Veteran's jet dream takes flight in Holmes

As a former pilot, Sgt. Gene Leyda of the United States Army has flown many assignments and been in the air more times than he can remember.

Recently, he found himself in air in what was a first for him, and he was excited to experience a new feel that left him soaring.

Despite being a pilot, Leyda had never flown in a jet before, so he and his companion Marilyn decided to head to the Holmes County Airport to explore the possibility of heading to the skies courtesy of pilot Larry Clark, who happens to own and fly a Citation jet out of the Holmes County Airport.

“Yeah, Gene stopped out one day, and we were talking about his time in the Army, and he asked me if that was my jet,” Clark said. “When I told him it was, he said it sure would be neat to fly in it.”

The initial news wasn’t doing them any favors.

“When we asked about it, Larry said it would cost $500 just to start the engines,” Leyda said. “Right then we knew we couldn’t afford to take the flight.”

The two went home, dejected, disappointed, assuming the jet flight would never come.

However, a couple of days later, Leyda received a phone call from Clark, asking him if he was still interested in soaring to the heavens in a jet.

“Of course I did, but I told them I still don’t have the money to make that happen,” Leyda said.

Unbeknownst to Leyda, Clark's daughter Leah Clark was working at the airport when Leyda had stopped by, and she is a member of the Millersburg American Legion Post #192 Women’s Auxiliary, a group known for making dreams come true for veterans.

In hearing the veteran was eager to experience the joy of flying in a jet, the news soon got to the Millersburg American Legion, where the women’s auxiliary quickly agreed to come up with the funds to pay for the flight and fulfill Leyda’s dream.

“After hearing about his dream, I contacted the auxiliary members, and we figured, 'Why not pay for the ride?'” Leah Clark said. “Gene is such a neat character, and we loved the idea of being able to help him out with this.”

Her father also is known for extending acts of kindness when it comes to special flights, and he was more than happy to oblige in making this one happen.

“That’s one of the joys of my job as a pilot,” Clark said.

Originally slated for November, the flight was postponed due to poor weather conditions, but on a bright day in late January, Clark ushered Leyda and Marilyn onto his Citation jet.

Sitting beside Clark in the cockpit of the Citation was Jack Nippert, an airplane mechanic and pilot, and Leyda and Marilyn settled into the passengers’ seats behind the two.

“We got on board, and the first thing he asked me was, ‘Where do you want to go?’” Leyda said.

Having grown up near Shreve Lake, that was where Leyda wanted to explore first. The flight soared past his childhood home, over his home church at Ripley Church of Christ and all over Western Holmes County.

“It was kind of neat flying over where he used to live and farm,” Larry Clark said. “He was grinning from ear to ear.”

It was everything Leyda had hoped to capture in his inaugural jet experience.

“It was amazing,” Leyda said. “We are so grateful to the Millersburg American Legion and the women’s auxiliary for making this happen, and God bless Larry Clark for giving us a flawless, smooth flight and making the experience so memorable."

Thanks to the kindness of Millersburg American Legion Post #192 Women’s Auxiliary, this was one dream that came true. The auxiliary continues to serve the community in many similar ways, especially when it comes to supporting local veterans. In addition, they work to get veterans on the national Honor Flight and send two young women to the American Legion Girls State in Washington, D.C., along with numerous other ventures.

As for Leyda, with that bucket list item now taken care of, he has already circled another one.

“My next goal is to get up in the Goodyear Blimp, something else I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.

Certainly lofty goals for a 93-year-old Army veteran, but at this point, it’s tough to bet against this Army veteran’s chances of seeing the world from a blimp’s point of view.