Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Charles had been in the R.O.T.C. in college and enlisted into the U.S.Army in June, 1942 at the age of 19.

After basic training he was transferred overseas to the European Theater as part of the 36^th Division, also known as “The Texas Division.” Specifically, Charles was assigned to the 141^st Infantry Regiment also known as the “1^st Texas Infantry.” This unit can trace its linage all the way back to the Texas revolution.

The 36^th Division was activated on November 25, 1940 and was sent overseas on April 2, 1943. The division saw 400 days of combat in such places as Naples-Foggia, Italy, Rome Arno, Southern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe.

Charles was a unit commander of an anti-tank company. During an operation to secure a ridge in Vosages, a battalion was cut off by the Germans. There was a heroic battle in which the rescuers finally rescued the “Lost” battalion suffering horrendous casualties.

The famous German General Heinz Guderian placed the 141^st Infantry Regiment the rank of number 2 in the overall order of battle assessment among Allied units facing the German army.

Charles was wounded by an anti-tank mine at one point and left the Alsace-Lorain region of France for England and a long term recovery in a hospital.

He was discharged from the military while still in the hospital in September, 1946 with the rank of Captain.  

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Riosuke enlisted into the U.S.Army on October 12, 1945 at the age of 22.

After basic training he had additional training as a medical corpsman.

It was in this capacity that Riosuke was assigned to the Mason General Hospital in Brentwood, New York. Later he was transferred to the Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Riosuke has said that one of his most memorable and tragic memories were working with servicemen who had been blinded during the war.

He was discharged from the military with the rank of PFC on May 29, 1947.

WWII color, B-17 "The Skipper."

B-17 contrails over Europe WWII.

Barn find!! Really cool 1955 Harley-Davidson w/sidecar

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Robert enlisted into the Army Air Corps (later Army Air Forces) in July 1941. He was 18 years old. He had always wanted to get his pilots wings and fly. This he did during World War II.

After getting his wings, Robert was transferred to the Northern Division, Alaskan Air Transport Command. He was stationed at Edmonton Alberta, Canada.

Robert flew two and four engine transport planes, such as the legendary C-47 and C-54 aircraft. The weather in this part of the world can be extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Still, Robert and the rest of the crewman in this remote part of the war flew on despite these conditions.

Robert was discharged as a 1^st Lieutenant in December, 1946.

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Most people, when they think of being drafted in WWII think that one was always sent to the Army. This was not always the case. Harold is one such example. He was drafted into the U.S.Navy on September 3, 1943. He was 18 years old.

After basic training, Harold was sent to the south Pacific and became a coxswain on a UP or (VP) boat.

Harold participated in the invasion of the island of Okinawa by soldiers and Marines in the Spring of 1945. He also was present during the infamous typhoon that hit Task Group 38 east of Okinawa in June of 1945. This task force was built around the aircraft carriers Hornet (new) and the Bennington. Because of faulty communication and not-so-precise weather forecasting at the time the fleet was hit hard by the front and sailors were lost. Many ships were damaged including a cruiser losing part of its bow, and an aircraft carrier having an aircraft elevator destroyed.

Harold was discharged on January 6, 1946. He had been awarded the Pacific Commendation medal.

Honor Flight DFW profiles, Spring-Summer 2013

 

Carl enlisted in the U.S.Navy’s V-5 Naval Aviation Cadet (NavCad) program on June 20, 1943 at the age of 18. This was a program to train pilots for the navy during WWII. Carl soloed in a single engine aircraft in April, 1944. He was discharged from this program on July 16, 1944.

On October 17, 1944, Carl enlisted into the Army Air Forces at the age of 19. While in the AAF he trained and later became a mechanic and technician on the super secret Norden bombsight. This was the bombsight that was used on bombers and was so secret that if the bomber was hit and going down, the bombardier’s first job before bailing out was to throw out the bombsight or (hopefully) destroy the unit so the enemy couldn’t study the device. Still, there were some Norden bombsights that fell into the hands of the Axis.

