- "he was a f***in' arrogant prick and could not stand to even be in the same room with him"
- it is not easy being a living legend I suppose. funny thing about us is that we expect people that have accomplished things the rest of us have read about to be cool...kind of like the movies, heroes are always the best people...reality is of course divergent from that course...have known plenty of people that when the impossible needs done, you want him there, then you wish you could stick them beside the fire extinguisher and forget them until the next fire.
Am not excusing him or his actions, but really, just because people know his name does NOT equal cool dude.
then again I knew DeBellevue and he was very cool, despite the American Fighter Pilot Association refusing to recognize him (not that it matters, how many even heard of the AFPA? Exactly) And he had more confirmed kills than anybody.
And, on a similar point, look at Bill Gates, he is the definition of the American Dream...came from insignificance, built an Empire and became the richest dude in the world and literally a household name...and how many people hate that guy? Welcome to the paradox of Americana...we treasure the idea of the underdog that beats all odds to emerge the very best, then spend the rest of the time hurling arrows instead of flowers at the very same dog
By the way, in case you didnt know, Chuck Yeager was/is a total arrogant SOB as well...just ask.
cheers