Release #: Vol. 84, No. 1
January 01, 2015
ALPA Pilot Runs to Support Wounded Warrior
By John Perkinson, Staff Writer
There are those who choose to live with regret and those who choose to do something about it. F/O Eric Chandler (United) falls into the latter category. Between May and October 2014, the retired Air Force fighter pilot ran the entire Superior Hiking Trail, a path that extends from Duluth, Minn., north along Lake Superior’s rocky western coastline, to the Canadian border. Chandler spanned the 296-mile distance to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, but also to address what he saw as a lost opportunity during his military service overseas.
An F-16 pilot assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing “Bulldogs,” a Minnesota Air National Guard unit, Chandler interviewed with and was hired by United Airlines in 2000. However, his plans for civilian flying were soon interrupted by the events of 9/11. With his junior status at the airline and his guard responsibilities, Chandler was called up and spent three tours of duty in Iraq.
The Duluth resident quickly acclimated to his new flying assignment, but soon noticed the constant stream of helicopters transporting wounded servicemen to the nearby Combat Support Hospital. He observed, “At all hours, the whirring of chopper blades filled the air.”
Many of the pilots from his unit would visit the hospital during their off hours to assist the injured soldiers, but Chandler could not bring himself to get involved. He later realized that his reluctance stemmed from feelings of guilt. “Soldiers and Marines on the ground did the hard work…. Even though I was overhead trying to help those guys, I felt guilty—guilty that I wasn’t doing enough, guilty that I had a gym and good chow and a cool office thousands of feet above the fight.”
By his fourth tour of duty, this time in Afghanistan, Chandler finally overcame his reluctance. He volunteered to give a tour of the flight line to Private First Class Kyle Lynch, who had been shot in the chest but was preparing to return to his unit. “It was one of the best days of my life,” said Chandler, who was truly impressed with Lynch’s positive attitude and recuperative spirit. “When I finally volunteered, it was gratifying,” he noted.
Chandler retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in January 2014 and returned to United in March. But he still felt pangs of regret about not getting involved sooner. While in training, he came up with the idea of running the Superior Hiking Trail. Originating in Duluth, the trail was virtually in his backyard and he could use the event to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, a service organization that provides programs for injured veterans. Chandler was determined to succeed.
On his days off from flying for United, Chandler jogged sections of the trail, covering as many as 18 miles at a time. He described the route as “lots of hills and lots of climbing,” with 50 to 60 streams and rivers to cross. Occasionally, he would bring others to run with him, but his constant companion throughout this trek was his black lab/border collie mix named Leo.
On one occasion, Chandler left a bike and attached bike trailer at one end of the distance he planned to cover and parked his truck at the starting point. To break up the monotony of just running, he jogged with Leo to the bike and rode it back to the truck, transporting the dog in the bike trailer. Chandler thought Leo would appreciate the hiatus, but the dog screamed for the entire ride. “I didn’t know a dog could scream,” he chuckled.
Chandler and Leo made their way past Gooseberry Falls State Park and landmarks like Split Rock Lighthouse, constructed in 1910 to protect ships from the rugged coastline. They continued just east of the Sawtooth Mountains beyond communities like Grand Marais.
The two completed their journey by late October, and Chandler noted that he was truly overwhelmed by the generous support he received. Setting an initial goal of $1,200, he has collected more than $3,600, and contributions continue to roll in. During the five months that it took to traverse the total distance, Chandler managed the occasional fall and undoubtedly covered some of the same ground twice…but he did so with no regrets.
Helping Chandler (third from left) complete the final leg of his nearly 300-mile journey were running buddies (from left) Gary Black, Glen Flanagan, and Andy Hayes. Flanagan and Hayes fly for the Bulldogs (Minnesota Air National Guard).
Running with the pack. During this stretch, Leo had some canine company.
Chandler and his dog, Leo.
Support the Cause
Learn more about F/O Eric Chandler’s journey and contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project.
This article is from the January-February 2015 issue of Air Line Pilot magazine, the Official Journal of the Air Line Pilots Association, International—a monthly publication for all ALPA members.
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