Carl served stateside during the war and was discharged as a PFC on May 10, 1946. He qualified as an expert rifleman on April 21, 1945. He was awarded the WWII Victory medal as well.     

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Horace enlisted into the Army Air Forces on December 8, 1942 at the age of 18. He said this was a natural pick because he always wanted to fly.

After training as a tail gunner in the states, Sonny was sent overseas to England. There he was assigned to the 8^th AAF, specifically the 349^th Bomb Squadron, 100^th Bomb Group. The 100^th Bomb Group had the distinction of having the nickname “Bloody 100^th” since it suffered so many downed aircraft and men killed or captured during the war.

Sonny’s position in the B-17 was that of tail gunner. The bad thing about being a tail gunner was that you only saw what had already passed. The really bad thing was that if the bomber were hit, it was very difficult for the tail gunner to bail out. This was because of centrifugal force as the bomber went down, and the exit door, especially in the early B-17’s made it extremely hard to exit the aircraft.

Sonny probably has many memorable experiences, but one that stands out is when he participated in the first daylight bombing raid on Berlin. The 100^th lost 69 bombers that day, pointing to the need for long range escort fighters to be developed. It was only the advent later of the P-51 Mustang over Europe escorting B-17’s and 24’s that this problem was solved. On this mission Sonny’s B-17 was hit by a German Me-109 fighter. As a result, the radioman on the bomber was killed, and the pilot was wounded. Still, the B-17 made it back alone, flying only 50ft off the ground at times.

Sonny eventually flew 28 missions; he received the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and is a member of the “Lucky Bastards Club” for finishing all of his assigned missions.

Sonny was discharged from the Army Air Force’s on September 25, 1945.

Horace, in next story, top right. Tail Gunner

B-17 "Honey Chile II" 1942

8th AAF B-24 "Flying Cock"

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Joe was drafted into the armed services and reported for duty with the Army Air Forces on June 11, 1943. He was 21 years old.

He was sent to England after basic training and assigned to the Headquarters of the 98^th Combat Bombardment Wing (medium) of the 9^th Army Air Force. The 98^th was primarily deploying the B-26 Marauder medium bomber. This bomber, as well as fighter bombers such as the P-47 Thunderbolt were assigned to the 9^th AAF, and participated in combat missions in support of Allied ground troops in Europe.

Joe’s job was one of an administrative position, vital in the workings of the war machine that was the 9^th AAF.

One of Joe’s most memorable experiences was that of being on guard duty (in snow) on Christmas Day in northern France. He also celebrated his birthday on V-E Day!

Joe was awarded the EAMET medal with 5 battle stars, the WWII Victory medal, the American theater medal, and the Good Conduct award. He was discharged on October 19, 1945 with the rank of Corporal.

Adjusting the front brake of a Harley-Davidson WLA "No Rank"

November 6, 1944 somewhere in Europe. PFC's Charles Leazuron doing the wrenching and rider Jack Rudeen.

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Navy partly on the recommendation of a Navy recruiting officer.

On July 1, 1943 at the age of 21 Gordon reported to Iowa State College. Soon after Gordon asked for a transfer and he was on his way to Oklahoma University. Gordon was enrolled in what the military called the “V-12” program. Basically it was a program where servicemen would go to school as part of their service, usually to learn a specific and much needed skill that the military needed for the war effort.

After completing his work at OU, Gordon was transferred with other V-12 students to the Portsmouth Virginia Navy base where he began Naval Reserve Officers Training School. This was a boot camp for officers where they learned the military and navy way of life.

In December 1943 Gordon was sent to the U.S.Naval Academy for additional training. His class graduated in April, 1944 and this time Gordon was on his way to Harvard University. He was there until the end of September, 1944 learning electronic theory and special circuitry.

After being sent to the Naval Air Station at Quonset Point, Rhode Island he was assigned to a duty station where his job was to control naval air reconnaissance and air traffic in the Atlantic.

