Neptunus Lex / Carroll LeFon: 1960-2012; Killed in Plane Crash

This is so utterly heartbreaking. He was one of the best of "our crowd;" a writer who made you think, and who cared about words, ideas, and what they meant for national defense. He also lived what he loved, training new generations of pilots to take control of the skies when fighting adversaries. Yesterday one of our most respected military voices, Carroll LeFon - known to most as Neptunus Lex - seemed to be giving us all a heads-up when he wrote these words about a rough landing after a mission.

I supposed it had to happen eventually, everybody has one in time. And I had mine yesterday....It’s funny how quickly you can go from “comfort zone” to “wrestling snakes” in this business. But even snake wrestling beats life in the cube, for me at least. In measured doses. [cont]

Less than a day after Lex posted that essay, his F-21 Kfir jet crashed near the west gate of Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada. He died in the crash. Farewell to you, Lex. You made all of us more thoughtful and informed - and entertained. Thank you for your guidance. Forever skyborne... you have slipped the surly bonds of Earth, and reached out and touched the face of God. And now God has chosen to touch back, to hold on, and bring you home. RIP. And a moment of silence.