Photo By Senior Airman Cassandra Whitman | Urban Rahoi, a World War II veteran and Fairbanks, Alaska resident, takes a brief...... read more read more
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“In my dictionary, two words don’t exist; can’t and impossible.”
This statement was made by local World War II veteran Urban Rahoi when he visited Eielson May 13. Col. Michael Winkler, the 354th Fighter Wing commander, invited Rahoi to spend the morning with him revisiting the base.
Rahoi is 97 years old and has been flying for more than 83 years.
“In World War II, I went through cadet training and then became an instructor there for a year,” said Rahoi. “Later, I turned down an instructor position for B-17s because I wanted to go to combat.”
Rahoi picked up nine crew members and went to Savannah, Ga., to pick up a B-17. From there, he said they flew to Newfoundland and then across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa.
Spending the day at Eielson brought back memories for Rahoi from his own time spent here. He helped build the combat alert cell on the flight line and said he can remember when the base was just a runway.
“The combat cell was built in the late 1950s, early 1960s,” said Rahoi. “It was originally used as an access for the runway. We brought gravel from across the street to help construct it. It was an alert hangar for all those years and now it looks like it’ll serve a newer purpose.”
During his time here and throughout conversations with Winkler, Rahoi always had something to talk about or a story to share.
“One time, a pilot couldn’t get supplies out to the guys at the Blair Lakes Range,” said Rahoi. “It was 40 or 50 below zero, but I told them I’d do it. I got out there and of course they couldn’t pay me because the other pilot was under contract. I told them to give me a couple jars of applesauce and onions and I’d be on my way. I think they over-payed me, but I got a good deal out of it.”
The base itself didn’t seem to impress Rahoi; but its mission is what has always impressed him.
“I’ve been impressed with it for all these years,” Rahoi explained. “The airplanes I hear and the training that’s being done here; that’s what impresses me. People come from all over the world to train here in Alaska. We never dreamed years ago that this place would be like it is today.”
At one point, Winkler brought Rahoi over to the 18th Aggressor Squadron to see an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and show him how the technology has changed.
“It’s a marvel people are able to maintain and keep this stuff active and ready to go when needed,” said Rahoi.
Compared to his generation, Rahoi said he feels the Air Force as a whole is, in some ways, the same.
“Under the circumstances back then, we did the best we could with what we had,” Rahoi explained. “It’s the same today. We look forward to building a better aircraft, but we make do with what we have; which is damn good equipment.”
Rahoi said he lives his life by a simple philosophy - be happy with what you do.
“If you aren’t happy, go find something you’ll be happy with,” Rahoi said.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2016 23:20 |
| Story ID: | 218799 |
| Location: | AK, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Local World War II veteran visits Eielson, by SrA Cassandra Whitman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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