Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:
I met Jimmie Wayne Wygal for the first time on Sunday, February 27, 1955. Jimmie was from Ralls, Texas, and I was from Brielle, New Jersey. We met at the Indoctrination Battalion of the Naval Aviation Pre-Right School a the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. There were 32 Naval Aviation Cadets (NAVDADS) in our class, 8-55, and we were all around nineten years old. Jimmie's outgoing personality, positive attitude, sense of humor and sincerity were immediately obvious and made him, by far, one of the most popular cadets in our class.

Jimmie and I and Wally Vance from Houston, Texas, became good friends and after the first 16 weeks of Pre-Flight, we moved on to Primary Flight training at various fields in the Pensacola area. Although Jimmie and Wally pursued the single-engine training curriculum and I the multi-engine program, our paths crossed many times during the basic training phase and our friendship flourished. Jimmie was an outstanding pilot with two immediate personal objectives; (1) to earn his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold along with his commission as an Ensign in the Navy and, (2) immediately upon achieving this objective, to return to Ralls and marry Glenda June Moses.

Late in the Spring of 1956, Jimmie, Wally and I finished Basic Right Training and moved on to Advanced Training in Kingsville, Texas. Our friendship continued and we shared our enthusiasm, love offlying and what we hoped the future held for each of us. Jimmie's objectives became even more intense as their achievement neared. He never lost focus and his constant enthusiasm motivated his peers. In many respects - not limited to driving - Jimmie was the 'designated driver' long before the phrase was coined.

Jimmie completed his training and earned his Wings and commission early in August, 1956, several weeks ahead of Wally and me. Jimmie returned to Ralls and set the date to marry Glenda June: August 18th. Wally and I were invited to the wedding; in fact, I still have the envelope on which Jimmie drew the map showing the way to Ralls and to the church. Wally and I were in the final phase of our training and, unfortunately, were unable to attend Jimmie and Glenda's wedding.

Along with Jimmie's flight instructor, Wally and I attended Jimmie's funeral on Saturday, September 1, 1956, in Ralls. Jimmie died on August 28th in an auto accident in Arizona en route to his duty assignment in California. Fortunately, Glenda survived.

In spite of the solemnity of the occasion, I am appreciative of having had the opportunity to meet Jimmie's family and friends. He had talked of them and his hometown so often, I felt that I knew them. Years later, I came to understand and appreciate Jimmie's love for Texas and its people hwen my family and I lived in Houston from 1966 to 1978.

This was all fifty-two years ago. I have had no contact with anyone from Jimmie's family since September 1, 1956, although I'm sure they are still an inegral, repsected and contributing part of the Ralls area.

Please understand the reason for this letter is that there have been certain events and people throughout my life that will always be with me; knowing Jimmie Wygal, if only for about eighteen months of our lives, encompasses such a person and several such events. perhaps a little selfish on my part, but I want to let those involved know how significant this experience has been and how it all remains with me even today.

Sincerely,
Bill Onderdonk

Editor's note: Jimmie Wygal was a 1952 graduate of Ralls High School. The Ralls Historical Museum houses a framed picture of Mr. Wygal along with memorabilia in the Veteran's Room. The photo of Mr. Wygal was furnished courtesy of the Museum.

Father: Loyd Aubry WYGAL
Mother: Pernecia GANNON