Eric Cantu, local Vietnam veteran, marshals Draken International's first flights of 2021

Kinston Veteran Eric Cantu marshalled Draken International’s first flights of 2021 at Kinston Regional Jetport at Stallings Field. Drakan flew the first adversary support sortie on the US Air Force’s Combat Air Force Contracted Air Services (CAF CAS) Adversary Air (ADAIR) contract of the year. Cantu has had a lifelong affection for aviation.

“Aviation was my first love so when I had chance to be a mechanic, I went as a mechanic,” said Cantu. “It started out as a pilot but I couldn’t do that because of my eyes.”

Cantu left home when he was 17 years old and joined the United States Army. In 1964 the Vietnam War impacted Cantu’s choice of military speciality.

“The advent of the vietnam war came about and I realized that my choice of electronics would only put me in the field carrying a radio and I did not want to be on the ground carrying a radio in the wartime,” said Cantu.

His first recollection of anything aviation related was sitting on his father’s lap as a child where he saw squadrons of airplanes at Stallings Field.

“Ive seen this airport change continuously for the last 50 years,” said Cantu. “Its a wonderful change and its a wonderful opportunity to have aviation acknowledged in Eastern North Carolina, especially in Kinston.”

Cantu is the founder of Kinston's G.I. Joe’s Living History Museum a non-profit organization that represents the military faction of all of Eastern North Carolina.

“We try to preserve the history of our fallen, we preserve the history of those who carry the tradition to protect america and its citiens and the life that we know today,” said Cantu.

The mission at G.I. Joe’s Living History Museum is to provide non-political education of the wars of the United States and to honor the men and women who have served this Country.

“I’m grateful to be able to launch this facility and this aircraft into Eastern North Carolina.