U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Stood Behind Veterans As Crowd Cheered
A special group of World War II veterans were welcomed on the stage at SUN ’n FUN Tuesday as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds stood behind them to cheers from the crowd.
Each veteran was introduced on the stage. They included Hawley Taylor, 98, a Navy veteran; Ed Diaz, 99, also a Navy veteran who served on submarines in the Pacific; Howard Knox, who served 20 years in the Navy Seabees; and Sgt. Irwin Landis, “soon to be 102,” who served in the U.S. Army 78th Infantry at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and spent 127 days on the front line.
Also honored was Frank Kurowski, a Navy veteran; Private John Stamey, 100, who served in Iraq during World War II and helped recover artifacts in Europe after the war; and Robert E. Taylor, 100, who survived the sinking of the USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. He is the last surviving member of the Yorktown.
Also present were Jordan “JJ” Corbett, 103, one of the first Black paratroopers in the U.S. Army's 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, known as The Triple Nickle, who later guided many young people in their careers; and Robert “Bob” McClintock, 107, a former Army Air Corp pilot.
“I cannot think of a greater honor than to stand here with these heroes,” said Lt. Col. Alexander “Knight” Prevendar, commander and leader (Thunderbird 1) for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds 2026–2027 show season.
“Not only is this show special to you, it is for us too. We will be loud and fast this weekend,” he said.
FMI: www.flysnf.org
