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Carl “Chick” Vick 83, of Fort Sumner, NM died Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at his home following an illness. Carl was born February 28, 1926 in Roscoe, TX the son of Jess Oren Vick and the former Carrie Amelia Harralson.
Carl made Fort Sumner his home in 1937. He attended Fort Sumner Schools. Carl married Betty Jo Brown on August 15, 1948 at the Fort Sumner Church of Christ. He served in the U.S. Navy from February 23, 1944 until his honorable discharge on May 13, 1946. He served in the South Pacific as a Radar Operator aboard the USS Hancock; and USS Cape Esperance the first ship to enter Tokoyo Bay.
Carl served 30 years with the NM National Guard as 1st Sergeant of the (Radio Controlled Aircraft) RCAT Unit, he considered himself privileged to serve with three generations of exemplary young men from the Eastern NM area. He retired from the NM National Guard in 1986. Following his retirement he worked for the NASA Scientific Balloon Research Facility in Fort Sumner for 18 years.
Carl was a member of the Church of Christ; a lifelong member of the Pitiful Golfers Association – local chapter, community spirited always looking for the betterment of the community. He was always looking for something – anything dangerous going fast or high including water skiing, golfing, flying R-CATS and R-KITTYS (NM National Guard unmanned target aircraft), fishing, hunting, or maintaining a golf course he built.
He was a husband and father of a highest order.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers Melvin Vick, Dick Vick, Rex Vick, Horace “Hoss” Vick and a grandson John Carl Bilberry in 1992.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years Betty Vick of Fort Sumner, NM; a daughter Carlyn Hodges and husband Eric of Durango, CO; four sons Dr. Jack Vick and wife Joan of Albuquerque and Fort Sumner, NM; Joe Vick of Ventura, CA; Jim Vick of Oxnard, CA; Jeff Vick and wife Shannon of Azel, TX; a brother J.O. Vick and wife Bonnie of Santa Rosa, NM; two sisters Margarete Walker and Bobbie Franks both of Fort Sumner a sister in law Barnedith Vick of Clovis. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 27, 2010 from Fort Sumner Church of Christ, Jack Vick will officiate. Burial with full Military Honors provided by the NM National Guard will follow at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jacob Vick, Jeffery Vick, Kameren Hare, Joe Vick, Jeff Vick and Jim Vick.
The family requests memorial contributions in Carl’s memory to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 1355 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80222-3313. (303) 296-6610.
Dale Burge (1960)
SFC CARL VICK DID NOT GRADUATE IN 1944 BUT LEFT SCHOOL TO JOIN THE NAVY AND FIGHT IN THE WAR. BEING ONLY 17 YEARS OLD IT WAS NECESSARY FOR HIS PARENTS TO SIGN A WAIVER SO THAT HE COULD ENTER MILITARY SERVICE. AT THE TIME HE JOINED THE SERVICE, HE HAD FOUR BROTHERS ALREADY OVERSEAS AND FIGHTING THE WAR. HE RECEIVED HIS GED LATER AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER AND ALSO ATTENDED EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY. CARL WAS A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT.
Dale Burge (1960)
SAGA OF THE JALAPENOAIR FORCE
IN THE STILLNESS OF THE DESERT, AS SUNLIGHT CHASES DARKNESS AWAY,
CAPTAIN CALIENTE’ RISES TO THE OCCASION TO FLY HIS MIG TODAY.
BATTERIES HOT WITH VOLTAGE, CONTROLS CHECKED AND TRIMMED WITH CARE,
HE CLIMBS ABOARD HIS MIG AS THE STENCH OF NITRO FILLS THE AIR.
THE ENGINE SPITS, COUGHS, AND SPUTTERS TO A STOP,
“BETTER CHECK THE GLOW PLUG AND WILL SOMEONE CHECK MY PROP?”
THE ENGINE ROARS TO LIFE AND EAGERLY WAITS TO FLY,
CAPTAIN CALIENTE’ NODS HIS HEAD AND IS TOSSED GENTLY TOWARDS THE SKY.
THE LEFT WING TRIES TO DIP AS THE WIND PUSHES DOWN WITH ALL ITS MIGHT,
BUT CAPTAIN CALIENTE’ MOVES HIS CONTROL STICK QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT.
