Where's Marty? Getting to know Chopper 13 pilot Captain Nate
Hi everyone!
Today it was an honor to get to know a real officer and gentleman. You all know him as Captain Nate, the pilot of Chopper 13, but many others know him as Lt. Commander Nathan Bosch with the U.S. Navy.
Nathan spent more than two decades in the Navy, where at one point he was the "air boss" on a helicopter aircraft carrier. As a matter of fact, when he was promoted to lieutenant commander, it was his daughter who "pinned" him in front of the whole ship.
As "air boss," Nathan was the guy in charge of the airport and all things flying on a carrier, in this case the USS Somerset. Somerset is named for the Pennsylvania county where Flight 93 went on 9/11. It was among three "freedom ships" that were made with material from the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon or a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Interestingly, all U.S. Navy vessels carry an ID number, but the official unofficial number of the Somerset is 93. Displayed on the superstructure are the courageous words uttered by passenger Todd Beamer to others who fought back against their hijackers: "Let's roll."
It is surrounded by 40 stars, one for each passenger and crew member. In the ship's chapel, the "93" is surrounded by 40 stars and one small one for the child of a pregnant passenger. Nathan told us that on 9/11, the crew gathers on the deck with 40 red roses. One by one, with the toll of a bell, each rose is given to the sea. Finally, a white rose representing the purity of the unborn child is dropped into the ocean. (Crying yet? I am as I write this.)
Nate told us that if a family member of a 9/11 victim requests a tour of the ship, they are piped on with the full Naval honors accorded to an admiral or senator. And, as "air boss," he thought it was only fitting that his name not be painted on the back of his chair, which is tradition. Instead, the chair features the name of the pilot in command of Flight 93.
These are things you might not know if you've only seen Chopper 13 on TV. But as I've said so many times before, my goal is to introduce you to people you might not otherwise meet as well as places you might not otherwise go.
Besides his distinguished military career, Nate is the father of two children and a grandfather.
I hope you feel you've gotten to know the man behind Chopper 13 a little bit better with today's segment. From all of us here at WJZ, I want to thank Nathan Bosch for his service to our nation.
Until next time,
Marty B