*Sneak Peek
1967 Pontiac GTO
2019 MCACN Vietnam Veterans Special Display
Owner: Greg Owen, Georgia
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HONORING THOSE WHO RETURNED...AND SOME WHO DID NOT
There is no doubt that the cars are great and they really are what brings us together at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show. So many of them allow us to recount fun memories and allow us to step back to a time long before laptops, I-pads and even the internet. Every once in a while, someone shares a story with me that really hits home, and that is why we have decided to honor some very special people, many of whom are overlooked or even forgotten.
Recently I received a call from a gentleman named Greg Owen, who lives in Georgia. Greg owns a show stopping 1967 GTO, and he has been thinking about joining us. As is often the case, we got to talking about his car, and how he came across it.
That led to a story that I think is better told by Greg himself;
"The original owner of my '67 GTO was a young man named Jack who attended Auburn University. He and his younger brother, Danny, shared the car. Jack is better known as Captain John "Jackie" Smallwood, U.S. Airforce. Captain Smallwood served as an Electronic Weapons Specialty Officer on an F-4 Phantom jet during the Vietnam War.
On June 13, 1972 Captain Smallwood and pilot Colonel "Hands" Handley were involved in a supersonic Dogfight. What made this dogfight different from others was it is the only recorded supersonic dogfight in history "using guns only " traveling at a speed of 1.2 Mach or 920.723 miles per hour, faster than the speed of sound. The result of this dogfight was one MIG shot down and a second one running for the hills. A video reenactment of this event narrated by Colonel Handley can be seen on the History Channel program "Dogfights." I cannot begin to imagine shooting down a MIG using guns only at that speed nor remaining a calm as they did.
Captain Smallwood was a highly decorated officer. He was awarded the Silver Star, Flying Cross and Purple Heart for selfless acts of valor. On June 16, 1973 Captain Smallwood and pilot, Major Samuel Cornelius were shot down by ground fire over Cambodia. Both were declared missing in action and their bodies have never been found. At that time Smallwood had flown over one hundred missions.
In 1986 Captain Smallwood's parents moved into my neighborhood near Atlanta and we soon became friends. The GTO sat in their carport for years and I knew the sentimental attachment was strong. On more than one occasion I told them if they ever wanted to sell it I would restore it in their sons honor. It was a complete numbers matching car missing only the factory radio. In 1997 after Captain Smallwood's father died , Danny, his younger brother, contacted me and told me his mother was willing to sell the car if I would keep my promise to restore it in her son's memory. I bought it for 3k dollars and it sat in my garage for the next 15 yrs as I saved money for the restoration.
Finally in 2012 the restoration began. Clyde Argo, who is also a Vietnam Veteran , told me it would be an honor to do the restoration after hearing the history of the car. In 2013 the restoration was complete. To me this car represents Captain John J. Smallwood and the ultimate sacrifice he made for our freedom and his country. Owning a car that belonged to and was driven by a true hero is an honor that cannot even be expressed by words only. His car needs to be seen, not locked away in a garage , and the story of Captain John J. Smallwood needs to be told.
As a Vietnam Era Veteran myself I feel incredibly proud to be able to tell his
story and share his car with other car enthusiasts.
This November we will be hosting a very special display honoring those who served in the Vietnam war, along with those who would like to honor these Veterans by showing cars that have related history. If you are a Vietnam era Veteran with a car, or you own a car with ties to a Vietnam Vet, please consider joining us.
We thank Greg Owen for sharing his story and we look forward to hosting him with his beautiful GTO. Greg will serve as our onsite Host, and we hope that this small gesture will have some meaning to those who served along with the families that were affected. If you own a suitable car, please consider joining us to share your story.
On Sunday, November 24, 2019 we invite all members of the military to join us at the MCACN show with FREE admission. Check in at our Military Members welcome table in the lobby, present your military identification and we will provide a single day admission ticket "gratis".
With Sincere Appreciation to Greg and all of our Vietnam Veterans and their families. Looking forward to having you join us
Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24.
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