On the road
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Griffith Observatory looking out over LA
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW
James enlisted into the U.S.Navy on December 6, 1944 at the
age of 17.
He was trained as a Quartermaster but according to James,
spent his naval career mostly in training or waiting at some receiving station
for a permanent assignment. This was not
at all unusual in stories that this writer has heard from military personnel during
World War II.
One night, as James was pulling guard duty, he had the
occasion to guard a perimeter fence surrounding a naval base. During his patrol
he observed a figure walking towards him. James yelled “Halt!” The man, who
turned out to be an Army Air Forces officer, had been out too late and was
drunk. Luckily, James did not shoot, and loaded the officer into a jeep when an
MP finally drove by.
When the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in August, 1945,
James was on the west coast waiting for an assignment. Eventually he was
shipped out to another receiving station in Hawaii. He boarded the escort
carrier U.S.S. Kwajalein and sailed to Guam. While on board the carrier, James
witnessed the massive Typhoon that hit the Pacific fleet during this late
summer of 1945, seriously damaging many ships and resulting in many casualties
among the fleet.
After four months on the island of Guam, James got a
permanent assignment to LST (landing ship tank) 930. This ship had been
involved in the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
The ship was designated at this time a small hospital ship,
the entire port side on the second deck had been set up as operating rooms and
aid stations.
During James’ time on LST-930 the ship sailed to Milne Bay,
New Guinea where they loaded surplus war equipment to transfer to Hollandia,
New Guinea. Later the ship sailed to Saipan, back to Guam and then to Hawaii.
During the trek from Guam to Hawaii, both of the ships engines quit, and she
was towed about half the distance to Hawaii.
James was awarded the American Theater medal, the Asiatic-Pacific
Victory medal and as James states “The same as everyone.”
He was discharged from the Navy with the rank of 3rd
class Quartermaster on July 8, 1946.
Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW
Frank enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939 at
the age of 19. He states that he leaned to fly at the tender age of 10 years
old.
In Frank’s military history application to Honor Flight DFW,
he was hesitant to include many of his service memories, which I respect.
Frank did indicate that he had served “all over Canada” and Dutch
Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Guam, Japan and bases in the United States.
He served in the U.S.Air Force ( SAC) as an air craft
commander until the year 1969.
Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW
Jamse enlisted into the U.S.Navy in December, 1944 at the
age of 17. He had always wanted to be a sailor and to see the world. He did
just that!
He sailed on the U.S.S. Chester; a heavy cruiser that was
launched in the late 1920’s and eventually received 11 battle stars. The
cruiser was assigned to the 16th fleet and had participated in many
campaigns during WWII, including operating out of the gigantic anchorage at
Ulithi. From November 1944 to February 1945 the Chester was involved in the
bombardment of the island of Iwo Jima and also the Bonin Islands.
During the spring of 1945 the Chester patrolled off the
island of Okinawa during the battle that involved both Marines and soldiers of
the U.S. Army.
In August, 1945 the Chester sailed to the Aleutian Islands.
In September, 1945 the Chester sailed to the Japanese home islands, which
according to John, was one his most memorable experiences. The cruiser
participated in the occupation landings of the Japanese islands of Ominato,
Hakodate and Otaru during September and October, 1945. The cruiser also
transported troops from the Pacific back to the States after the end of the
war.
Jamse crossed the equator on September 2, 1945 on the U.S.S.
Chester. This was an important time in the life of a sailor in the U.S.Navy and
he remembers the ceremony well!
Jamse received the Asiatic- Pacific Theater medal, and the
World War II Victory medal. He was discharged from the Navy on August 8, 1946
with the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer.
The U.S.S. Chester, as happens to most naval vessels and after
a long and honorable career with the U.S. Navy, was sold for scrap in 1959.
Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW
John enlisted into the U.S.Navy on September 17, 1942 at the
age of 18. He had always liked the thought of being in the Navy and wanted to
be a part of an aircrew.
After basic training he was assigned to the escort carrier,
U.S.S. Corregidor (CVE-58.)John was trained as an air craft mechanic and plane
captain. He flew in a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. He participated in 32 air
strikes against Japanese targets.
Some of the campaigns that John were involved in were Iwo
Jima, Chichi Jima (off Iwo) Okinawa, Sakishima and Gunto. He arrived in the South Pacific Theater on
August 31, 1944 and did not depart until June 20, 1945.
John received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with
3 stars, the American and Asiatic-Pacific Theater area medal with 2 battle
stars, Good Conduct and Aircrew insignia with 3 stars.
He was discharged from the Navy on September 17, 1948.
