Lance Sijan lived an All-American life. Raised in 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the young Boy Scout and athlete dreamed of one day becoming an Air Force fighter pilot. A star football player, he struggled with academics. But his determination took him to military prep school where he studied hard and was accepted to the Air Force Academy, with the end goal of receiving a commission as an Air Force officer. He would accomplish that, and so much more.

It was 1965, and General Motors had extended a special offer to all the seniors at the Air Force Academy to purchase a hot new Corvette Stingray at a discounted price. Maybe it was good marketing to have America’s finest behind the wheel of GM’s newest sports car – or maybe it was GM’s way of paying it forward, as the conflict in Vietnam loomed heavily in these cadets’ future. Either way, Lance plunked down $3,638.40 of his cadet salary and purchased a beautiful 1965 Roman Red roadster, accomplishing another milestone in every boy’s American Dream.

The story of a true war hero and his lovely ride, on Hemmings Daily.