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Dad’s Fear of Flying

Dad’s Fear of Flying . . .

Accomplished, handsome, and more than just a tad cocky, meet my father, Bob.


Thanks to Barbara Bockner for sharing her fearless memory of Dad.

It was 1942. Bob was 35, a civil engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Dad's fear of flying

(Left to right) Barbara’s older brother Bobby, Barbara, Mom (Reva), Dad (Bob), younger brother Barry.

World War II was ramping up. Dad was working on the Panama Canal. Mom, a teacher, was also stationed there. They married in Panama. I was born there.

After Panama, we traveled the world. Japan, as Dad helped to rebuild after the war. Iran, though we would leave as trouble erupted over the border in Iraq. Hawaii. Germany. We circled the globe.

Dad could do anything. Except one thing. Dad refused to fly…he’d take the slow boat.

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