Boy with leukemia earns his pilot wings in a day
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - U.S. Air Force pilots work for years to earn their wings. But for one special local boy, all it took was a single day.
Eleven-year-old Carl Hornbeak-Hess is a kid with a wish.
"I wanted to do something unique that no one has chosen before," he says.
He's also a history buff and an old soul at heart. So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation said he could do anything - be anyone - he knew exactly what to say.
"Be a World War II pilot who's stationed in Pearl Harbor, who is shot down and has to survive with only the things of a World War II pilot," says Carl's stepfather, James Sullivan.
It won't be easy training - but nothing's impossible when you've got guts.
"Carl was diagnosed in June 2011. With ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia)," says Sullivan.
Carl has 2½ years of treatment down - with two years still to go. But on Sunday it wasn't about cancer - it's about a mission. His Objective A - co-pilot a c-17 Air Force jet simulator over Hawaii.
He deals with all the ups and downs - even makes an emergency landing when he loses power in the engines.
"I made it go upside down. Without permission - just sphhh," says Carl.
Objective B was to complete parachute training, then brave the elements.
"I'm going to go out in the woods over there and survive," he says.
He makes a fort, builds a fire, even gets some rest after a long hard day.
"It's not that bad," he says.
So what's next for Carl?
"Well, it's a big secret. I can't say," he demurs.
But KOMO News will declassify the info for you - Carl headed to Hawaii to see Pearl Harbor himself and fulfill his dream of coming face-to-face with history.
Eleven-year-old Carl Hornbeak-Hess is a kid with a wish.
"I wanted to do something unique that no one has chosen before," he says.
He's also a history buff and an old soul at heart. So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation said he could do anything - be anyone - he knew exactly what to say.
"Be a World War II pilot who's stationed in Pearl Harbor, who is shot down and has to survive with only the things of a World War II pilot," says Carl's stepfather, James Sullivan.
It won't be easy training - but nothing's impossible when you've got guts.
"Carl was diagnosed in June 2011. With ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia)," says Sullivan.
Carl has 2½ years of treatment down - with two years still to go. But on Sunday it wasn't about cancer - it's about a mission. His Objective A - co-pilot a c-17 Air Force jet simulator over Hawaii.
He deals with all the ups and downs - even makes an emergency landing when he loses power in the engines.
"I made it go upside down. Without permission - just sphhh," says Carl.
Objective B was to complete parachute training, then brave the elements.
"I'm going to go out in the woods over there and survive," he says.
He makes a fort, builds a fire, even gets some rest after a long hard day.
"It's not that bad," he says.
So what's next for Carl?
"Well, it's a big secret. I can't say," he demurs.
But KOMO News will declassify the info for you - Carl headed to Hawaii to see Pearl Harbor himself and fulfill his dream of coming face-to-face with history.
Breaks my heart to know that there are kids out there that are suffering like this and facing death. I know that it a part of life but it really gets me when its kids. I think that the Make A Wish Foundation is amazing and all who help these kids to have a dream come true are hero's I hope that one day I am able to do some thing like this for some one.
Rock and roll, kid! With an attitude like that you'll fly again someday.
good job Carl! once you get the aviation bug you always have it!Â
You go Carl! Thanks to a great bunch at, "Make a Wish"! Your the, "right stuff "Carl!