JEDDAH: Capt. Jose (Joe) Grant, a recipient of the King Abdul Aziz Medal (First Class), arrived in Jeddah yesterday and will be traveling to Riyadh for an audience with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
Grant flew King Abdul Aziz in a Douglas DC3 plane that was given to the Kingdom’s founder by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. The plane, which was luxuriously fitted with wooden trimmings and special seating, was given to King Abdul Aziz during their historic meeting on board the USS Quincy on Feb. 14, 1945, sparking the formation of the Kingdom’s national airline.
“He used to sit with me in the cockpit in the copilot’s seat sometimes,” said Grant at a private lunch. “He would quietly stroke his beard and ask me questions about the controls and the airplane. He wanted to know everything. He was a great man and a man of tremendous foresight.”
Grant stayed for a few years in the Kingdom and, with two colleagues, trained the cadre of pilots that was to become the basis for the modern Saudi Arabian Airlines.
In January this year, Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel A. Al-Jubeir presented the King Abdul Aziz Medal to the 101-year-old Grant.
“Grant’s contributions to helping foster Saudi-US relations are deeply appreciated to this day,” said Al-Jubeir at the Washington ceremony. “We are pleased to honor such a longstanding friend and wish him happiness and continued good health.”
Grant is accompanied by his son Edward, daughter Tracey, and two companions — Dr. Michael Saba and Jim Bleth.
