On the road
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
March 2014 Dallas Police Shield
The Dallas Police Department was one of the first major
police departments in the country to begin using motorcycles in the fight
against crime. Detroit, Michigan is generally thought to be the first to
actually use motorcycles with police officers riding bikes instead of horses.
The City of Dallas of course continued using Mounted Units for many years, then
phasing them out in favor of much cheaper to maintain police cars, only to
bring them back in the 1980’s and luckily, we still have them today.
In 1909 however Police Commissioner Harry Seay said that two
motorcycles would be delivered for use by the DPD. The officers riding them
would answer “hurry” calls and would be able to overtake speeding automobiles.
He also said that he had not decided who would actually ride the machines. It
could be someone from within the police department, but it might be necessary
to hire someone from outside the department who already knew how to ride.
The Police Commissioner said that the men selected must be
able to operate the motorcycles with sufficient speed to catch vehicles and still
avoid any accidents to themselves or pedestrians whom they may encounter.
On May 15, 1909 the DMN reported that six members of the DPD
have been selected to begin training immediately. The six riders with the two
bikes would give the department two shifts of two officers with an extra shift
in case of an emergency. It’s not known whether two of the officers would just
hang around until an emergency came up, or maybe the emergency would be when
one of the six would call in sick.
On May 21, 1909, after only six days, it was reported that
the training was completed (?) and that the officers were “at least sufficiently”
skilled to warrant placing the “wheels” in commission. It also said that the
two machines (Harley-Davidson’s) were being stored at the “old calaboose.”
Unfortunately it wasn’t long before the first accident
happened. On July 16, 1909 Officer August Schulz was thrown from his mount at the
intersection of Main and Poydras streets about 3 P.M after avoiding a “large
man.” He was unconscious for about half an hour. A citizen, E.H.R. Green, who
was described as driving a “big red machine,” took the injured officer to the
City Hall emergency hospital. DPD Detectives Tanner and Price who witnessed the
accident assisted the citizen.
The doctor examining the officer said that the handlebar of
the bike had almost fractured a rib as the officer fell on it. His uniform was
torn and he had several scrapes and bruises with a large patch of skin torn
away from his right knee. In about an hour the officer was back on his feet and
went back to the location of the accident. The bike was being guarded and the shaken
officer straightened the handlebar of the “wheel” and rode away it was
reported.
In 1923 the DMN wrote that the sales and service of the
police departments Harley-Davidson’s had been taken over by John S. Berryman
who was the new sales manager at the Harley-Davidson Sales Company at Pearl and
Jackson streets.
Fast forward to 1929.
There is a five day Harley-Davidson sales conference at the Jefferson Hotel in
downtown Dallas. About 30 dealers from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana were
attending the meeting. Arthur Davidson, one of the original founders was there
along with his brother, William A. (Old Bill) Davidson. Arthur told the audience
that included police officials that “It is not the number of arrests that a
motorcycle policeman would make that would prevent accidents, but it is that he
can be seen and will prevent motorists from speeding.” He went on to say that “An
officer in a car can’t always be seen (?) But an officer on a motorcycle on the
Oak Cliff viaduct the other night might have prevented the accident in which
one man was killed and eleven others injured.”
Fast forward one more time to January, 1935. The Dallas city
council voted to buy three new Harley-Davidson police motorcycles for a total
cost of $1,265. What is strange is that the City purchased two three wheeler
police bikes at a cost of $1,063. These two were Indians, not H-D Servi-Cars.
There is the famous picture of a DPD officer on an Indian three-wheeler with
his faithful German Shepard sitting on the box with his paw on the mounted officer’s
shoulder, this is one of those machines. To my knowledge, this is the only time
that the DPD had purchased Indian police vehicles, either the two wheeled, or
the three wheeled variety. Why it happened is anybody’s guess. It could be that
the local Indian dealer made a great offer to the City to gain a foothold into
what had always been Harley’s domain with the DPD since 1909.
That is until the late 1970’s, which is another story, for
another time.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
Wesley enlisted into the U.S. Army and reported for duty on
April 23, 1943.
After basic training Wesley was assigned to the Hawaiian
Islands as a supply clerk with the Hawaiian 13th Replacement Depot.
