Story About Coming Home
This happened to me on August 5, 2003.
I served as a Marine air traffic controller in Vietnam. My son, Austin, is currently in the Corps. He has had 2 tours in Iraq. Currently, he is enroute to Camp Butler, Okinawa.
This story is about how Austin let me know he was back in the United States from his first tour in Iraq.
At the time I was an air traffic controller at Tucson Approach Control. I have since retired. I was a controller for over 35 years.
I was working one of the radar positions that provide arrival sequencing to Davis-Monthan Air Force base. I was talking to a variety of military and civilian aircraft.
Out of the blue comes this transmission “Tucson Approach, this is Delta 9546”. I was somewhat puzzled because it was not one of the normal Delta call signs that arrive in Tucson. Nevertheless, I answered “Delta 9546, Tucson Approach, go ahead”.
The next transmission was “Is Ron Gagner working”. Now I was really puzzled because how did this pilot know to ask for me! I said “you are talking to him”.
Five seconds later this transmission came over the radio “Hi, Dad, I’m home”. For a few moments I was speechless. My son was flying over Tucson on his way to March AFB. Tears began to flow as I tried to say something. For the first time in 30 years I could not say anything. Finally, I regained some composure and asked him a few questions.
Needless to say, air traffic services were momentarily delayed. The military pilots on the radio probably realized the importance of this radio transmissions. After a few moments of talking to my son I said to the pilots “sorry for the delay guys but my Marine son was calling me on the radio. He is returning from Iraq”.
Several of the planes had a few comments but the one that was the most important came from a Navy pilot who said “Semper Fi, Marines”.
My thanks to the Delta Airlines pilot who, when my son told them I was a controller at Tucson Approach Control, knew what to do. The picture is an actual picture of my son talking to me.
We owe the men and women of our armed forces a lot of thanks. My son gave me something that will always bring a tear to my eyes. He is proud to be one of “the few, the proud, the Marines”.
Ron Gagner
Tucson, AZ