Jack Everling enlisted in the Navy V-5 program in 1945, but did not get to flight school until 1947–and thanks to severe cutbacks in Navy flying did not get his wings until 1949. He flew Skyraiders in combat in Korea–102 missions off the USS Princeton; then in 1955 became the first Air Department officer aboard USS Saratoga, helping put her into commission in 1956. Toward the end of his career, he was one of the last six officers assigned to NAS Quonset Point, with the sad duty of closing the base.