Hello,

I want to say thank you for those who have honored Duckwing who was a wonderful pilot and sacrificed himself for freedom around the world and for his country. I might have said this before but I want to go over a little bit to help those who might not have known Duckwing or who are visitors to the Falcons. This information is what I have obtained from playing with him and from chatting with him doing my job as Chaplain.

Duckwing (real name Jon), had only one limb from action in Afghanistan and was stationed at Walter Reed to get well but was never able to leave the hospital due to his injuries. The only entertainment he had was the Dogfight game. He had invented a handle to hold the phone while playing that was so engenious and it can be seen from the pictures over at the New Lunar Repbublics member Luna6. Periodically he had tremendous pain due to his feeding tube. While playing he would tell me that he was in pain so much that he said "I might need to leave the game". I told him (knowing that his entertainment was dogfight) "Don't leave, your an inspiration". He said "Okay Swop, I won't leave. I won't bail." After many games with this same conversation "I won't bail" kind of became his signature statement. I would ask "Duckwing, are you going to bail?" He would say "I won't bail." One time his pain was so great that I asked him "Do you want me to pray for you?" He said "Sure, Thanks!!!!" I prayed with him and asked "Do you feel better?" and he would reply "well yes a little bit." Many times he would be in so much pain that he would park his plane or tank at the side of the runway. The first time he asked to leave like I mentioned but I would always tell him to stay to be an inspiration. What was really neat was one game I was with SkyDavis and Duckwing. Sky said "Hey Duckwing and Swop, lets take our tanks up the mountain." Duckwing said "Sure, that sounds like fun " So we trekked up the mountain all three of us. I wasn't as good with the tank back then so I fell over backwards. Sky went to the top and Duckwing too. Then Sky would say "I'm going over" and Duckwing said "so will I yeeee haaaaw". Afterwards Duckwing said "I live that Mountain, it has such a beautiful view." Little did I know that the mountain Duckwing was referring to, the mountain that we went up hilariously, etc. would forever be called Duckwing Mountain or Mount Duckwing.

When you think about Duckwing think about this true Dogfight biography of one of Dogfights greatest fighters. Remember the sacrifice he made for freedom and how much joy he gave to all who played the game with him. Make sure to say a prayer for the family and remember the sacrifice Jesus made and that by Faith in Him we are able to obtain Eternal Life.

Swopwith Camel, Falcon Chaplain Officer

a great testiment to a great man swop. You spoke words that inspire others to continue the legacy that Duckwing left us - the simple truth that we all need to hear, the term " never give up - never give in - because the day you give in is the day you are a beaten man" we could all learn from Duckwing and carry on this great mans legacy in his honour.