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2013
Thomas enlisted into the U.S.Navy on August 23, 1943. He was
18 years old and had recently graduated from Amherst High School in Amherst,
New York in May, 1945..
After basic training at Sampson Naval Base in Geneva, New
York Thomas was assigned to naval aviation and began further training as an
aviation radioman gunner on a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. This training
happened at USNATTC in Millington, Tennessee. He joined Torpedo Squadron 80 at
San Diego, California and then it was on to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Thomas sailed and flew off of the U.S.S. Ticonderoga with
the 3rd and 5th fleets. He participated in action
beginning with pre-invasion strikes on the Philippine Islands. Later in the spring
of 1945, the Ticonderoga was hit by two Japanese kamikaze aircraft off the
island of Iwo Jima. Thomas’ squadron was transferred to the nearby carrier
U.S.S. Hancock for some of the first low level strikes on Tokyo and other
Japanese cities.
Once, returning from a strike on the island of Formosa (now
Taiwan)Thomas noticed on the Avenger’s radar screen a shape that looked like a
cruiser that was camouflaged and hidden on the coastline. Thomas’s aircraft and
others destroyed the Japanese cruiser later that day. Thomas received the
American Theater Ribbon, six battle stars; three for air to air combat, air to
sea, and air to ground combat. He also received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Air Medal and the WWII Victory
medal.
Thomas was discharged on June 18, 1946 with the rank of
Aviation Radioman 2nd Class.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
PFC Gates escorting American troops in Algeria North Africa late in WWII
Monday, May 27, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
June 2013 Dallas Police Shield magazine
I was stumbling through several articles from 1930 that
apparently were never used so here we go. On January 1, 1930 it was reported
that Dallas, not known then or now for emotional outbursts of any kind, except
the debacle of the 1993 Cowboy parade, brought in the New Year with what was
reported to be a “mild outburst” of revelry. Ho-hum as usual in Big-D, like the
subsequent 1994 Cowboy parade.
The bad guys were working however. An H.R.McBride, 18 who
was a butcher’s deliveryman, was held up in the early morning hours of the New
Year and robbed of $26.00. He was kidnapped and tied up. The next thing he knew
some caddies from the Parkdale Golf Course at Scyene and Buckner ( on the
outskirts of Dallas!) and found him lying in some bushes, none the worse for
wear, physically at least. The hijackers got away.
About this same time, a trolley driver, H.D.Crisp, just had
let off two passengers at Beeman and Culver streets when two youths strode up.
The first paid his fare, the second pulled a gun. The driver was bound by his
wrists to a bar in the cab of the trolley. The youths ran off with some trolley
fare but luckily, according to Crisp, they did not take his new watch.
It was also reported that a Captain Dean S. Arnold was
retiring after 43 years with the Dallas Police Department. He had started when
the department was made up of 20 officers and when the jail was a wooden
structure that stood where the Adolphus Hotel was (and is now) located in 1930.He
had been a Captain for twenty years and had commanded the jail, mounted
officers, the stockroom, motorcycle officers, the corporation court, and pretty
much anything else you can think of.
Fast forward to May 1930 and we find another Captain,
J.F.Kelsey patrolling (?) on Phelps Street in North Dallas around 2:20am. We
know that in those days North Dallas was around the Hall and Thomas area. This
could have been a writers mistake because Phelps Street is off Haymarket Road.
Maybe it was Philips Street the writer was talking about. Anyway our captain
had pulled up behind a “small coupe.” Suddenly 2 shots rang out in the
direction of the captain’s patrol car. The suspects then drove off leaving the
captain sitting in his car wondering “What the hell just happened?” This is the kind of story that makes one
wonder if there was more to it than was reported.
On May 9, 1930 the DMN came out with a piece that supported
the current DPD Chief Claude Trammell. Apparently he did not get along with
Police Commissioner W.C.Graves. Dallas
Mayor J.Waddy Tate reported two days later that he would reappoint Chief
Trammel and if the City Council did not vote to retain him that he would keep
Trammel on as a holdover appointee. The mayor also said that he might transfer
the police department under direct jurisdiction of the Mayor and give the chief
free reign to enforce the law. Maybe this was the incident that did away with a
police commissioner in Dallas. Maybe not.
On May 13, 1930 a 70 year old man was disarmed by Plain
Clothes Policeman (actually how the writer wrote this title) C.M. Burruss as
the suspect was fumbling with the safety of his automatic pistol. Burruss and
his partner Sgt. C.M. Fotaker had just finished raiding an Elm Street rooming
house and had seized a small quantity of illegal whisky. The 70 year old bootlegging
suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure and the alleged attack on
Burruss’ life.