Gordon spent New Year’s Eve 1944-45 in New York City with his new wife, Joyce but in a few days he reported for duty on the heavy cruiser, U.S.S. Augusta. Gordon sailed on the ship to exotic ports in the Caribbean such as San Juan, Trinidad, Curacao and Guantanamo Bay Cuba.

Later, Gordon was assigned to serve on the staff of the commanding officer of Destroyer Squadron Three in New York City. The squadron received orders to go to the Pacific, and while steaming towards the Panama Canal, the ship received orders to turn around and head back to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The squadron had been decommissioned with the end of the war with Japan.

Gordon was then transferred to San Francisco where the Twelfth Naval district was located. Gordon became ill on the train however and spent several months in the hospital. After recovering, Gordon was placed on inactive duty on February 21, 1946.        

Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013

 

Abner enlisted into the Army Air Corps on February 14, 1941 at the age of 23. Later the name was changed to Army Air Forces.  Abner was trained as a bombardier on B-17 Flying Fortresses. He eventually was sent overseas to Italy. He was assigned to the 15^th Army Air Forces and specifically the 463^rd Bomb group. The 463^rd was based at Foggia, Italy.

The 463rd Bomb Group flew 156 missions in 1944 with Abner’s job being that of the bombardier on a B-17. The 463^rd flew missions over Italy, Germany, Austria, Romania, Yugoslavia and Greece. The 463^rd also flew on the infamous Ploesti, Romania raid on those regions oil fields. Because of weather and miss-communication where some planes turned back, the ones that bombed the target were decimated by German Anti-aircraft fire that was especially heavy since the Nazi’s fanatically wanted to protect their oil reserves.  

 Abner’s most memorable experience was when his B-17 was hit by flak and started burning. The order to bail out was given and Abner and his crew jumped out into the frigid air at 20,000 feet.  

The 463^rd flew into the last days of the war with its last mission on April 26, 1945.

Abner was discharged from the Army Air Force in September 1945 with the rank of 1^st. Lieutenant. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with two clusters.  

     

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 Honor Flight-DFW

 

Jim was always interested in electronics growing up. To Jim, it seemed natural to enlist in the U.S. Navy since according to Jim “The Navy had the best electronics training in the military.”

So it was that after basic training, Jim was trained as an Electronics Technician at Treasure Island California and whose job it then was to operate and repair all of the vast electronics systems that were aboard modern ships at the time.

Jim was assigned to the U.S.S. Sicily (CVE-118) which was a Commencement Bay class escort carrier. The Sicily was named of course after the island and battle where so many Allied servicemen lost their lives.

Jim participated in the Sicily’s initial shakedown cruise on the west coast. His most memorable experiences were when he was in basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. He also was fortunate enough to be in San Francisco and the party that existed afterwards when the reports that Japan had surrendered were announced!  

The U.S.S. Sicily went on to serve in Korea during that conflict between 1950 and 1953.

Jim was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy on June 15, 1946.

 

 

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Elmer was serving in the National Guard and was inducted into that service on November 25, 1940. As Germany had attacked Poland in 1939 and Japan had attacked China, the American military began mobilizing for war. Elmer, like many others in the National Guard, enlisted into the regular Army. His date of induction was July 3, 1940.

After his basic training, Elmer was trained specifically to be a forward artillery observer, radioman and rifleman. This was extremely dangerous duty since these men had to go forward of their own lines to observe and spot the enemy and send back coordinates to their artillery commanders for fire control missions.

Elmer served in almost all theaters in Europe and Africa during WWII. Some of these were North Africa, Italy including Rome, Naples and Foggia where the 15^th AAF built a large airbase. He was also in action at the Battle of Monte Casino in Italy.

Later in the war, Elmer was at the Battle of the Bulge, Argonne Forest, Rhineland and all over central Europe. One of his most terrifying and memorable experience was when a 155mm howitzer blew up and mutilated the whole crew.

After over five years in the military, Elmer was discharged with the rank of Tech-4 on August 15, 1945. He admits to have been awarded the Good Conduct medal. Elmer also said that when a soldier was constantly on the front lines, you don’t get medals!    

