Benjamin Douglas Roberts

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Carl H. McNair,Jr. on January 20, 2014:

Buddy Roberts was one of the finest friends and classmates one could have. That friendship extended far beyond our "rockbound highland home" as we launched into the Wild Blue Yonder in Piper Super Cubs, aka L-21's at Gary AFB, in August '55, for Primary Flight training under the USAF, with Army Aviation tactics training to follow at "Camp" - newly named "Fort" Rucker, in "down home" Alabama. Buddy's memorable claim to fame in the Green Hat Class 56-2, was that he developed a "numb thumb" in the closing weeks at Gary. Consequently, the flight surgeon grounded him until they could determine why his thumb became numb when he would suit up to fly. We were all disappointed when Buddy was set back to the Red Hat Class 56-3, then following a month behind us. His malady was soon diagnosed and he moved on to Rucker graduating a month following other '55ers. Years later, I thought to ask Buddy what the Flight Surgeon ever determined was wrong with his thumb. He responded candidly, the flight crew issue facility had given him a flight suit too small, and as "he bulked up his biceps", the small suit had cut off the blood flow and nerves to his hand. Go figure that one. They simply issued him a MEDIUM in lieu of a SMALL, and returned him to flight status, which he maintained until his retirement over 20 years later. Moral of that story -- big problems have simple solutions and he and I never forgot that. Buddy wore the Silver Wings of an Army Aviator until his passing. May he now rest in his "highest hover" ever. And even more appropriately, in the words of HIGH FLIGHT, the noted poem of John Gillespie Magee, Jr. - "he has slipped the surly bonds of earth - and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings--- trod the untrespassed sanctity of space --- put out his hand and touched the face of God." Farewell dear comrade, we have enjoyed many adventures - Texas, Alabama, Korea, Vietnam, Alaska and other far flung places, but none so beautiful as our Alma Mater, that "rockbound highland home" where it all began over 62 years ago. May you now find eternal rest and peace in the arms of the Almighty. Faithfully - Grip Hands, Carl McNair,'55 Co-pilot, Stick Buddy and Classmate

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