Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Andre and I were in High School ROTC together at Thomas Jefferson High School where I was so glad to have him as a friend. Many years later, the day the shooting happened at Ft. Hood, I was a captain for Southwest Airlines and was flying there to pick up some troops to take them to Pope Air Force Base. When we were on a bout a five mile final approach the tower notified me that there was an active shooter on the base. I was given the choice of flying to an alternate field and then flying back after the shooting was over or to land. I decided to land because the Gray Amy Air Field was about six miles away from the shooter. When we parked on the ramp I called Andre because I knew he was serving there as a counselor, a job that was very needed at that time. We talked for quite a while during which time I learned he had been only a short distance away from that horrible scene. I was so relieved he hadn't been harmed. We met a few weeks later for lunch at which time we got caught up with each other and how our lives were unfolding. Andre was a great friend during my high school days and I remember his roaring laughter when something was funny which got me going too. Barbara, you completed Andre and I knew he had married well because you were such a beautiful young lady who was clearly in love with him and many of us were envious of the life he had with you. At reunions and other times when we were all together I remember hearing guys telling him how beautiful you were and he would grin from ear to ear because we knew he was so proud. God speed, Andre!