Jack Newkirk and son John, 2000's

Jack Newkirk 1930's

WWII B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, early morning takeoff

Rare civilian WWII HD "XA" shaft drive, number 7 off assembly line

B-17 "City of Los Angeles," WWII

8th AAF,303rd Bombardment Group "Hells Angels" memorial, England

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

James was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Forces on October 3, 1943 at the age of 19.

After he left basic training, James was sent overseas to the Pacific Theater of operations. He was assigned to the 2018^th Aircraft ordinance and maintenance group on the island of Okinawa.

As an E-4 during this time, James was responsible for the storage and maintenance of bombs, guns and ammunition.

James was discharged from the AAF’s on January 19, 1946 and was awarded 3 medals, one of which was the good conduct medal.

 

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

James had always loved the water. This was one of the reasons that he decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. This was on July 27, 1944.

After basic training James was assigned to the job as a second loader of a 40 mm antiaircraft gun on a landing craft support vessel.

He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of operations. He was discharged with the rank of Coxswain on September 2, 1946.

James was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific medal with one star, and the Philippine Campaign medal.

  

Profiles Spring Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Leonard was drafted and entered the Army Air Forces on August 4, 1943 at the age of 19.

After basic training, Leonard was trained in the hazardous work of an aircraft armorer. The job included installation, maintenance, replacement and or removal of aircraft ordinance.

A few of the bases that Leonard was assigned to were Keesler AAF base in Mississippi, Tinker AAF base in Oklahoma, Kelly Field in Texas and Victorville AAF base in California.

One of Leonard’s most memorable war experiences was when he and two buddies were unwrapping and steam cleaning a (degreasing) new 20mm artillery shell when the steam hose burst. Leonard was caught by the blast of hot, scalding water and it sprayed on the left side of his face and body. After 2 weeks in the hospital, he asked the nurse if she could remove the bandages. He said that he was concerned that his shoulder and upper arm were rotting away as the stench was terrible. She agreed and removed the dressings and found that the stench was due to dead skin.

Leonard recovered and stayed in the AAF’s until he was discharged as a Corporal on March 5, 1946. He was awarded the American Campaign medal, Good Conduct medal and the WWII Victory medal.  

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Thomas was walking down the street in late 1944 and saw a sign advertising enlistment advantages in the U.S.Coast Guard. Thomas had prior machine shop experience so he thought that he would be a good fit on a ship. He was inducted into the Coast Guard on November 24, 1944.

Thomas was assigned to the USCG Big Horn (IX-207) in early 1945 as the ship was being transferred to the Pacific. The Big Horn had extensive service early in the war in the Atlantic with the U.S. Navy as a “Q-ship” searching for German U-boats. Later she was transferred to the Coast Guard and designated IX-207.

Thomas’ job was in the engine and boiler rooms, shaft alley, generator flat and the water evaporation unit onboard the ship.

The Big Horn sailed in some of the most contested waters in the Pacific during the latter half of the war. Thomas remembers one day going ashore in the Philippines. He saw a Japanese machine gunner that had been hit by a flamethrower; the image is still with him to this day. He also remembers once being in his bunk when the Big Horn began dropping depth charges. The explosions were so close he thought the ship had been hit. He had one leg over the railing and was heading over the side when he was grabbed by a boson’s mate who asked where he was going!

Another time Thomas was injured when he held onto a 100 pound piece of metal that he was trying to keep from falling on a shipmate on a deck below him.

The Big Horn once assisted the famous battleship U.S.S. Pennsylvania after a Japanese kamikaze aircraft hit the ship, the battleship listing to a point it was thought the ship would roll over.

Finally, Thomas believes that he and his crew observed the aircraft searching for the U.S.S. Indianapolis, which was sunk in late 1945 after delivering the atomic bombs to Tinian Island. There was a massive loss of life after the ship sunk from exposure and sharks attracted to the scene and the subsequent delay in the navy searching for the delayed cruiser.

