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Show THE Page 10 OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume XIII Issue V December 15, 2005 A Christmas Story is late afternoon of of Mt. McKinley. We could vividly see how Richardson. A few minutes later, it was obvious I the range.” Christmas Eve, 1951, when a peaceful and beautiful the world was, especially couldn’t rely on the left engine. The doctor and nurse came into the cockpit to call came in from a remote sitting in the warm aircraft. The entire panoramic see what was happening. I told them we could get I told the doctor and nurse we would have to part of Alaska. A young native view was covered with a new blanket of snow. go to Fairbanks. The doctor said he would feel to Elmendorf and they would be able to take the woman was having difficulty I flew the C-47 following theradio signals to much better about the mother’s safety and the welexpectant mother to Fort Richardson. The doctor and enjoyed th in childbirth. The baby was e of the unborn child if we could get to looked out the window, saw the sleigh, and asked, not in the proper position and before Christmas view. One of the crew menElmendorf. I contemplated how I could get the “What's that?” he nurse’s aide in the village tioned it was a g Before I could answer, a painful cry came was concerned for the mother’s life. Unsure of night for Santa. We re from the cabin. what else to do, the aide called for help to get the cleared the range and a single engine. If The doctor said, “I haven’t had much experiyoung woman to a hospital. Base operations at ence with this, but I think the baby will be here began to descend to ¥ ‘ had already Elmendorf Air Force Base, where | was stationed the Takitna homing E a! LOG before we get back to Elmendorf.” 7 oe been up at 12,000 as the wing aircraft maintenance officer, called my beacon. I talked to : feet, we could have The nurse nodded her head in agreement and quarters. They didn’t want to impose on my ' made it, but we added, “I’m sure of it,” as they headed back to the man at the trading The pilot's log €) hristmas Eve, but there was a desperate need to ost. He said the a” help the mother. go to this tiny village and bring back the young snow pack on the Day and night, We got up to 11,500 hundred feet and cleared feathered the left the Alaskan Range. I heard on my headset, “I prerunway was four or oo mother. I told them I would go if they could get a engine trying to nurse to go with me. They said they would get five inches deep, and Flight in battle, sume you can make it from here. I may be a little someone and informed me that I would be solely there should be no Flight for give the plane a litlate this Chri istmas, but with a little luck, I'll make problem making the Flight for duty, responsible for the flight. They asked if] could be tle extra to get us it to everyone.” over the mounat operations within the hour, which was the time landing. Be in pain, At that point, Santa gave the lasso a toss, it would take them to get the aircraft and crew We landed _at ae tains. which broke loose from our aircraft, and he sped While wonderout of sight. I set the good engine for a long glide ready. I promised I would be there. Takitna with few Beyond the airway, undue challenges. I A last flight, ing what to do, | into Elmendorf. With over 10,000 feet in altitude I told my wife and small daughter that I was and less than 100 miles to go, there would be no going to play Santa Claus, but I’d be back by the shut down the left uy heard a_ voice through my earproblem time the real Santa came. To convince my daughengine for only a isare the master pilot phone say, “Hey I heard a cry from the back of the plane, but ter of the importance of the matter, I told her, moment to decrease now this time it wasn’t from the young woman. The “With me flying so near the North Pole, I might the prop blast so we With an eternal plan pardner, do you need some help?” nurse came forward and said, “It’s here, a baby even get to see Santa Claus. If do, I’ll be sure to could load the expec- | Jueameneved by the Masters hans. fight plan ant mother safely The flight log was a record of a pilot's riss I looked around boy. What time is it?” tell him to stop at our house.” I wondered which time zone we were in. The When I arrived at base operations, the aircraft into the aircraft. She Was the details of the current mission for who had asked clock on the instrument panel said it was ten after and crew were ready and waiting. In addition, there was quickly placed in one, ne morning. as a first lieutenant doctor, meaning he was just one of the bunks out of internship and ready to start a career as a milsay his first breath was at one o’clock,” inside the plane’s your left. If you need some help, she sidaas she made her way back to the cabin.A itary officer. A nurse from Fort Richardson, where cabin. I didn’t go 1 1 Tiaras. ad oa 1 minute later she returned and announced, | 7“The back to check on her I'll give it to you.” mother has decided on a name for the chi make the trip with the new doctor. She was a capcondition as I figured looked out of tain and the senior nurse at the hospital. the window and, though I doubt you’Il believe me, I asked what it was going to be. She looked she was in good | hands with the doctor and nurse. Elmendorf AFB generally doesn’t get below I saw aman riding ina sleigh led by eight reindeer. me in the eye and said, “He will be called | restartedthe 1 the aircraft to zero; however, at the remote sites it isn’t unheard taxi down the strip. In spite of the cold heavy air, He waved to me. I replied that we could indeed Nicholas.” of for temperatures to reach 75 degrees below use some help, perhaps a tow. It was my feeble We continued the now uneventful flight back there was no difficulty getting the aircraft airzero. Under these circumstances, you can’t shut borne. We headed back to Elmendorf AFB. attempt at humor. to Elmendorf. A military ambulance was waiting down an engine for more than 30 minutes or the As the C-47 climbed higher, we could again But there was no humor in his voice when he to take Nicholas, his mother, the doctor, and the oil in the engine congeals and it becomes difficult said, “It may slow me down, but if that’s what you see Mt. McKinley and part of the Alaskan Range. nurse to the Fort Richardson hospital. to start again. This meant that the mother-to-be Even though there was no moon and little other need, I’llgive youa tow.” He was less than fifty I don’t know how, nor will I try to explain it, needed to be ready to move into the C-47 upon light filling the night sky, it looked like I could see feet off my left wing, » and just ahead of the feath- but during the landing approach to Elmendorf, a hr our arrival so we could immediately return to ered engine.TI io. across the entire 2,500 mile stretch of Alaska. As a oo on the propeller ofthe engine, and yelled, “T knew we could do it, pardner. Tell them Elmendorf. I told the crew that when we got to we neared the Alaskan Range, the left engine the strip, we must move quickly. gan to act up. I wondered if we should turn east “Han Nicholas is the right name for that boy.’ Thes aa began to pull the plane. I told him we We checked the aircraft landing gear, made and head for Fairbanks. They had a reasonably Please note: This story is an excerpt from had a young woman in labor and we shouldn’t go good hospital and the mother would receive good sure the skis were property attached, and climbed “Grandpa’s Stories” by Sherman LeMoyne any higher than 12,000 feet because of her condition. on board. I started up the engine at about 10:00 care there, although I recognized it would not be Hislop. This and lee wees may be purchased He said, “We'll get you high enough to clear p.m. We left the base and headed north just west as good as the care she would receive at Fort by calling 801-373-212 a Teme ee FEE Arson COMmenlia S EVA (CCM OM s\cr- NLM LCMV Gated community.$459,000 to $499,000 REAL re | hg ed ESTATE ls Virtual Tour @ www.snowbasinareaspecialist.com Ken Turner 801-710-8800 ieunu Durfee Creek $250,000-$450,000 One to two acre improved lots w/ great views. Some wooded. 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