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NEIL ARMSTRONG & AVIATION LEGENDS VISIT THE TROOPS

  • Published
  • By Major Bill Walsh
  • 315th Airlift Wing
Ramstein AB Germany --  There are only a hand full of names that will actually go down in history and one of them, along with some close friends, dazzled AMC passengers at Ramstein, Air Base, Germany on Saturday.

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and true American hero, made his way through the Ramstein AMC passenger terminal meeting the troops and posing for pictures as he thanked them for their service.

If the first man on the moon was not enough, the last man on the moon, Gene Cernan was also part of the USO sponsored visit along with the likes of Jim Lovell who was portrayed in the Academy Award winning movie "Apollo 13," by Tom Hanks.  "It's our way of giving back," said Lovell who, with the group, also visited the wounded warriors at Landstuhl Army Medical Center. "These are the real heroes."

The "Legends of Aerospace Tour" is presented by the USO and Morale Entertainment as these and other aviation history makers make their way around Southwest Asia and Europe.  "This is what we like to do," said Nissen Davis, director of public relations for Morale Entertainment. "Last year we did the tour with college football coaches and it really was a big hit with the troops."

"We have a twenty minute video to start the show, then David Hartman (former ABC Good Morning America host) takes the stage with the legends," said Davis. 

Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan wowed the airmen and soldiers with his stories as they gathered around this space pioneer. "We're in a critical time," said Cernan as he posed for pictures. "I knew when I left the moon that it was the last of Apollo, but still think we're going to go back."

Other members of the group included Brig.Gen. (ret) Steve Richie, the only USAF fighter pilot "Ace" since Korea with 5 MiG-21 kills and who still flies one of only three F-104 Starfighters still in the air today and seen at air shows around the world.  "I love talking to the these airmen," said Brig. Gen. Richie. "They are the all heroes in my book."

Along with Brig. Gen. Richie, was Robert J. Gilliland, chief test pilot and first to fly the SR-71 Blackbird in December of 1964.  The tour wraps up on March 13th, but the memories of this visit will forever be a part of these airmen and soldiers lives.