Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day. Recent events in Texas cause Americans to feel even more appreciation for those who put their lives on the line to protect the rest of us. We honor those veterans who preserved our liberty over the years. We are thankful for the service of those who are currently assigned in the world’s trouble spots. We are grateful to their families who share in the sacrifice they are making for their fellow Americans.

My father, Widtsoe Checketts, was a World War II pilot who served in the China-Burma-India theatre. Here is an excerpt from his diary.

“On our many trips across the Himalayan Mountains in our C-46 aircraft, we encountered the most dangerous weather in the world. On one trip in extremely turbulent air, with a cargo of metal drums containing high octane gas, a most terrifying thing happened. The aircraft’s electrical wires caught fire causing many of the instruments to malfunction; leaving us hanging up in that cold wilderness above those wicked mountain peaks. The crew chief came charging up to my cabin yelling that we would have to bail out as the plane was on fire. I called the crew up front. ‘Fellows, if we bail out we will surely freeze to death or we can ride a burning inferno about to explode over China and hope God will spare us?’ They agreed to stay aboard and fight for their lives as I added, ‘Better all get busy saying some prayers too, men!’ Apparently our high altitude helped get the message to our Maker quicker. The plane did not explode. I flew by the seat of my pants. We landed in China. I was alive. To kneel down and kiss mother earth was so wonderful to me.”