Thomas was awarded the Philippine Liberation and Unit medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal. He also received the WWII Victory medal and the American Theater medal. He was discharged on May 2, 1946 with the rank of MM3C.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Reuben had always wanted to be in the Navy. He enlisted into the service and was soon on his way to basic training in the U.S.Navy on November 1, 1943 at the age of 18.

He completed boot camp at Camp Peary, Virginia and was then assigned to the massive Philadelphia navy yard. He was then given orders to report to the transport and cargo ship U.S.S. Zaniah (AG-70.)The Zaniah was a Basilian class cargo ship launched in 1943.

Reuben saw 19 months of overseas duty primarily in the pacific theater of operations. He was trained as a welder and was transported to different areas to work on damaged ships that had been hit by the Japanese.

The Zaniah sailed at different times in the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and the great harbor of Ulithi transporting her crew to repair other ships that were out of the war for a time after suffering battle damage.  In 1945 she sailed to Okinawa, a month after the invasion of that island. The ship was the first of her type in the area and was badly needed because of the massive damage inflicted by Japanese kamikazes on the American fleet.  Reuben and the other workers were busy being sent to other ships in the area welding and repairing battle damage.

On June 22, 1945 several Japanese kamikaze aircraft made it through a massive barrage of anti-aircraft fire put up by the Zaniah and other ships. Two nearby ships, LST-534 and the USS Ellyson were hit, Reuben saying that he saw the aircraft passing his ship and that he could plainly see the Japanese pilot.

The Zaniah with Reuben onboard continued to work heroically through the end of the war, and the ship received one Battle Star from the Navy. She was taken out of service in 1946 and sold for scrap in 1972 after being in mothballs for many years in the Navy’s reserve fleet.

Reuben, who in typical “Greatest Generation” fashion has said that he had it very easy in the war compared to some sailor’s and he doesn’t deserve any special treatment ( this writer disagrees) was discharged from the Navy on May 4, 1946 with the rank of Metalsmith 1c.

    

Then Came Bronson opening credits

May 2013 Asylum Mobilitarium in Hogwash

 

If you are old enough like me, you might remember a TV show that premiered on September 17, 1969 called “Then Came Bronson.” This show resonates even today among certain people (especially motorcyclists) who call themselves “ Bronsonites.” This show was on NBC for one season, but the character, played by Michael Parks, and the red 1969 Harley-Davidson Sportster, continues to have a cult following after more than 40 years. By the way the television shows pilot was released in Europe as a feature film.

In the opening credits of the show there is the iconic encounter that seems that it could have come from H-D’s own publicity department. In fact many people in this counter culture era could identify with the businessman in the station wagon as Bronson pulls up beside him at a stoplight on his Sportster. Basically the bored businessman asks “Taking a trip?” Bronson says “Yeah,” where the man asks “Where to?” Our hero then replies “Oh I don’t know, where ever I end up I guess.” The guy in the station wagon then says those famous words “Man, I wish I were you.” Bronson questions “Really, well hang in there.”

How many times today do we as biker types pull up next to someone in (what now would be the typical suburban van) and hear those same words?

There is a custom motorcycle builder named Don Collins who is one of the “Bronsonites.” He latched onto the Bronson character and probably yearned to get on his bike one day and just head out with no particular destination. Collins like many thought that the Bronson character was fictional. Through contacts in the group he found out that Bronson’s character was based on the real life of Birney Jarvis.

Jarvis also is a former Hell’s Angel, as well as a prize fighter with an eighth grade education. He was the first reporter of the San Francisco Chronicle hired with less than a college education. He was also hired and fired several times from the newspaper. In fact it was in Hunter S. Thompson’s famous 1966 best seller “Hells Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs,” that Thompson writes that it was Jarvis who introduced him to the Angels president Sonny Barger.

In the show Bronson tells his editor he is quitting. This was the third time that he had quit since he was disillusioned by the suicide of his best friend, and in the parlance of the day, “I’m sick working for the man.”  In real life Jarvis bought a boat and sailed down the pacific coast. Later Jarvis wrote a book “What do you do with a Drunken Sailor.” A friend of his from the Chronicle was now a movie writer. He took the book, created a character named Jim Bronson reversing Birney’s initials, ‘J’ is from Jarvis and the ‘B’ is from Birney. A Harley was substituted for a boat and there you go.

