Gaming and WWII Vets: War Thunder helps reunite pilots with their planes

Source: Reddit /r/Warthunder forums

This project is a fantastic idea.  All the pilots I have interviewed loved talking about their planes, and this project helps pilots who can no longer fly simulate their plane experiences.

It reminds me strongly of an interview I performed with Asa "Ace" Whitehead .  Ace is a pilot and he had some really great memories of flying his plane (and was very animated when we discussed his missions and the actual sensation of flying).

Enjoy the picture and thanks for sharing, jwsimmons!

Adm. William H. McRaven gives great life lessons at the University of Texas commencement

I may be a bit biased because UT s my alma mater twice-over, but it's nice to see some outstanding "life lessons" from the commencement speaker this year (who just happens to be commander of U.S. Special Operations Command).

At the end of each interview, interviewers ask for life lessons.  Sometimes they are lengthy; sometimes they are not needed.  These are well-deserved.

Jim "Pee Wee" Martin parachutes into Normandy again at 93

Source

On this 70th anniversary of D-Day (and also my 5-year anniversary - save the heckling for later), Jim Martin is doing something I would never, ever dream of doing:  he is parachuting into Normandy once again.

"It didn't (compare)," Martin said, "because there wasn't anybody shooting at me today."

Congratulations on your successful jump, Jim!