HE’S GETTING HIGHER NOW, SO HE STARTS TO TURN HIS TRUSTY STEED,
HE RELEASES THE CONTROL STICK FOR A SECOND, TO SEE WHAT TRIM HE’LL NEED.
A “SMIDGEN” HERE, A “SMIDGEN” THERE, AND HE’S SET FOR STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT.
ALTITUDE 300 FEET, HIS ENGINE SCREAMS, ROARS AND PULLS WITH ALL ITS MIGHT,
A SMIRKISH SMILE COMES ON HIS FACE, FOR HE KNOWS THAT HE’S THE BEST,
NOW, IT’S TIME TO FIND A CHAP CREW, AND HE’LL START BY HEADING WEST.
THE CHAP CREW SITS PATIENTLY AS THEY CAREFULLY PLAN THEIR DAY,
MORE CREW DRILLS, MOPP-4, NIGHT MOVES, AND WAR GAMES, THEY’VE REALLY EARNED THEIR PAY.
THEIR TIRED OF SLEEPING IN SAND AND DIRT AND WAKING TO ACHES AND PAINS,
THEY’RE TIRED OF EATING MEALS FROM PLASTIC POUCHES AND GETTING SOAKED BY DESERT RAINS.
SNAKES AND HEAT ARE THEIR COMPANIONS, AS THEY TRAIN WITH ALL THEIR GEAR,
BUT THE EXERCISE WILL BE OVER SOON, AND IT’LL BE TIME TO DRINK SOME BEER.
“I THINK I SEE SOMETHING!!” YELLS THE GUNNER AS HE TURNS TO FACE THE SUN,
HE SQUINTS HIS EYES, LOCKS THE CANOPY AS THE ADRENALIN BEGINS TO RUN.
EVERY EYE NOW NERVOUSLY SEARCHING, AND EVERY EAR LISTENING FOR THAT DREADED SOUND,
“INCOMING MIG, 10 O’CLOCK, 600 METERS, AND HE’S RIGHT ABOVE THE GROUND!”.
“I’VE GOT MISSILE TONE, HE’S ON MY SCREEN!” THE GUNNER LETS OUT THE CRY,
“IF I COULD FIRE MY MISSILE NOW I’D BLOW HIM FROM THE SKY!”
THEY SIT AND WAIT AND PLAY THE GAME AS THE MIG DIVES FROM OVERHEAD,
ITS PILOT SILENTLY THINKS TO HIMSELF, “WERE THEY FAST ENOUGH OR SHOULD ONE OF US BE DEAD?”
HE MAKES ANOTHER PASS, A VICTORY ROLL, AND THEN WAVES TO ALL THE MEN,
THEN LEAVES THE DESERT QUICKLY-CAPTAIN CALIENTE’ HAS STRUCK AGAIN.
HIS EYES ARE WEARY AND HIS FUEL IS LOW AS HE HEADS BACK TOWARDS THE SUN,
A SILENT PRAYER, THOUGHTS OF HOME, A PAT ON THE BACK FOR A JOB WELL DONE!
THROTTLE CLOSING, CONTROLS IN CHECK, HE PREPARES TO END HIS FLIGHT,
ENGINE SILENT, INTO THE WIND, A LITTLE UP, A LITTLE RIGHT.
ALTITUDE 20 FEET, THE GROUND AWAITS HIS GENTLE STEED,
A LITTLE DOWN, A LITTLE LEFT, A FINE APPROACH INDEED.
A CLOUD OF DUST, A GENTLE SLIDE, AND THEN A SUDDEN STOP,
HE HOPS DOWN OFF HIS TRUSTY STEED AND QUICKLY CHECKS ITS PROP.
POWER OFF, HE WALKS AWAY, AND PROUDLY STICKS OUT HIS CHEST,
HIS THOUGHTS OF STARDOM AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, FOR HE KNOWS HE’S TRAINED THE VERY BEST!
DEDICATED TO SFC CARL ALVIN VICK
FEBRUARY 28, 1926-FEBRUARY 24, 2010
“RCMAT PILOT EXTRODINAIRE”
COMPOSED BY SSG DALE K. BURGE
NMARNG RETIRED