Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Planes
Previously in chapter 1, Hillenbrand states, "Only one thing scared him, when Louie was in late boyhood a pilot landed a plane near Torrance and took Louie up for a flight... but the speed and altitude frightened him. from that day on he wanted nothing to do with airplanes" (7). Its amazing how people can change over time, Louie who was petrified of planes for most of his life, but then grew up to become a member of the Air Force never looking back once after making the decision. However; after reading page 67 I questioned if Louie still liked the decision he made. The book reads," Both crews went to their planes, but at the last minute, Phil's crew was ordered back. The other crew took off, flew two miles, and crashed, killing the pilot and navigator" (Hillenbrand 67). That could have been Louie in that plane, he could have been the one killed if his plane had no gotten called back. After reading this I questioned whether Louie was still satisfied with choosing the Air Force or if he was reliving his childhood of being scared of planes and wishing he had chosen a different branch of the Army. Do you think Louie thought about the possibilities of that being him in the plane crash? Or do you think it went right over his head and didn't concern him because he is such a dare devil?
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I do think he thought about it, who wouldn't? But I think his mentality has changed. His mental toughness has grown where it may not bother him as much. I believe in order to do what he does, he needs to be aware of outcomes like that but be optimistic it won't happen. I think if he lived and flew planes in fear and worry then something bad would end up happening to him. I also think by going into the branch he was scared of, shows the toughness he has and how fearless he is. I admire that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kazi. He must have thought about the possibility that he could have been in that plane crash. Even though Louie is a tough guy, he still has feelings, thoughts, and emotions about the reality of what is happening in the war. Louie probably felt fear and guilt from the thought that he could have been in the plane. He is mentally and physically tough but still capable of demonstrating emotions that make people human, which is an admirable trait. I do not think Louie has even taken time to consider his position in the Air Force. Even if Louie did have the opportunity to change branches at this point in the book, I do not think he would. Louie has established relationships with the people he works with. Phil, for example, has become one of his really good friends. Louie has also gone through a lot of training and is accustomed to his routine and position in the Air Force.
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