At a request from Jarvis, Collins built a loose replica of the 1969 Sportster using a 1979 Sportster. The bike is red just like the television shows Harley and also has the interesting “Eye of Providence” decal on the peanut tank. As a newspaper article reported in 2010, the two planned on meeting with other “Bronsonites” for a motorcycle trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

By the way, some critics have always said that the TV show ripped off the film “Easy Rider.” Actually “Easy Rider” came out later. Michael Parks parlayed the show into a somewhat cultist film career. He’s worked in many films including what you would call drive-in horror movies and anti-establishment films in the 1970’s. Lately he has had roles in Quinton Tarentino’s film and subsequent sequel “Kill Bill 1&2.” Parks also is a singer of some note, his song “Long Lonesome Highway” featured in the closing credits of the show hit #20 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1970.

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Otis was looking at his options for enlisting in the service in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He states that the Coast Guard was the first service branch office that he came to in his search so he decided to join up. He was inducted almost immediately in Fort Worth Texas, that being on December 13, 1941 at the age of 18.

He was soon assigned to the USCGC Tampa. At the beginning of WWII, the Tampa, and cutters like her, was at the forefront of participating in convoy duty over vast stretches of the icy North Atlantic. In wartime, the Coast Guard became part of the U.S.Navy.

German U-boats roamed the high seas in wolf packs. They were trying to evade ships like the Tampa and then maneuvering into a position to get a clear shot and torpedo tankers and troop transports. These ships with men and material were the lifeblood of England at the start of WWII.

Otis was discharged from the Coast Guard on February 25, 1947 with the rank of Seaman First Class. He had been awarded the Good Conduct medal, and a qualified “Blue Nose.”

  

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Jay enlisted into the U.S.Navy on February 9, 1943 at the age of 19. He had always wanted to be in the air arm of the Navy so because of his training he became a radioman on an R-5D four engine transport aircraft. This was the naval variant of the venerable C-54 Sky Master.

He served in the Central and South Pacific, flying men and material over countless miles of open sea to far flung islands and military outposts.

His most memorable war experiences was when his squadron would land on islands that the Marines and Army had taken, and then flew out wounded servicemen to hospitals thus saving countless lives. Jay’s also was serving when his squadron landed in Japan after the war ended and transported American POW’s back to Guam and Hawaii. Many of the POW’s were emaciated and ill from years of brutal captivity by the Japanese.

Jay was awarded the Navy Commendation Ribbon for his activities on Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He was discharged from the Navy on December 23, 1945 with the rank of Aviation Radioman Second class.

  

Dallas Police Shield May, 2013

 

It was April 1945, the war in Europe was coming to a close, the war against Japan was continuing with the recent invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The thought was that the war against Japan could go into 1948 with the invasion of the home islands and a cost of possibly a million lives.

The Dallas Police Department had experienced the loss of many officers since December 7, 1941. At this last stage of the war, the hemorrhaging of personnel was still going on.  

On April 20, 1945 Chief J.M.Welch stated that the DPD was facing the most critical manpower shortage in its history. There was another blow on Thursday last when two other officers were called up for the draft. Apparently the department tried unsuccessfully to obtain deferments for two key officers. One was a dispatcher E.C.Duncan, the other was another radio dispatcher George Doughty, who was to leave for the military the end of April.

The department’s manpower shortage, long serious, had reached the critical stage when the City had annexed 25 additional square miles since April 4, 1945. The department was 25 officers under pre-war quota. Chief Welch said that 50 new officers are urgently needed because of the recent annexations and the thousands of new residents attracted to Dallas because of the war industries. He stated that the department could really use 100 new officers but he thought that under current wartime conditions, this number was unrealistic.

