A news event largely overlooked or appreciated by an apathetic, or should I say pathetic, culture and society concerns the death and passing of one of the last surviving members of the Doolittle Raid.
Lt. Col. Robert Hite died last Sunday. Hite was a co-pilot of a crew that flew one of the 16 B-25 bombers that raided Tokyo in April 1942. Hite was one of the men who was quickly taken prisoner by the Japanese and was imprisoned and held captive for 40 months.
There are few noble words of praise that can do true justice and give honor to a man already in possession of such uncommon valor and bravery. The best tribute and rememberence to him and to his fellow comrades in arms was stated best in The Flyers Prayer, by Patrick J Philips

Flyer’s Prayer
When this life I’m in is done,
And at the gates I stand,
My hope is that I answer all
His questions on command.

I doubt He’ll ask me of my fame,
Or all the things I knew, Instead,
He’ll ask of rainbows sent
On rainy days I flew.

The hours logged, the status reached,
The ratings will not matter.
He’ll ask me if I saw the rays
And how He made them scatter.

Or what about the droplets clear,
I spread across your screen?
And did you see the twinkling eyes.
If student pilots keen?

The way your heart jumped in your chest,
That special solo day-
Did you take time to thank the one
Who fell along the way?

Remember how the runway lights
Looked one night long ago
When you were lost and found your way,
And how-you still dont know?

How fast, how far, how much, how high?
He’ll ask me not these things
But did I take the time to watch
The Moonbeams wash my wings?

And did you see the patchwork fields
And moutains I did mould;
The mirrored lakes and velvet hills,
Of these did I behold?

The wind he flung along my wings,
On final almost stalled.
And did I know I it was His name,
That I so fearfully called?

And when the goals are reached at last,
When all the flyings done,
I’ll answer Him with no regret-
Indeed, I had some fun.

So when these things are asked of me,
And I can reach no higher,
My prayer this day – His hand extends
To welcome home a Flyer.
Patrick J Philips

Lt. Col. Robert Hite- Mission Accomplished!