall sdeeing the same man on Good Morning America last Spring.
He trained as a fighter pilot, but onb discovering he would get over seas quicker if he trained on bombers, he changed. For the last months of the war he patrolled the English Channel for Subs. He then managed to get over to France and was stationed there just before the Armistice.
He received the Legion of Honor from France in the Spring.
I talked to him for about 1/2 hour, and found him very lucid and with a good memory. I was surprised when I commented on him being 103. He corrected me and told me he just turned 104. His birthday was last week. (I.e. He was born in 1895).

If anyone knows other WWI vets please let me know. I have been conducting interviews for some time now and continue to seek out new subjects before all of them are gone.

Kirk Goolsby
kgoolsby@gmu.edu

(540)341-7878

6772 Foster's Fork Rd. #1
Warrenton, VA 20187

12 October 1999, 08:26 AM

keep up the good work Kirk.
If your ever in Missouri sometime stop by Mr.Kennedy's....I'd say he's the only WWI vet who own 7 collects jaguars!(the car).

Keith,

12 October 1999, 03:18 PM

Excellent work, you have my gratitude!

Thanks,
Steve

stephen · 13 October 1999, 12:02 AM

You da man, Kirk. Please email me this guy's name.
sopwith21@hotmail.com

We don't seem to ever be hitting the same pilots, but its worth a check. Thanks.

stephen · 13 October 1999, 12:51 AM

You da man, Kirk! Please email his name to me:

sopwith21@hotmail.com

So far we haven't been hitting the same guys, but you never know. Its worth a check.

See ya.

stephen · 13 October 1999, 01:22 AM

You da man, Kirk! Please email his name to me:

sopwith21@hotmail.com

So far we haven't been hitting the same guys, but you never know. Its worth a check.

See ya.

14 October 1999, 05:28 AM

HI Kirk!

My dad was born 1894 but passed away in 1971. If
you happen to hear any of the survivors mention
Cpt. A.C. Atkey of 22 or 18 squadron I would
very much like to ask a few question of what might
be remember of him during those years.

George Atkey

14 October 1999, 02:31 PM

I have the name of another WW 1 vet. He's Ben Collier of Ft. Worth, Texas. Collier was a private stationed in San Antonio with the 165th Depot Brigade during World War I. At 103 years of age he's been in the Texas papers a lot lately. "Collier told police that he had had enough of his grandson's behavior, got a gun and fired at him three or four times. He then stood over his wounded grandson and fired at him two more times, the report said. Collier told police that he went to a closet and got another gun and some ammunition to shoot his grandson again." His 75 year old daughter says she took the bullets away.

Kirk · 15 October 1999, 05:21 AM

My god! I think I would be scared to talk to that old fellow mentioned in the last entry. He might up and shot me.
By the way how did the grandson fare? It sounds like he probably died at his grandfather's hands.

15 October 1999, 03:26 PM

The grandson is still in the hospital and will probably live. One family member says the old man had a "mean streak" while another says the kid was drunk and abusive towards the old man. Most of the family members that get quoted say the old man needs to be in a home. It would certainly liven the place up! Right now he's out on bond having spent a couple nights in the slammer. The sheriff said he's the oldest prisoner they've ever had.