He was a supply NCO and had the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Wesley says that once a small animal ran into the warehouse
where he was working. He didn’t know what it was but he didn’t want it hiding
in the massive piles of clothing and other equipment. He used a broom and finally
killed the animal. Later, someone saw the incident and reported it to Wesley’s
commanding officer. Wesley found out that he had actually killed a Mongoose,
which was a protected animal since it keeps snakes out of Hawaii!
Wesley says that he was on a three day pass in Hilo, Hawaii
when the report of the Japanese surrender came over the radio. “What a day,”
Wesley still remembers.
Wesley was discharged on January 29, 1946.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
Aubrey was drafted into the U.S. Army and reported for duty
on November 22, 1943 at the age of 20. He had tried at age 17 to join the Army
Air Corps and the Navy. He was denied with both services because he found out
that he was color blind!
After basic training with the Army at Camp Walter’s, Texas and
Camp Wheeler, Georgia, Aubrey was sent overseas to the European Theater of
Operations with the famous 82nd Airborne Division.
After being stationed in Wales for a short time, Aubrey was
part of a mission jumping into Holland to destroy a German ammunition dump.
In October, 1944 Aubrey was on the front lines when a German
hand grenade exploded nearby. He was knocked out but when he awoke he was a
prisoner of the German army.
Aubrey has written extensively about his experience as a
prisoner of war. He was taken to a POW camp where his injured back and hand
were treated. He experienced the near starvation diet that Allied POW’s
endured. But the German’s were also existing on a lean diet of hard bread and
cabbage soup which tended to be the meal of choice.
After a period of time, Aubrey was sent to work on a farm
with a German family. This family was kind to Aubrey and warned him several
times if for example the Nazi SS were nearby. Aubrey was with this family when
on May 2, 1945 he heard loudspeakers telling German soldiers to stack their
rifles and board busses. He left the German family and eventually made it the
American lines.
After the war, Aubrey and his family traveled to Germany and
met up with the kind family. The reunions were always a happy time and several
of the wartime young children would come from other parts of Germany to meet with
Aubrey and his family.
Aubrey was discharged from the military on November 9, 1945
with the rank of Corporal. He was awarded the POW medal and the Purple Heart.
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
On Sunday, December 7, 1941, Kenneth was riding in a car
with friends in Clarendon, Texas. Suddenly on the radio came the announcement
that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Kenneth joined the U.S.
Army in April, 1943.
Kenneth was soon sent overseas to the South Pacific. He was with
the 36th Infantry Division, 113th Medical Battalion. His job
was that of a leader of a litter squad and surgical technician.
His most memorable war experience was the thought that he
was part of a bigger organization that were all “Avengers of Battaan.”
Kenneth was discharged from the military as a Corporal in
December, 1945.
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
Kenneth entered active service in the U.S.Army on March 1,
1943 at the age of 21. He soon was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky to be trained
with the 740th Tank Battalion also known as the “Dare Devil Tankers.”
After being sent overseas to England, Kenneth was part of a
secret organization where tanks used massive lights mounted on the front of the
tank to blind the enemy and allow other tanks to see the opposing forces more
easily. It seemed like a good idea at the time but according to Kenneth was never
used in battle.
While in England Kenneth had an accident where his hand was crushed.
He was sent to a hospital and was separated from the 740th. Later
Kenneth joined up with the 4th Armored Division, 8th Tank
Battalion under General George Patton. His duties were driving a supply truck with
fuel and ammunition.
Kenneth participated in the Battle of the Bulge and his
battalion was the one that liberated the infamous Camp Ohrduf. He was in
several more battles and was in Czechoslovakia when the war ended. He stayed in
theater for several more months on occupation duty.
While on the way home after being discharged in 1946 he was
finally reunited with the 740th Tank Battalion. Kenneth participates
in the 740th reunions to this day.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
Reuben always loved the water so it was a good match that in
1944 he enlisted into the U.S. Navy at the age of 17.
After basic training he was assigned to the destroyer, U.S.S.
Guest, DD-472 that had already seen action in the South Pacific by the time
Reuben joined the crew.
Reuben’s job on the Guest was that of Fireman and also a
gunner on a 40MM anti-aircraft gun.
The Guest was part of the fleet that was off Iwo Jima on the
opening day and a few months later saw action off the island of Okinawa. It was
on May 25, 1945 that a Japanese kamikaze aircraft got through the ship’s
anti-aircraft screen and hit the Guest’s mast. The plane bounced off and hit
the ship’s stack before crashing into the sea.
