MY FATHER John Westbrook Haken was a great dad, an awesome pilot and an honorable yet humble man. He began his career with the Air Force after he was approached by them in his third year of engineering school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He served his country flying KC 135's refueling B 52's in flight and he also was a flight instructor early in his career while stationed at KI Sawyer. He was recently described to me as such... "I knew your dad ,as all squadron pilots did, because he was a check pilot in our unit. He was tough but very fair as an evaluator and was respected by all squadron pilots." After he left Sawyer, he transferred to Eglin where he learned to fly T-28 and was the last of the pilots who flew them over the Ho Chi Min Trail during Viet Nam Conflict…his group were called "Zorro." During that time, he received 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star. After that, he was stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii where he still flew but was also Base Operations Officer. After 4 years, he was transferred to Langley Headquarters where he stayed behind the scenes and worked confidentially with the CIA and he could never divulge what he was doing but because of borderline glaucoma, he had to stop flying, but he always said he was ok with that. Unfortunately, he divorced my mom in 1977 which broke my heart but things were weird back then, he had read a book, "I'm Ok, You're Ok" and lots of guys jumped ship so to speak back in those days. He married another woman in 1979 and was married to her about 11 years before he died. My dad was way too young when he died of Pancreatic Cancer. I was with him by his side when he left. I spent the night with him the last night he was alive in the hospital and slept on a cot next to his bed. I held his hand the whole night long. It has been 25 years since he died and I not a day goes by that I don't miss him like crazy. I will always cherish the times I spent with him; fishing, playing cards, playing tennis, going out on dinner dates with him, and just hanging out with him. He was the best dad a girl could ever ask for. Rest in peace, Dad. I love you with all my heart.
Linda Marie 