On May 14 it was reported that a veteran Dallas police captain
with 32 year’s service had died and that this officer wore badge number 1. Of
course DPD history tells us that after World War II, Chief Carl Hansson
instituted the numbering badge system where (of course) the Chief was issued
number 1. An officer hiring on would then
keep his or her badge number throughout their career even when promoted. The
badge numbers are now up to the hundreds of thousands I believe now but it all
started (officially) with Chief Hansson.
This DMN article states that Captain J.T. Lynch had left the
department several times during his career, but always came back. Lynch hired on
in the year 1898 when E.G.Cornwall was chief. He was promoted to Night Captain
in 1906 and apparently stayed in that position for most of his career. He was
especially known for “walking the beat” at the Interurban Station for over a
year and a half.
The article doesn’t say why Lynch wore badge number 1 but
before World War II it was a pretty informal process in dishing out badge
numbers. I can see an officer hiring on and a clerk going through a box o’badges
and pulling out a shiny silver badge and exclaiming “Hey you got #1!” When that
officer quit or retired that same clerk would through it back in the box and
the process would start over. It also doesn’t say if it was a Captain’s badge
that had #1 engraved on it, or an officer’s badge. Since Lynch had been a captain for so long it’s
possible this was the case.
Anyway Captain Lynch was apparently well thought of and was
buried in Mesquite.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Honor Flight...flight May 2013
Best trip in a while for me. Met some interesting people as usual, and loved watching the WWII veterans faces at all the surprises along the way.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013
Lester enlisted into the U.S.Marine Corps in 1939 at the age
of 19. He took the advice of a WWI Marine Corp veteran and decided that this
would be his career path. Indeed, Lester stayed in the Marines until 1980 when
he retired as a Major.
During WWII however Lester was a member of the 1st
Marine Division, then was transferred to the 2nd Marines and was
also a member of the Fleet Marine Force. His duties included being a troop
leader and an instructor.
During the war Lester was part of the invasion force in the Solomon
Island chain, the island of Guam and saw duty in China as well. He also was a part
of the occupation force in Japan after the war.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013
Thomas enlisted into the Marine Corps on August 14, 1941 at
the age of 17. He joined because he thought that the Marines were the best
branch of all the services.
Thomas was on the first troop carrying convoy to sail from
the west coast to Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He landed at Pearl
on Christmas Day, 1941.
Some of the islands that Thomas served on were Guadalcanal, Bougainville
and this young Marine was part of the invasion force that landed on the island
of Guam on July 21, 1944. Later Thomas was to land on Iwo Jima but his division
was sent back to Guam because they were not needed.
Thomas was also one of 60 Marines that were transferred to
the U.S.S. Maryland after the battleship was damaged by Japanese kamikaze
aircraft. The ship docked in Bremerton, Washington for repairs on May 8, 1945,
the day Germany surrendered. He then was transferred to the Naval Operation
base at Norfolk, Virginia and then on to Quantico, Virginia.
Thomas was sitting on the steps of the U.S.capital in
Washington, D.C. when he heard the news of the Japanese surrender. This was
August 14, 1945.
After 2 years, 10 months and 12 days Thomas was discharged
from the Marine Corps on September 11, 1945 with the rank of Corporal. Some of
the awards that Thomas received were the Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct and
the American Defense medal. He also received the American Campaign medal, the
WWII Victory medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with 1 Bronze Star.
Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013
Eugene enlisted into the Army Air Forces on October 17, 1942
at the age of 20. After basic training he began his training as a radio
operator/gunner on heavy bombers. Eugene says that he had some knowledge of Morse
code so this was a good fit for him.
Eventually Eugene was transferred overseas to England as
part of the 8th AAF. As a radio operator, Eugene was placed mid-ships on a B-17
Flying Fortress. He had an overhead window where his single 50 caliber machine
gun was located pointing up and slightly rearward.
Eugene was assigned to the 369th Bomb Squadron of
the 306th Bomb Group based at Thurleigh England. He flew many missions
over occupied Europe hoping to avoid German flak and fighters.
On one particular mission, Eugene remembers that the target
was Peenemunde, Germany. This was the Nazi’s super secret factory where V-1 and
V-2 missiles were tested and launched. Eugene states that even at 25,000 feet
in the air, he could see timbers and beams from the factory blast and it looked
like the flying debris would hit his bomber!
Eugene completed his assigned missions, which at different times
during the war were 25-35 before an aviator could rotate home. Once back in the
states, Eugene was an instructor in radio repair at the Army Air Force
Technical School in Madison, Wisconsin.
Eugene was awarded the Air Medal and also the Distinguished
Flying Cross and had the rank of Tech Sergeant.
Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013
Luther lists that he was drafted in WWII at the age of 22.
Not all draftees went into the infantry. For instance Luther was drafted into
the Army Air Forces and was inducted on October 12, 1942.
After stateside training as a gunner on heavy bombers, this
young aviator was sent overseas to England as part of the 8th AAF.
Specifically Luther was assigned to the 612th Squadron of the 401st
Bomb Group based near London.
As a staff sergeant, Luther’s job on the B-17 was that of
tail gunner. The compartment was cramped and cold with hardly any room to move.
Many gunners did not wear their parachutes since there was simply no room. Some
kept the parachute at the door behind the gunner and would somehow have to be
strapped on even when the bomber was falling out of the sky after being hit.
Luther flew 35 missions over occupied Europe in a B-17 named
“Dynamite John.” On one mission, two of the bombers engines had been shot out
so the crew was ordered to throw out everything they could to lighten the
aircraft. Luckily, the B-17 made it safely back to base. He says that he
remembers that they had a special breakfast the next morning, stewed kidney or
beans on toast!
Luther was discharged on September 17, 1945. He had been
awarded the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters and the Good Conduct medal.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013
Kenneth was inducted into the Army Air Forces on November 1,
1945 at the age of 20.
He was sent to the south Pacific after basic training. He
was based at the sprawling air bases on Guam and again on Saipan. He was
assigned to the 19th Air Repair Squadron.
Kenneth’s job was one of being acting 1st Sergeant.
His most memorable memories were of accompanying U.S.Airmen who spoke Japanese
out in the countryside. There, Japanese speaking military personnel used
loudspeakers to try and talk Japanese soldiers still in caves and other hiding
places that the war was really over and for them to surrender.
At another time he observed Army Graves Registration Service
(AGRS) personnel trying to identify bodies taken from a common grave, most were
Japanese.
Kenneth was discharged as a Staff Sergeant on August 1,
1947.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013
Norman graduated from high school in June, 1945. In the
month previous, Norman had enlisted with a large group of his classmates in the
U.S.Navy. There was the thought among thousands of high school seniors during
the summer of 1945 that war would soon be over. There was a patriotic fervor
still in this last year of the war. Many wanted to get in before it was all
over.
Norman began basic training during the summer of ’45 and was
trained as a seaman, eventually attaining the job of Yeoman Striker, Seaman
First Class.
He was assigned to the U.S.S. Talbot AG-81(ex DD-156.) The
Talbot was an old ship, a destroyer launched at the very end of WWI, the date
being December 14, 1918. During WWII the Talbot participated in escort and
Atlantic convoy duties. The Talbot was
known as a “Four Stacker” since it had four smoke stacks. There were many
sailors in the Navy at the time and even to this day it is a source of pride to
have sailed on a classic ship of this kind.
Norman didn’t get out of boot camp until August 1945, the
end of the war. By the end of WWII the Talbot had been reclassified as AG-81. Norman
was assigned to this ship and sailed off Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This old
destroyer was used as a target tug for naval aircraft such as the TBF Avenger
torpedo bomber. The old ship was still serving well during its last few years.
It was struck and sold for scrap in 1946.
Norman got in late in the war, but he can say that served honorably,
along with his classmates! He was discharged on August 17, 1946, beginning
college in the Fall of 1946.
Honor Flight DFW profiles Spring-Summer 2013
Alfred joined the U.S.Navy on May 6, 1944 at the age of 17.
Like many, he joined the Navy to keep from being drafted. We have seen however that
some young men were drafted and placed in the Navy, the Marines and the Army
Air Forces. It just depended on the luck of the draw and the needs of the
military at the time. In Alfred’s case, it all worked out well.
After basic training Alfred was sent to the Pacific Theater
of operations and soon he was aboard the U.S.S. Matanikan (CVE-101) which was a
Casablanca class escort carrier.
Early in the Matanikan’s service she served as a training
aircraft carrier up and down the west coast. Between January and June of 1945
there were 12,762 aircraft carrier landings by pilots attempting to qualify as
carrier pilots. During and after this time, Alfred was an EM3C and was an
electrician on board the ship.
In November of 1945 the Matanikan participated in “Operation
Magic Carpet Ride,” which transported thousands of veterans from the Pacific to
the west coast and eventually home. On December 27, 1945 Alfred participated in
the transportation of the 3rd Marine Division to the Chinese
mainland. These Marine’s were there to help the Nationalist Chinese army in the
fight against the Communist Chinese army. On another cruise the Matanikan
transported the 8th U.S. Army to Japan for occupation duties.
Alfred and the Matanikan made it back to the
states in 1946 with Alfred being discharged on April 18, 1946
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