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A very special fishing trip with the first man to set foot on the moon

31 August 2012 Last Updated on 31 August 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Cmdr. Neil Armstrong and Mark Futch in May of 1991 aboard the Sitarah. Photo submitted by Mark Futch

Commander Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 25. He had Boca Grande connections through friends here, and even visited The Island School last February.
On Friday, Aug. 31 a private funeral service will be held for one of America’s greatest icons, and it is only fitting it will be held on the same day as a rare ‘blue moon.’
Island resident Mark Futch had the rare opportunity to not only meet Cmdr. Armstrong, but to fish with him all day. Here is his story.

BY MARK FUTCH - Roger Howe, the Chairman of U.S. Precision Lens and longtime customer of Boca Grande Seaplane, chartered Nat (Italiano) and I for a tarpon trip. We arrived at the dock to pick up our people at 9 a.m. Roger mentioned he had a treat for me and, to my surprise, the person who stepped onboard the boat was none other than the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong. I was honored and excited.

As we taxied out of the Bayou, he glanced at my Maule seaplane and made the comment, “Such graceful lines for a workhorse.”

“I take it Roger told you about my seaplane business,” I replied.

“Since you are on my boat,” I confessed, “we are going to talk about the moon shot.“

He replied, “Feel free.”

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