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Texas Hospitality for WW2 Navy Pilot
My late father told many stories of his time as a Navy Avenger torpedo bomber pilot during World War II. This my personal
favorite and a big reason why I've made Texas my home since 1982.
My dad, Navy Lt. William Heatley of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was stationed at the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi in 1944
for flight training. He learned to fly in Stearman biplanes at the air station.
One day he had been off base and was rushing to return because he had a date with what he described as "an angel of Texas
girl." Like most soldiers, he often availed himself of the kindness of locals by hitchhiking around the area. That day was
no exception and he was fortunate to hitch a ride with a middle-aged gentleman driving a late-model Packard car.
Dad said he was very impressed with the car and asked the man all about it as they drove. The man, in turn, asked him about
himself and his family. At some point Dad thanked the man for the ride, saying he had a date that night and had to get back
to the base in time to walk to the bus stop and catch the trolley so he could pick up his date. The man smiled and drove on,
but instead of dropping Dad off when he had to turn off the road, he turned off without a word.
Dad told him that he needed to get off back at the highway and the man said, "Don't worry, son, you'll get back to the base
in time for your date." Dad was more than a little perplexed but went "along for the ride." After a few minutes, the man turned
onto a street of nice homes and pulled into the driveway of one of them. As the man and my Dad got out of the car, the man
tossed the car keys to my Dad and said, There's plenty of gas, you two kids have great time! Just bring it back tomorrow and
I'll run you back to the base."
Dad was dumbstruck and apparently couldn't say a word. The man started laughing and said, "Son, you do know how to drive,
don't you?" Dad stuttered, "Yes, sir, I do," and thanked the man for his generosity.
I can just picture Dad smiling from ear to ear as he drove the massive Packard back to the air base. The next day he returned
the car and thanked the man. The man introduced Dad to his wife and family and invited Dad and his girl out to his home several
times before Dad went on to advanced training in Florida.
Dad never passed up an opportunity to tell the story and let everyone know what Texas hospitality was really like. I carry
on that tradition today and would like to encourage all Texans and Americans to make a similar gesture to the brave troops
who defend us today. Maybe the son or daughter of one of them will be telling a similar story sixty years from now!
Bill Heatley
Dallas, Texas
Published:
August 04,
2006
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