Kirk John | WW2 | P51 Pilot

World War II P-51 pilot L. Kirk John

Recorded November 17, 2013

[AlaskaTrucker]

The gentleman had "presence" on-screen, in other words you feel as if you could ask him a question, because he's so here and now. Growing up I remember a lot of WWII and Korean War Veterans. One whom we knew as "Slim" did mud and sheet-rock work as a profession and he finished most of the walls inside our house where I grew up. Whenever Slim would come to the house to do sheet-rock work, usually around 9:00am, we'd invite him to sit down for coffee before starting to work. Slim would start drinking coffee with my folks and begin telling stories and by 11:15am they'd all still be drinking coffee and talking. Slim was a great guy and as a kid I loved hearing his stories. Many years later, I learned that Slim had been present at D-Day as an infantryman. ...The easy going manner of Kirk John in this video brings back a lot of memories of Slim and those days of growing up around this caliber of gentlemen. I wish I could sit down and hear those stories again today. Great video! God Bless our Military

[KenGriffiths]

Leedom Kirk John BORN 14 Sep 1919 passed away 8 Nov 2016 aged 97 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA.

[andynixon]

These old guys are fascinating to listen to .

[maucommaero]

My Dad was a fighter pilot in WWII and he, like him, made them a shining example of what just American's were made of...

[hankgs]

Amazing. These guys were 20-21-22 year olds out of country, flying crazy missions with such high mortality rates... This gentlemen is a true hero with 37 missions in a Mustang- WOW.

[wannamontana]

" .... a penny a pound!" Precious joy of a little boy, in an elderly man's eyes!

[only]

"Then i flew 37 more missions after that!" Damn! Thank you Mr. John for being a all out bad ass Mustang pilot and laying it all on the line. You men gave us 70 yrs of the most prosperous years the world has ever known. My sincerest apologies that its being destroyed but we may have a say in it yet! Salute to the greatest generation

[shermansquires]

wow, what a story, i'm so glad this footage will last forever!

[cdpgbc-mwkz]

Canadian viewer. What a worthwhile and fascinating project. Thank you for the opportunity to hear this Veteran's experience. He sounds like a class act.

[mike.]

“Look down there” must have been his guardian angel.

R.I.P.

[donrinker]

As of today 10/31 it never ceases to amaze me how this brave man's story of courage and faith could be disliked by 30 people. What is wrong with them?

[SmittyWerbenJager]

That southeast PA accent is beautiful. Rest In Peace to one Bad ass fella. They don’t make em like him anymore.

[Henryk]

God bless you Mr. Kirk John, that is some story.

[MrJeffro]

What a great Story & one that's now preserved as part of Allied history for all to see. God Bless You Mr Kirk John

[briandd]

Bless this guy! I hope my mind is as sharp as his was at his age.

[dessertfox]

Thank you Mr. John! A wonderful example of a man who trusted God to get him through hell.

[happysingle]

Most of us have no idea what this Hero has been through, God Bless these kind of men and thank you to All veterans.

[aussieoffroader]

Thank you for your service. Lest We Forget.

[ThePponu]

My father would only hire vets from WW2.
They were/are my mentors just like my dad.
Its shocking to see them dropping like flies since ive known so many from the late forties till now.
Theres only 4 left in this small east texas community still alive.
There once was dozens.

[Bluelinechevy]

I could sit and listen to these stories all day. These truley was the greatest generation that ever lived.