We spent a lot of time watching people at the airport, we wait and meet all sorts of individuals we’d never otherwise have the chance of meeting.
When passengers were waiting to board flights at the Dallas Love Field airport on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, they witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event that many seasoned flyers have never seen.
Jackson Proskow, who is the Washington Bureau Chief for GlobalNews, was waiting with hundreds of other people that morning when he felt something unusual was happening.
People gathered by the floor-to-ceiling windows to watch a massive blue, red and yellow Southwest plane pulled in and a gate agent narrated the scene before them.
The plane carried a very special passenger: Col. Roy Knight Jr., who had fought in the Vietnam War and died in 1967.
According to his obituary, Knight Jr. was born in Garner, Texas, in 1931, one of eight children. He joined the Air Force at 17 and spent the rest of his life as an officer, a pilot, a husband and a father to children Roy, Gayann, and Bryan.
“In 1963,” the obituary continues, “he and his family returned to Texas where he became an instructor pilot at Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, TX. In January 1966, he completed his bachelor’s degree through Operation Bootstrap at the University of Omaha.
“That year he received orders for Southeast Asia and reported to the 602nd Fighter Squadron (Commando) at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in January 1967.point 239 |
He flew combat missions almost daily until being shot down May 19, 1967.point 60 | He was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart and six Air Medals for his actions during this time.point 191 | ”point 194 | 1
Proskow said that the gate attendant explained the tragedy of Knight Jr.’s death after he was shot down: “Col. Knight ejected from his aircraft, but no parachute was seen deploying. A search was undertaken but could not find him.”
Southwest Airlines told The Western Journal that as Knight Jr. had left his family in Texas to answer his final call of duty, he’d left from the Dallas Love Field airport, and waved good-bye to his youngest son, Bryan.
“When Southwest Airlines Captain Bryan Knight was just five years old, he made a trip to Dallas Love Field to send his father, Col. Roy Knight, off to the Vietnam War,” they said. “That day in 1967 would be the last day he saw his father as just a few months later Col. Knight’s jet was shot down, and he went missing in action for decades.”
Even though his father was gone, Bryan became a pilot himself, which is exactly what allowed him to participate in the retrieval of his father.
“Earlier this year,” Southwest continued, “Captain Knight learned that his father’s remains were positively identified which began the mission of returning Col. Knight to his home in North Texas.
“His son flew his father home to Love Field where he was received with full military honors to express a nation’s thanks for his dad’s service to our country. Our Southwest Airlines family is honored to support his long-hoped homecoming and join in tribute to Col. Knight as well as every other military hero who has paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces.”
Proskow wrote that the airport was so silent for several minutes while people watched, transfixed, as the war hero was transported one step closer to finally getting the send-off he deserved: “What a privilege it was to witness this moment.”