Chief Welch also stated that the DPD has experienced difficulty in hiring new officers since the outbreak of the war due to salary conditions. A Dallas officer’s salary in 1945 was $150.00 a month with a $20.00 war bonus for the duration.

This next story is kind of complicated for this Grove and D.I.S.D. socially promoted boy, but here goes.    

On April 3, 1945 apparently there was a movement on the part of University Park Mayor A.L. Slaughter and Commissioner A.H. Meadows for the police and fire departments to pay into the Dallas pension fund. Politicians charged that University Park police had to oppose unification because they feared losing their jobs if they took any other position. From this article, it seems that the U.P. chief had coerced the officers not to vote for unification.

One day later, on April 4, 1945 DPD Chief Trammell wrote a letter to the editor of the Dallas Morning News. It looks like Chief Trammell was the one who had “coerced” U.P. officers not to vote favorably.

Chief Trammell wrote; “The charge against me by the News and Mayor Slaughter and Commissioner Meadows is basely false and a reflection on my honor and integrity. This is the first time in thirty years as a police officer that my integrity and honor have ever been called in question. “

The response by Chief Welch went on to say that yes, he was a resident of University Park and that he attended a meeting on March 27 with University Park and Highland Park police and a few fireman. He stated that when the meeting was called to order, he stood up, only as a resident of U.P. and said that he was opposed to consolidation. The Chief also stated in the response that he did not intend to change his position but that every officer present was free to do and act as he saw fit and as his conscience dictated; that each was the captain of his soul.

The chief went further stating that the Dallas Morning News had done him a grave injustice, and in fairness to me I request a retraction by it of this baseless charge of coercion as well as the publication of this letter.

The DMN published the letter from Chief Welch. The unification of Dallas’ pension fund with U.P. and H.P. never happened.

Another article in April, 1945 reported that the Dallas Police Homicide unit was experiencing personnel shortages because of the war. Chief of Detectives Will Fritz said that every man in the squad was hand- picked. He stated that the prerequisites were courage, initiative, intelligence, a good memory and perseverance.

The oldest Homicide detective was “pale-eyed” Elmo Gaddy, a four year veteran in the bureau. Others were Jimmy Bohart, D.O. Climer, T.O. Pope, H.C. Holloway and C.H.Baldwin, all on the squad a year or less. Observant readers of this monthly piece will recognize H. C. Holloway as (later) a lieutenant over the newly formed Tactical Section (now SWAT)in the late 1960’s.

The Homicide squad, being the “elite” of the department in 1945, had experienced its own personnel problems. Since the entry into World War II, one homicide detective, J.T. Luther, was burned to death; two are in the armed services and three left for better paying jobs in the private sector. 

Legendary Homicide Chief Will Fritz would only shrug his shoulders possibly, and carry on.          

Harley-Davidson WLA in World War II.

15th AAF B-24 hit by flak over Italy April 1945.One crewman survived.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Robert enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces on May 23, 1943 at the age of 18.

He was trained as a pilot of the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber. This aircraft was famous as the bomber that attacked Tokyo, Japan in 1942 during the famous “30 Seconds over Tokyo” raid commanded by General Jimmy Doolittle.

Robert was assigned to train pilots for the B-25 with the Western Flying Training Command stationed on the west coast of the U.S. The WFTC was one of six subordinate commands established on July 31, 1943 under the Army Air Forces Training Command that was established on July 7, 1943.

The headquarters of the AAF Training Command was in Fort Worth, Texas.

Robert was discharged from the military on October 8, 1945 with the rank of flight officer.    

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Earl enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 31, 1941 in Dallas Texas at the age of 19.

Upon completion of basic training Earl was shipped overseas to the European theater. He was assigned to the famous 29^th Infantry Division. This division was activated on February 3, 1941 and arrived in England on October 5, 1942. The division saw 242 days of combat. The division saw action on D-Day at Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. The famed “Bedford Boys” from Bedford Virginia, who lost so many men on D-Day from that small town, were members of the 29^th.

