I actually knew General Yeager. We are both members
of the Nevada County Sportsmens Club which is on
the outskirts of Nevada City, Ca. His first wife,
Glennis, grew up in the Grass Valley/Nevada City area
which is what brought him to the area originally.
Our club has a rifle/pistol range, a trap range
a 5 star archery range, and a kitchen, full bar,
and meeting room building. It may sound like we
are an uppity lot but we are just a working man’s
club with a maximim of 200 members. I paid $300.00
for my membership in ‘87 plus yearly dues and 24
work hours/yr. I think Yeager joined around 1982.
We can be found online under Nevada County Sportsmens
Club.
What you posted about Chuck is very possible. I
think he blew hot and cold. On the range he could
be pretty hard-assed if he was crossed but he could
also be a real gentleman and friendly guy, He
once showed me some self-loaded rifle ammo. He
had marked it with an electric pen in writing
so small it seemed like I would need a microscope
to read his writing. But that is what his eyesight
was like and he was in his 70s at the time. He was
never anything but nice to me but there were times
a few other members experienced the hard assed
General Chuck side. He might have liked me because
I used to be on the kitchen crew and we cooked
killer corned beef and cabbage which he said was
his favorite.
You are a lucky man.
I have no doubt with him, that if you were in, you were in solid. I like that with people. Often, people like him have to respect you. In his case, he was a celebrity, so that changes a lot of dynamics.
Talk about a life well lived, and you were part of it...:)
My Dad was in Yeager’s squadron when Yeager was a Sq/CC. He said Yaeger was an incredible pilot but didn’t say anything else about him. If he had LIKED Yaeger he probably would have. Dad wasn’t shy about remembering good times with good guys but didn’t like to slam anyone he worked with. And my Dad could be a real hard ass too.
My Mom thought his wife was a stuck-up snob who refused to associate with the other wives. My Mom had no problem criticizing people she disliked.