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Former Air Force Captain Ralph Galati considers himself a lucky guy.

Last year he received what's called a "champagne flight," getting sprayed with a bottle after completing his ceremonial final flight.

"I did it after 51 years," he says.

Galati first joined the Air Force ROTC while a student at what was then, St. Joe's College.

When he graduated in 1970, he was commissioned the same day as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and went right into flight school. He came home for the holidays, got married, then returned to California for more training in F-4 school.

He became equipped to fly the F-4, which is a two-seat jet fighter.

"Did that for six months and then right off to Vietnam,"

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