I wish I could have lived the life of Jimmy Doolittle.
B.S. from UC Berkley and M.S. and PhD from MIT.
Earned his pilot wings in 1918. First pilot to perform an outside loop. First pilot to takeoff and land an airplane entirely on instruments. Winner of the Schneider, Bendix, and Thompson air racing trophies. Managed the aviation department at Shell Oil.
Came back on active duty at the start of WW II. Planned and lead the Doolittle Raid. Won the Medal of Honor. Continued to fly on missions as a general officer in various commands with the 12th, 15th, and 8th Air Forces. Made the courageous (and correct) decision to allow 8th AF fighters to go on the offensive vs. Luftwaffe fighters in early 1944 (vs. staying in close escort with 8th AF bombers), effectively eliminating the Luftwaffe fighters from NW Europe by the time of the Normandy invasion.
Served as a general officer with the USAF Reserve post-WW II and also as a director at Shell Oil. Retired as a 4-star general.
Married to his wife for over 70 years.
"
I Could Never Be So Lucky Again"
https://www.amazon.com/Could-Never-Lucky-Again-Autobiography/dp/0887407374
"Human existence is based upon two pillars: Compassion and knowledge. Compassion without knowledge is ineffective; Knowledge without compassion is inhuman." Victor Weisskopf.