Posted on Jan 2, 2016
Retired Pilots Tell Woman of Father She Never Knew in Vietnam
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RP Members another great story about a Veteran of Vietnam and their story!
Over the fireplace of Billy Mobley's home in Stephenville, Texas, there's a Christmas gift painting that holds memories of Phan Khoi, the man he taught to fly for a country that was then called South Vietnam.
Khoi's daughter, Erika Colligan of San Diego, spent three decades trying to track down the paintings her father had given to the Americans he had befriended in a time of war. Now, thanks to Mobley, a retired Air Force colonel, and others, she is getting to know who her father was.
"I was in search of his paintings but now I learned of him as well, his disposition," said Colligan, whose father died in a plane crash in South Vietnam when she was just 1 year old.
Mobley, 82, said the painting in his home depicts his name in abstract symbols.
Over the fireplace of Billy Mobley's home in Stephenville, Texas, there's a Christmas gift painting that holds memories of Phan Khoi, the man he taught to fly for a country that was then called South Vietnam.
Khoi's daughter, Erika Colligan of San Diego, spent three decades trying to track down the paintings her father had given to the Americans he had befriended in a time of war. Now, thanks to Mobley, a retired Air Force colonel, and others, she is getting to know who her father was.
"I was in search of his paintings but now I learned of him as well, his disposition," said Colligan, whose father died in a plane crash in South Vietnam when she was just 1 year old.
Mobley, 82, said the painting in his home depicts his name in abstract symbols.
Retired Pilots Tell Woman of Father She Never Knew in Vietnam
Posted from military.com
Vietnam War
Pilot
Vietnam
Military History
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 3
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Awesome story, thanks for sharing. I'm glad this young lady got to learn about the Dad she never knew!
Awesome story, thanks for sharing. I'm glad this young lady got to learn about the Dad she never knew!
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Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce
I agree this is an awesome story, I wonder how many other Veteran's could share stories with the children of fallen comrades? I bet it would benefit the surviving Veterans and children of the deceased service members.
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LtCol Robert Quinter
Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce - Unfortunately, many of my compatriots were just the age to leave a wife and child, or a wife carrying a child, when they left for the war. Occasionally, I will have that child call and ask about the father they never knew. It's truly a heart wrenching experience to try to explain who their father was to them. Explaining he was a good man and good pilot never seems to be enough and you try so hard to give them a memory that illustrates something they want to remember of a father they never met.
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That is is very good news COL Mikel J. Burroughs. I am glad that Billy Mobley was able to share memories of Phan Khoi with his daughter Erika Colligan.
Hopefully that brings joy and closure his the daughter of the pilot she never knew.
Hopefully that brings joy and closure his the daughter of the pilot she never knew.
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