The life of Lacy Veach
By: Payton Veach
Intro
I am choosing to focus my ansestor project on my 2nd cousin Lacy Veach. I have herd alot about him from my dad and grandpa and I became fasinated with him and how much of an impact he had on peoples lives and the mark he left on the world. Lacy not only pursued his dreams but showed the world that you can do what ever you put your mind to. I hope I can pursue my dream just as he did.
Early life
Charles Lacy Veach was born September 18, 1944. Lacy was born in Chicago but spent most of his life in Hawaii. Lacy also went to school in Hawaii. Lacy always had the dream of becoming an astronaunt. When he was six he showed his mom a picture of a man on the moon and said "this is what I want to be". At age six Lacy already knew what he wanted.
Accomplishments
Lacy completeted Punahou school in 1962 and entered the U.S. Air Force Academy. He then revived a degree in engineering management. His "high flying adventure" started in 1967 when he recieved his pilot wings from Moody Air Froce Base. Lacy started Fighter Gunnery training at Luke Air Force Base. He spent 14 the next 14 years as an active fighter pilot. He flew the F-100 Super Sabre, F-111 Ardvark and F-105 Thunderchief. After 257 combat missions Lacy earned his a Purple Heart. After recieving this he became a Thunderbird. Lacy resigned from Military duty in 1981, but continued to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon with the Texas air national guard.
Lacy began his NASA studies in January of 1982. He started as an engineer and civillian research pilot, at the johnson space center. Lacy was chosen as a Space shuttle missison speacialist candidate. He was the 10th group of NASA astronuants, in May 1984. Lacy's first mission assignment was delayed. In the fall of 1988 was assigned to work with the air force. Lacy's chance to go up into space and become an astronaunt finally came in October of 1992. This is an experience like no other and Lacy will never forget it.
Looking back
Lacy died in Houston, Texas on October3, 1995 of cancer. Charles lacy veach left his mark on this world and i know people will never forget how kind and caring he always was. From what I've herd about Lacy is nothing but positive things and it makes me happy to know when he died people were an dare still able to remember him for his goodness and intelligent mind. In Punahou there is a "Lacy Veach" day where everyone comes together and remembers celebrates his life and his love for science.
2013 Lacy Veach Day at Punahou (Punavision - December 2013)
Younger photo
Popular photo of him that usually is autographed
NASA photo
NASA astronaunt photo
His view from the shuttle
Lacy's veiw from the space shuttle