Ed. Note: Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is the cadet in the middle.

OK, I could have known him. Seriously. I was two classes ahead of him at the US Air Force Academy, meaning that in the summer of 1969…you remember that summer, don’t you?…I was one of the upperclass cadets who was responsible for his first military training and who welcomed chewed his ass out, ran him silly, grilled him with a series of never ending questions, hazed him until he wanted to quit, and made fun of his hometown and his girlfriend to the Academy. I never really knew him, just his type.

But, hey Sully, good going yesterday. This morning on the TV Geraldo said they should erect a statue to you and compared you to Lindbergh. If I had known this back then, I would have treated you more like the hero you are today. If memory serves, though, didn’t your class have that ‘hero’ who came in with you, who said he had been in the Army Rangers and had a chest full of medals from VietNam to prove it? During Hell Week, we learned the truth, the guy had never had been west of San Francisco much less VietNam; anyway, he got his ass booted out. You are your class’ true hero.

You, I imagine, were nothing like him. You went about your training just like the rest of us, learning, absorbing and understanding that sometime in the future it would all pay off.

It sure did yesterday. I can remember the summer of 69 and I am sure you can, too. You got stronger that summer, mentally as well as physically. Then, after graduation you went off and flew F-4′s, just like Robin Olds. A fighter pilot has the right stuff even before we all knew what “right stuff” meant. So, it was not a surprise for me to learn what you did and how all humble you are being now, or even that you went up and down the aisle twice after everyone had left, making sure everyone else was off that sinking plane. (I was in 18th Squadron a year before you,BTW.)

I know that during your upcoming post-crash interviews….just wait: “Barack is CALLING!!”…you will do a great job and provide even more inspiration to the country, which it sorely needs.

I just hope you will say that it all started with the great training you received by the Class of 1971 at the Academy.

You can thank God first. Good job, we are proud of you.

1/17/2009: It was just announced that Sully’s first interview will be with Matt Lauer on the Today show, Monday, January 19, 2009. 1/19/2009: Matt Lauer announced this morning that due to concerns that the Pilots Union had re: the on-going investigation that Capt Sully would not be available this morning but would at a future date. “I completely understand,” said Matt. I don’t.

Update 1/22/09: Part of the group that brought the plane down?

1/23/2009:

Day Eight of the Where’s Capt Sully contest. Anyone know?

1/24/09:  At a Hero’s Homecoming in Danville, CA, where he lives with his wife and daughters, Captain Sullenberger finally spoke:

“Circumstance determined that it was this experienced crew that was scheduled to fly that particular flight on that particular day,” he told the crowd.

“But I know I can speak for the entire crew when I tell you we were simply doing the job we were trained to do.”

His spokesman Alex Clemon told news reporters that they had changed their minds and now Katie Couric will interview Sully first on 60 Minutes, the program to be aired February 8, fifteen days from now.  I am assuming it is February 8, 2009.  What a missed opportunity.  Even I’m losing interest.