Alex Vraciu - Navy Hellcat Ace

[LegacyDriver]

http://www.alexvraciu.net/#Vraciu

This guy could sure use our support. He is not lobbying for anything--he is such a class act that he would never do that--but a lot of people are working to fix this mistake.

If you would like to help this is a good place to start. It's under construction but there is some interesting information there.

I've spoken at length with Commander Vraciu and I cannot tell you what a wonderful person he is. He is just an amazing man and the things he did in World War II are the epitome of courage and dedication. I think all naval aviators in particular, and veterans in general, would be proud to be associated with a man like Vraciu.

Read on and enjoy.

 

[McGillicutty]

The Navy screwed up paperwork? Impossible.

 

[LegacyDriver]

Heh heh heh. Yep.

Sadly they won't admit it.

It's amazing that they can't just say, "You know what? We screwed up. We're going to fix it." I think it would give them a lot of good publicity...


When you compare the CMOH Nomination to the Navy Cross Citation you get the feeling you're talking about something that happened in a parallel universe or something. LOL

I would sure like to see this fixed while Alex is still here. He still talks to Navy squadrons with regularity and I think even the Air Force has a special place for him at the dinner table. A highly regarded, incredibly amazing man...

 

[banned username 2]

I've spoken at length with Commander Vraciu and I cannot tell you what a wonderful person he is.

Did you tell him that you used his name as one of your many screennames on FlightInfo?

 

[LegacyDriver]

ha!

Did you tell him that you used his name as one of your many screennames on FlightInfo?

HA! Not a chance! He'd probably smack me around for being a pretentious, hero-worshipping, fanboy punk!

The man is 87 and staring at a possible knee replacement, but if it came down to throwing punches I know he would take me apart like a cheap watch!!!!



In all seriousness, though, the man is as gracious and humble as he can be. Listening to his stories about the war can only be summed up in one word: riveting.

I know North Texas State University in Denton did an oral history on Vraciu that is very very good. If you can get the chance to listen to it you won't be disappointed.

Also a new book by Barrett Tillman called "Clash of the Carriers" has some good stuff on Vraciu in it. Gerald Astor's "Wings of Gold" is full of errors (calling SBDs "SPDs" and such), but the parts dealing with Vraciu are very well done. Vraciu is quite a character.