Jessica Jordan was the wife of Air Force pilot Martin Jordan. She had three sons: Jim, Jack and Hal. After her husband died in test flight accident at Ferris Aircraft, Jessica forbade her sons from having anything to do with airplanes. Young Hal however, having never psychologically recovered from watching his father die, became obsessed with them. When he turned eighteen, he enlisted in the Air Force, breaking his mother's heart. She wanted nothing more to do with him. A few years later, Jessica Jordan developed cancer and died soon after. Jack blamed Hal for driving their mother into an early grave. Ridden with guilt, Hal put himself in a situation wherein he was dishonorably discharged from the military.