Earl served with the 115^th Infantry, 3^rd Battalion as a platoon leader and later company commander. He participated in battles in and around St. Lo, Percy, Vire and Brest in France after D-Day. It was at Brest in September 1944 that Earl received his Bronze Star. He also saw action at Stahe, Kreuzrath, and Birgden in Germany. He was present for the crossings of the strategically important Rhine and Elbe rivers. In November 1944 Earl was wounded in the hand and was sent back to England to recuperate.  

Earl stayed in the military after the war and was at one point stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He was assigned to escort war dead from Ft. Worth, Texas during the month of January, 1949.

When Earl left the service in January 1953 it was with the rank of Major. He had received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman’s badge with Oak Leaf cluster, Expert Infantry badge, Purple Heart, WWII Victory medal, German occupation and the American Theater ribbon.  

 

Steve McQueen

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Michael enlisted into the U.S. Navy on May 12, 1943 at the age of 20. Like many men of his age, he enlisted instead of waiting to be drafted because he didn’t want to go into the Army, and he wanted to work around “lots of electronics.”

After basic training Michael reported for duty on the U.S.S. McCord, DD-534. The ship was new, having only recently been launched on January 10, 1943 and commissioned on August 19, 1943. Michael’s job on board the McCord was that of an ETM-2C. He installed and maintained the extensive array of radios, radar and all the other electronic equipment that made the destroyer a lethal weapon of war.

The McCord was involved in many battles in the Pacific theater. These include but aren’t limited to the campaigns in the Marshall and Marianas island chain. She participated in the Palau island battle as well as the Battle of Samar off the coast of the Philippines. In 1945 the ship was involved in the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Decommissioned in 1947 the McCord was brought back into service in 1953 during the Korean conflict.

Michael was discharged on April 9, 1946.

 

 

 

 

New Rockers

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Marvin joined the U.S.Navy and was inducted on March 25, 1944. He was trained as a radioman after basic training.

Marvin was shipped to the Southwest Pacific and was assigned to LST (landing ship tank) 718. LST’s were the workhorses for both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during WWII. With massive clamshell doors located on the bow of the ship, they could transport large amounts of war material (including tanks) and troops and bring them right up to the beach if needed.

LST-718 was heavily involved in the liberation of the Philippines in late 1944. Marvin remembers sailing from New Guinea to Leyte in the Philippines Islands when the convoy came under attack from a Japanese submarine. LST-577 was sailing to the port side of Marvin’s ship and was hit by a torpedo and was subsequently sunk.

Later in the war, LST-718 arrived at Yokohama Japan one day before the official surrender ceremony that was to take place on the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. On board Marvin’s ship was the personal equipment of General Douglas MacArthur who was tapped to be the military governor of Japan for several years after the war ended in September 1945.

Marvin left the Navy on January 24, 1946 with the rank of Radioman Second Class. He received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal, Philippine Liberation medal, WWII Victory medal, and the American Defense and Good Conduct medal. He also received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation badge with 1 battle star.

The Mighty 8th Air Force in England WWII

Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

William enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces on December 8, 1942. He had been in the reserves while in college.

After training as a gunner on B-17 Flying Fortresses, William was shipped overseas to England to join the famous 8^th Air Force also known as “The Mighty Eighth.”

William served in the air war over Europe from June 28, 1944 to May 5, 1945. He was assigned to the 457^th Bomb Group, 748^th Bomber Squadron at Glatton England.

During his time with the 748^th, that squadron flew many missions over occupied Europe including France and Germany.  The Luftwaffe was not entirely beaten the summer of 1944, and the squadron faced heavy opposition from planes as well as deadly 88mm anti-aircraft fire. The desperate Luftwaffe even took a page from the Japanese training manuals and began ramming B-17’s and B-24’s over Germany. The only difference was that, theoretically, the German pilot was supposed to bail out of his aircraft just before the ramming. Sometimes it worked, most of the time the pilot was killed.

The 748^th flew a total of 236 missions before the war’s end.

William was discharged on July 6, 1945 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was awarded the EAME Campaign medal with 4 Bronze Stars as well as the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf clusters.