HAYDEN — Gil Low didn't have to see the memorabilia of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington to satisfy his desire to pay respects to the heroic World War II combat pilot and Marine.

Just being at the Pappy Boyington Veterans Museum on Monday was humbling enough for the 97-year-old Low, who was also a World War II pilot and served during the Korean War, Vietnam War and Cold War.

Low, who has lost most of his eyesight, wore his World War II Navy uniform during his visit to the museum that fulfilled a request he made as a resident of a nursing home in Pullman.

"I saw Pappy when I was aboard the Lexington," Low said softly. "It was the first time he landed on a carrier. He visited with and had lunch with our officers, seemed very friendly. I wanted to come up to the museum because Pappy flew the same kind of airplane (Corsair fighter aircraft) that I did."

Low said the museum visit brought back memories.

"I have a warm feeling," he said.

Boyington, who received both the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross, was captured by a Japanese submarine crew in the Pacific Ocean after his plane was shot down in 1944. He was held as a prisoner of war for more than a year and a half. The TV series "Baa Baa Black Sheep" in the late 1970s was inspired by Boyington and his men in the "Black Sheep" squadron.

Low smiled widely when he was handed a plastic replica of the Corsair plane that he and Boyington flew. He promptly described the features of the aircraft.

When he was showed a statue of Boyington, Low said he could make out just enough details to recognize him.

"Yep, that's him all right," Low said.

Boyington isn't the only famous pilot Low crossed paths with.

When he was 14 and learning how to fly, a woman flew into a hangar he occupied.

"She put her hand on my head and said, 'I want a cup of coffee, kid,'" Low said. "I didn't know who it was and my boss told me to go get her coffee first and he'd tell me who she is."

It was Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

"I couldn't talk for 10 minutes because I was in awe," Low said.

He said Earhart asked Low if he was flying yet.

"No, no one will sign papers," Low said of his response. "She then signed the papers to encourage my mom to let me fly."

Low is a decorated veteran himself, having received the Purple Heart after being wounded as a passenger while an airplane was landing.

"There were 15 people aboard besides the pilots and we all ended up on the pilots during the crash," said Low, who broke both wrists. "Nobody was killed."

Tosha Killinger, life enhancement coordinator at Regency Pullman where Low lives, said Low's health recently took a turn for the worse but still wanted to make the two-hour trek to the museum.

"He really wanted to come up here," Killinger said.