"I can assure you that Capt. Burlingame was an extraordinary individual who led an exemplary life and died a hero. While we will never know for sure what happened on that flight, the people at American Airlines who knew Captain Burlingame the best have no doubt whatsoever that he died while vigorously defending his plane and his passengers. He was, by all accounts, a courageous individual." Arlington Memorial

Thinking about his training, military experience, anti-terrorism background, commitment and physical size makes me believe something other than a kid with a box cutter crashing through the cockpit door happened on that plane. There is no way that he would not have at least broadcast a MAYDAY.

He was a 1971 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an honor graduate of the Navy "Top Gun" school, in Miramar, Calif. He flew F-4 Phantoms for the Navy and served aboard the USS Saratoga. He continued military service as a reserve officer.

He left the Navy in 1979 to pursue a flying career with American Airlines. He was furloughed in 1980 and went to work in the Washington office of Lockheed Aerospace. According to classmate Marks, Chic was well thought of at Lockheed -- to the point that even after his recall to American in 1984 he stayed on as a consultant with Lockheed until 1987.

He remained active in the Naval Reserve, including a recall to active duty during the Gulf War. His last reserve assignment was at the Pentagon, where he served until he retired with the rank of Captain in 1996. When his plane went down, it ripped through a section of the building that includes the Navy Reserve offices.

"[He] worked on anti-terrorism strategies in the Pentagon....." until 1996. (Washington Post)