The Guest also saw occupation duty after the Japanese
surrender and took up station near Alaska at one point.
After the war, Reuben enlisted into the Naval Reserve after
college and became a Lieutenant J.G.
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
J.C. enlisted into the United States Army Air Forces on February,
1942. He was 23 years old.
After basic training J.C. was assigned to Hensley Field,
Texas as a Tech Sergeant. He served at Hensley until March 14, 1945 when he was
transferred to Kelly Field. After this assignment J.C. was sent overseas to the
European Theater as the war was winding down.
J.C. was awarded the American Theater ribbon, the World War
II Victory medal and the Good Conduct medal.
He was discharged on December 14, 1945.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
Albert enlisted into the U.S.Army on October 2, 1944 at the
age of 18.
After basic training he was sent overseas to the European
Theater of operations. He was assigned to the 63rd Infantry division
also known as the “Blood and Fire” division. The 63rd was activated
on June 15, 1943 and saw 119 days of combat in the Rhineland and central
Europe. The division was sent overseas relatively late in the war, that being
November 25, 1944.
Albert was part of the Headquarters Company of the 255th
regiment of the 63rd.
Albert had the very hazardous job of being a scout. Many times
these scouts found themselves in situations where they actually found
themselves so far forward, that they were behind enemy lines.
One of Albert’s most memorable wartime experiences was when
his unit was one of the first into the infamous Landsberg concentration camp.
Albert was awarded the Bronze Star, this being for being
behind German lines as a scout.
He was discharged on July 30, 1946.
Profiles Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
Donald was a sophomore in high school on Sunday, December 7,
1941. This was in Paullina, Iowa. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 6,
1944, which of course was the date of the Allied invasion of Hitler’s fortress
Europe.
After basic training, Donald was sent to Europe as part of
the 9th Infantry Division. The 9th was also called “The
Varsity” division. It was activated on August 1, 1940. The division arrived
overseas on December 11, 1942 as part
of the invasion of North Africa. The division took part in this campaign as
well as Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central
Europe. The division was in combat a total of 264 days.
Donald was part of the 37th Regiment of the 1st
Battalion, C Company of the 9th Infantry Division. His job was that
of rifleman, anti-tank gunner and clerk typist. Among many others he
participated in the battle for the bridge at Remagen and the Ruhr pocket. His
unit entered Winterberg, Germany from the east, going around the edge of the
Ruhr pocket after heavy engagement with the German’s on Easter Sunday 1945.
Donald saw a lot of combat, and he says that of course, out
of necessity, this caused him to mature very quickly. He was awarded the Combat
Infantryman Badge, the WWII Victory medal, the African-Middle Eastern Theater
Ribbon with 2 bronze battle stars. He also received 2 Overseas Service Bars,
the Army Occupation medal-Germany and the good conduct medal.
On June 6, 1946 Donald was discharged with the rank of sergeant.
Profiles HFDFW Spring-Summer 2014
Martha was 23 years old when she enlisted into the U.S. Navy
(WAVES.) She said that she was in an audience in Phoenix Arizona when a group
of “attractive” WAVES gave a recruitment speech. She says that she wanted to do
more for the war effort than sit behind a typewriter. She joined up soon after.
Martha was assigned as a communications and ships service
officer at the Naval Air Station at Norman, Oklahoma.
Her most memorable experience was being in New York City on
V-E Day. She had traveled to the city to pick up engagement rings for the ships
service inventory! Also, Oklahoma was a “dry” state at the time, so she used
that opportunity to bring back a bottle in a brown paper bag!
Martha was discharged from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant
J.G.
Profile Honor Flight DFW Spring-Summer 2014
Billy enlisted into the U.S. Navy on November 7, 1945. On the
day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, he was on a farm
near Elkhart, Texas. He was 13 years old on that fateful Sunday.
After basic training, Billy was assigned to the U.S.S.
Osmus, DE 701, which was a destroyer escort. The Osmus was operating off the
China coast when Billy boarded the U.S.S. Higbee, a Gearing class destroyer who sailed to China with Billy
on board to join his assigned ship.
The Osmus participated in post war customs duty along the
coast of Korea in the American Occupation Zone.
Billy’s job on the Osmus was sonar operation and
maintenance. Billy says that his experience in the Navy taught him responsibility,
discipline, technology, patriotism and love of country.
Bill was discharged on November 14, 1947.
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