Lieutenant England
By Tom ParkesGene’s time in the U.S. Air Force is not well-known by most or his academic and Church associates. I was fortunate to know Gene in AFROTC and Institute or Religion classes at the University of Utah and then at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California, where Gene served as a meteorologist and I was an F-100 fighter pilot. Gene served well in the Cold War culture of 1960–61, yet even at that early date, he was critical of potential U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia. We debated that issue—one of many on which he was years ahead or me in insight and judgment.
Gene was also a good weatherman. He used to say that anyone could forecast weather when there was no moisture in the air. Once, he forecast strong winds for 0745 the following morning. All local flying was cancelled because of Gene’s forecast, but when the sun rose on a clear, serenely calm Mojave Desert, the wing director of operations questioned the forecast. Gene was not on duty (he was teaching early morning seminary), and after considerable pressure, his boss overrode Gene’s forecast. We pilots began taxiing at 0730. The first flights launched at 0740. High winds hit at 0747. Gene’s forecast had been off by two minutes.
While at George AFB, Gene delivered a memorable funeral sermon for an LDS F-104 pilot killed in a midair collision with another F-104. Gene fasted and prayed for three days prior to delivering that inspiring and hopeful sermon. The deceased pilot’s wife and children emerged from the chapel with smiles on their faces—only to break down as the pilot’s comrades flew their “missing man” salute to a deceased pilot, during which the number 2 plane pulled up into an absolutely vertical climb, and disappeared going straight up into the heavens. That symbolism was too powerful, even for me.
The family asked Gene to give the same sermon at the funeral services planned in Salt Lake City. The Air Force flew Gene to Hill Air Force Base in one of the four F-104s that would perform the “missing man” flyby from east to west over the Avenues in Salt Lake City. Shortly after landing and changing into dress uniform, Gene was whisked via staff car to the Salt Lake chapel, delivered his touching sermon, and then rushed back to Hill field. Meanwhile, the four F-104s completed their salute, and returned to Hill for fuel. They picked up Gene and returned to George AFB.
These early experiences clearly indicate the type of service and dedication Gene would give to everything that came later.
—Tom Parkes
from Sunstone 121 (January 2002): 18–19