Lieutenant's dream takes flight

Published Oct. 14, 2011
By Christin Michaud
Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- A young boy growing up on the outskirts of Atlanta not far from the airport watched as planes flew over his childhood home. The 4-year-old began to dream about what it would be like to one day soar in those skies.

"It has always been a dream of mine to become a pilot," said 1st Lt. Clarence Garden, executive officer to the commander for Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. "I'm in a financial situation where I am able to do it now."

He made that dream a reality two decades later after receiving a commission in the Air Force.

Garden took advantage of the Dover AFB Aero Club program which offers competitive rates for those learning to fly. He spent close to a year working toward his dream and earned his private pilot's license March 27, 2011.

Instructor John Jilek said he was pleased to see someone achieve their goal.
"I'm happy to see Lt. Garden meet his goal within a year," said Jilek. "I hope to see Lt. Garden go from private pilot to instrument to commercial."

Garden said he hopes to one day make a living flying.

"Until then, I enjoy it as a hobby," he said. "It's my stress reliever."

The experience, he said, is one of the best feelings in the world. He enjoys the feeling of freedom in the air and the sense of accomplishment after completing a flight.

The feeling of accomplishment was stronger last month when he said he lost communication and had to come up with a contingency plan.

It was kind of scary, he added.

"I took off from Dover and I realized it was very hard to hear the controller once I got airborne ... my radio went completely out."

Garden landed at a small airport in Middletown, Del., and called the control tower here. The controller gave him a distinct transponder code to help them see where he was on the radar.

"If my radios still didn't work by the time I got to Dover, they gave me specific landing instructions," he said. "Luckily when I took off, my radios began to work properly again. Crisis diverted!"

The scare didn't deter him from his love of flying and continuing to follow his dream.
"Whatever you want to pursue in life, it's simple," said the pilot. "Put all excuses aside, and just do it - and never take no for an answer."