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Coach Randy left his teaching job. He joined the U.S. Navy to fly jets.
That victory in May, 1972 made the Phantom pilot an ace. He became a highly decorated pilot in the Vietnam War. As the first fighter ace of the war, Cunningham was nominated for the Medal of Honor, got the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, and other medals. After the war he was made a Top Gun instructor. Later he started his own aviation company. Success might have been his middle name. Fifteen years ago he entered politics. In 2002, the people of California's 50th Congressional District elected "Duke" Cunningham to his 7th term in the House of Representatives. Randy has collected awards in his political life too. Champion for Children Award for Impact Aid, Champion of Science Award, Upward Bound and Student Support, Services Police Officers Association of Michigan Law Enforcement of the Year, Outstanding Member of the United States House of Representatives and Collier Award National Aeronautic Association. Those are just in 2004. What a guy! Cunningham kept his position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee because voters returned a Republican majority to both chambers of Congress. Awards, military and civilian, give a person a "long" shadow. Every time a famous person is introduced there is a temptation that comes to the eminent one. It's the lure to believe the slight exaggerations spoken about them. There was, in the 90s, a Christian author whose name was on all our lips. His books on how to "order your private world" were studied and quoted most palaces I went. I loved his work. However there was this woman that his wife didn't know about... After years of disgrace the writer told someone I know: "H.B. I fell because I kept running the red lights." There are few things as dangerous as great wealth, but fame is even more lethal. How easily we start to believe that we deserve the good life. God sends warning lights and we sail on by, assured by our own popularity. God will send a cautioning friend or a spouse whose probing question should arrest progress towards the wrong. If you still won't listen, God will up the color of the lights. Randy began to see the red lights, but he wouldn't stop. After all, "those worries are for lesser mortals" he thought. In November 2005 Cunningham resigned his office after pleading guilty to fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery and tax evasion in a political corruption case. With tears he confessed: "I misled my friends, my family and myself. I broke the law and disgraced my office and myself. I will have to forfeit my freedom (he could go to jail for 10 years) In my life I have (known) great joy and great sorrow, and now I know great shame." The case involves $2.4 million in bribes: money, rugs, yacht club fees, antiques, furniture, and vacations. Please don't think this only happens to the select few at the "top" of the tree. God requires three things of everyone: "He has made clear to you, O man, what is good; only doing what is right, loving mercy, and walking without pride before your God." Micah 6:8 |