Hal R. Valeche – 50th Reunion Essay

Hal R. Valeche

338 Vizcaya Drive

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

halrv@comcast.net

561-346-7769

Spouse(s): Stephanie Valeche (1989–2016)

Child(ren): Claire Elizabeth Valeche (1998)

Education: Yale BA 1969, The Wharton School MBA 1983

National Service: US Navy 1969–1975

Career: Navy fighter pilot 6 yrs, Investment Banker 10 years, Business Owner 20 years, City Council and County Commission 12 years

Avocations: Skiing, biking, scuba, bridge

College: Jonathan Edwards

What I find most difficult about writing this is acknowledging that we are REALLY OLD. The conceit that “I’m not that old” goes straight out the window when you sit down to put something in a 50th reunion book. Just imagine how we felt about the 50th reunion class when we were seniors. The Class of 1919, for God’s sake. A bunch of hopeless old fogies. And now there’s no denying that’s what we are. Ugh! How could this have happened to us?

There’s no doubt that four years in the college did a lot in terms of making me into the adult that I became. But when I think about what truly shaped that person, I have no doubt it was the time I spent as a naval aviator. I certainly didn’t love every minute of it, far from it. But it was an experience that was so distinctive, so different from everything I did before or after, that it changed me way beyond what I was expecting.

Going in, I just assumed I would learn how to fly at an advanced level, period. As for the rest, I figured I would put up with it as best as I could. Clearly, very few of us had a positive view of the military back then, and I was among the unconvinced. But shortly after being swallowed up into the training program, my view began to change.

I realized I wasn’t just being technically trained, but that I was being subsumed into a particularly unique culture. The ethos was different from what the rest of the country seemed to be valuing at the time, but it was the basic stuff your parents taught you—strive, be honest, watch out for your buddies, challenge yourself. I found myself buying into that culture quite enthusiastically. This came as quite a surprise to me, since I was your typical smartassed, cynical Yalie. But I truly feel that those values, drummed into me then, are what have guided my life ever since.

The flight training was great. Perfect for a 21-year-old. We were doing something dangerous, but so much fun that we couldn’t believe they were paying us to do it. A great combination at that age. Training done, an immersion into fighter pilot culture, and then, rather unexpectedly, off to Vietnam.

I’m one of, I’m assuming, a handful of us who served in combat in Vietnam. I am proud that I did. It certainly changed my perception of what was really going on over there. It gets reduced to a simple proposition—those people are trying to kill me, I’m a good guy, so they must be the bad guys. Luckily, they missed. I did take an awful lot away from that experience in terms of self-knowledge, and in putting life’s little annoyances into perspective.

I’ve had an interesting life since those days, but I do feel incredibly fortunate that I was able to have the adventure of a lifetime at its beginning.