Thank you

Thank you all my taxpaying friends. I recently received an EOB (Explanation of Medical Benefits) from a program that we are subscribed to called TRICARE for Life. Actually it was for, Grannie Annie, my wife’s visit to our local Hospital Emergency Room. Our total bill was considerable but for us it came to $0.00. Our medical insurance paid it all.

TRICARE for Life is a medical insurance program that is an entitlement for those of us who have retired from a military career. In my case some 25 years serving in the U S Air Force. For me it is a supplement to Medicare Insurance and yes I’m old enough to qualify. There is no doubt in my mind that the whole program is expensive so I thank all you taxpayers out there that carry the load of supporting it. Life for we older folk would be tough with the pitfalls that come with aging bodies, especially for those without enough savings to cover those expenses.

It is interesting that such a program did not exist when I raised my hand and swore the oath making me a member of the long blue line. Being young, in good health and wanting to fly airplanes such future expenses never entered my mind. Commissioned, married and when babies arrived I was pleased to find that any medical expenses incurred by me or my family were taken care of by my beloved Air Force. A pretty nice perk!

In that time frame military members and their dependent families were medically cared for in on-base medical facilities. If available retirees and families were also cared for on a space-available basis. At age 65 all were eligible to receive Medicare. All those facts never entered my mind while on active duty—I just assumed my loved ones would be taken care of in the future.

Then came the Vietnam War. I had to leave for one 60-day temporary tour of duty over there and then two more 180-day tours. Ann was left, living on base, with three youngsters to care for and she did an exemplary job of it. Medical care was available if needed. No worries for me and I can proudly state that she did it without complaint.

Before my retirement and the transition back to civilian life, a former POW returned from Hanoi and enrolled in law school. Then as a lawyer, he put what we now know as TRICARE together and sold it to Congress to implement what had been implied by recruiters over the ages, a lifetime medical insurance plan for all who retired from military service. I along with thousands of others are enjoying the benefits of that gentleman’s foresight and will be forever grateful.

Kudos to the committee that put together the annual Aviation Symposium in Kearney last week. Subjects covered, communications, insurance, safety, medical and more mainly were of interest to pilots and to the personnel that make our airports what they are today. Many suppliers for airports and the airplanes that we fly were also present.

People involved in aviation tend to be a gregarious sort and I had a good time visiting with lots of old and new friends. One of the suppliers in his booth had a board asking “What do you like about aviation?” This old guy’s response “The people!” Heartfelt—that is me.

You may know that I am a long-time reader. I always have a book or two in progress. I tend to gravitate to Christian-themed books, archeological works, lots of war stories, and modern politics but seldom works of fiction. In the past, though I’ve read many of Earnest K. Gann’s novels aviation themed and set during WWII. I was therefore somewhat surprised to see his name offered up and inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame. I had no clue that he was a Nebraska native but proud to welcome him aboard.

Okay Lord we have enjoyed about enough winter. The moisture is needed but warmer temperatures would be welcome.

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail