Published: May 03, 2008 09:35 pm         

American Airman

Logansport native John Wicker accomplishes his dream of becoming a pilot

It was John Wicker’s dream ever since he was child to become a pilot.

In January, he accomplished his life-long goal, graduating from pilot training and receiving his hard-earned wings.

Laura Brown, mother of the 28-year-old Logansport native, recalls when he was 2, flying toy airplanes through a blanket he imagined were mountains. Model airplanes hung from the ceiling of his bedroom. When he was 8, his grandmother bought him a G.I. Joe Aircraft Carrier that was 8 feet long and 3 feet wide, Brown recalled.

“His dream in life was to someday fly a jet or be a pilot,” she said.

In eighth grade, Wicker took a field trip to Indiana State University in Terre Haute where he rode in a pilot simulator.

“The college was truly amazed at his ability to fly the simulator,” his mom recalled. “The teachers couldn’t believe how he managed that.”

Before long, Wicker was getting his first flying lesson in Kokomo when he was a student at Logansport High School.

He wanted to get his pilot’s license, but Brown, who was a single mother at the time attending school for nursing, knew she couldn’t afford the $4,000 fee.

So at the age of 14, Wicker went to the Logansport Municipal Airport and spoke with Sam Williamson, who was the manager, about working at the airport and getting compensated in lessons.

Williamson agreed.

Wicker manned the front desk, cleaned restrooms and did other maintenance.

“John was there as often as he could be,” Brown recalled. “He managed to put enough hours in to complete all the flying hours required and all the testing, but was lacking only one cross country flight to get his license.”

At that point, Wicker was 17 and preparing to graduate high school.

In May 1998, he started to prepare for his solo cross-country flight, which would allow him to get his pilot license.

His dream was deferred, though, after a campfire accident that led Wicker into a year-long recovery period.

“I remember he was just devastated,” Brown recalled.

In June 1998, Wicker went to Indiana Beach with some friends for what he thought would be a day of fun. However, while lighting a bonfire, a can of gasoline exploded.

“He had second to third-degree burns on his face,” Brown recalled. “Both his shoulders and head were scorched.”

Wicker remembers the trauma.

“I was a mess,” he recalled. “My whole face was swelled up.”

He was transferred by helicopter to Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center at Wishard and began intensive care for his burns. Brown didn’t want Wicker to stay in the hospital, however, so she took him home to get care in Logansport.

“Dr. Jeffrey Granger, who is my son’s idol in the flying world, agreed to accept John as a patient,” Brown recalled.

Granger, who owns a plane and does competition aerobatics in the summer, took Wicker for a flight in his plane after the accident.

Brown remembers the year was tough on Wicker, and it delayed his dream of becoming a pilot.

Instead of going to Purdue where he planned to attend, he stayed home for a semester and took classes at Indiana University.

“Needless to say, John was a little gun shy of completing this cross-country flight alone after all his injuries and year-long treatments,” Brown said. “The reason why he was dragging his feet was to avoid a fire caused by a plane accident. The traumatic accident took the gumption out of him.”

Eventually, in January 1998, Wicker went on to attend Purdue and joined the U.S. Air Force ROTC.

“During this time, he enrolled in course work to obtain his private pilot’s license again,” Brown recalled. “He went through all the same training he previously had completed before his burn accident. He did finally gain enough confidence to complete his cross-country flight and obtain his private pilot’s license.”

After graduating from Purdue and obtaining FAA certification, Wicker was commissioned as a first lieutenant in maintenance on the stealth bombers at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

“He was hoping for a pilot spot, but he didn’t get it,” Brown said.

In fact, Wicker had applied three times for pilot training while stationed in Missouri, but every time, the answer was no.

He didn’t get discouraged, though. Actually, the lesson was an important one for Wicker. He attributes his success as a pilot to persistence.

“I’ve been turned down so many times,” he said.

Finally, on Wicker’s fourth attempt, he was accepted for pilot training with the Air Force.

In October 2006, he went to Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas, for undergraduate pilot training.

Lt. Col. Cheryl Benieke, commander of the 86th flying training squadron, described the training for the program as rigorous.

“Not everyone makes it through, quite honestly,” she said. “It’s a very competitive process.”

The initial training lasts a year and requires hard work and long days of 12 hours or more.

“It’s something you want to do and are willing to spend the time it will take,” Benieke said. “Many of them have wanted to do this for a very long time.”

Wicker successfully passed the training and was eventually promoted to captain.

He also recently attended SERE (Survival, Evade, Resistance, Escape) training in Washington. The training is geared toward crashing and becoming a POW.

“He was literally dropped in the woods for a week with nothing and had to survive with no food, shelter and also not get caught as a POW,” Brown said.

As part of the training, Wicker hiked in 5 inches of snow and went 40 hours without sleep. He also attended water and survival training in the Navy base in Pensacola, Fla.

Wicker continues training until June near Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, home of the Mobility Training Center of Excellence. He will be stationed in Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina for the next four years.

He is flying a C-17 Jet around the world. The jet is a rapid and troop transport with speeds up to 315 miles per hour.

Wicker, who has a wife, Courtni, and son Christian, 4, as well as another son on the way, said he was living out a dream.

“John’s comments regarding training are, ‘I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this,’” Brown said.

Wicker advises anyone who has a dream not to give up.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it,” he said. “There’s always a way.”

Brown said her son had set an example for others to follow.

“He’s very much an American warrior,” she said. “He’s the perfect example of having a dream and getting there.”

Melissa Soria may be reached at (574) 732-5143 or via e-mail at melissa.soria@pharostribune.com