Youth fighting disease becomes pilot for a day

Aviation units at Naval Air Station Whiting field teamed with Sacred Heart Hospital, July 12, to brighten up the day for one local boy.

  Patton Goetter, 12, doesn’t seem different than any other kid his age.  He smiles – a lot, laughs, tell jokes and dreams of one day flying jets for the military.  However, Patton also suffers from cystic fibrosis, but for one day, he got a little taste of his dream. 

Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN and Training Squadron THREE hosted Patton for the “Pilot for a Day” program.  The program is a monthly cooperative effort with Sacred Heart to help seriously ill children enjoy a day centered on them.  All six of Training Air Wing FIVE’s training squadrons participate in the event, planning a full day of activities, around the base each month for the child selected by Sacred Heart.

For more on this story, see the July 28 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.