Mosquito

Corsair

James Gang w/ Joe Walsh

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 Flt. #18 HFDFW

 

Jack enlisted into the Marine Corps on March 23, 1942 at the age of 18.

After basic training Jack was sent to the South Pacific with the 2^nd Defense Battalion. Soon he was on the island of American Samoa. He was on the island from May, 1942 until March, 1944. The Japanese were expected to invade this strategic island as they had others in the Pacific.

Jack was stationed in Hawaii from March, 1944 until May, 1944. From there he was assigned to the 5^th Marine Division, 5^th Amphibious Corps. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and the Marine Barracks at Klamath Falls, Oregon. He also was stationed at different times, NAS Corpus Christi, Camp Pendleton, California and the Marine Barracks in San Francisco, California.

Jack was discharged on April 7, 1946 with the rank of Corporal. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal, Good Conduct, American Theater and WWII Service medal.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Leonard was from Scotland, Texas and joined the Navy in May, 1944 at the age of 17.

He attended specialized training as a Fireman on a submarine. He saw action in the south Pacific and was discharged from the Navy in May, 1946.  

Kristi and I at the Iwo Jima Memorial Flight #18

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Richard was inducted into the U.S. Army in Chicago, Illinois on February 24, 1943.

After boot camp Richard was assigned to the 328^th Army Service Force Band. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day and later was involved in action in the Battle of the Bulge where troops in the rear were pressed into service to stop the German assault. He saw service in England, France, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.

Richard received service stars for Northern France, the Rhineland and the Battle of the Bulge.

He was discharged on January 30, 1946.

Golden Gate B-17

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 Flt. #18 HFDFW

 

John was attending a football when he heard the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on that fateful Sunday, December 7, 1941.

He enlisted into the Army Air Corps a little over a year later, that being December 20, 1942.

John was trained to be a pilot and was assigned to the Air Transport Command.

He flew all over the world in the next twenty years. During the war he flew the Newfoundland England route, as well as Africa and later Germany.

John stayed in the new Air Force until April 1, 1963 and retired with the rank of Major.

      

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW Flt. #18

 

Troy was listening to the radio on Sunday, December 7, 1941 when he heard the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

After basic training, Troy was sent to school to learn Morse code. Later he was sent overseas to the Pacific theater.

Troy then used his skills as a radio operator with the Fifth Army Air Forces.

After the war, Troy was discharged on February 12, 1946 with the rank of Sergeant.       

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Len was a student at John Tarleton College in Stephenville, Texas on Sunday, December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

On September 23, 1942 Len was inducted into the U.S. Navy. After basic training, Len was given further training and became a Pharmacist Mate.

Len was assigned to the U.S.S. Bowditch, AGS 4-A which was a hydrographic survey ship.  The job of the Bowditch was to sail into enemy waters before an invasion, and map the area for the oncoming invasion.

The Bowditch saw action in the waters off Kwajalein and Majuro atolls. Later Len and the Bowditch were involved in the invasion of Saipan, and in the spring of 1945, the invasion of the island of Okinawa.

The Bowditch received three battles stars during the war, and is credited with shooting down three Japanese kamikaze aircraft. In fact, one of Len’s ongoing and memorable experiences, is standing on deck and watching the kamikaze planes and wondering which ship would be hit.

Len got out of the Navy in February, 1945 with the rank of Pharmacist Mate 2^nd class.  

 

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 Flt #18 HFDFW

Harold entered service with the U.S. Army at New Braunsfels Texas on November 29, 1942. He was 20 years old.

Soon after basic training, Harold was sent overseas to the European Theater of operations. He was assigned to the 4^th Infantry Division also known as the Rail Splitters. The 4^th Infantry was involved in 170 days of combat during World War II.

While in the 333^rd Infantry Regiment, Harold served as a driver. He participated in campaigns in the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe.

Harold received the Combat Infantryman badge, Bronze Star and numerous campaign ribbons. He was discharged from the Army on December 23, 1945 with the rank of Tech Sergeant.  

 

 

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 Flt # 18 HFDFW

 

Willis was attending Texas A&M University on Sunday, December 7, 1941.

After basic training, Willis was sent to Europe with the 3^rd U.S. Army commanded by General George S. Patton.

As a 1^st Lieutenant, Willis commanded the 4003^rd QM Truck Co. that supported combat units with gasoline for all the vehicles that made up the massive juggernaut that advanced across Europe after D-Day.

Willis advanced along with the 3^rd Army, following with convoys made up of 48 trucks with 750 gallon tanks filled with fuel. The fuel was loaded from pipe lines that had been laid by engineers from the beaches at Omaha, Utah, Gold and Sword. After delivering the gas to the forward lines, Willis and others then filled 5 gallon Jerry cans which then made their way forward to the vehicles advancing toward Germany.

Willis participated in action in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe.

On May 27, 1945 Willis was discharged from the military with the rank of 1^st Lieutenant.    

 

Two legends

Angus Young-AC/DC

Freedom

First man on the moon owned this Corvette

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 Flt. #18 HFDFW

 

Roy entered service with the U.S. Army from Big Spring, Texas. The date was October 18, 1944. He was 18 years old.

Roy was assigned to the 25^th Infantry Division. The 25^th was also known as Tropic Lightning. It sometimes has been known as the Hawaiian Division as well since it has always been based at Scholfield Barracks, Hawaii. It was activated on October 1, 1941. The division saw 260 days of combat in such places as Guadalcanal, New Georgia and Luzon. This writer’s uncle was also a member of the 25^th, and fought on those three islands. He was killed at the Battle of Balette Pass on Luzon, Philippine’s   in March, 1945.

After the surrender of the Japanese in August, 1945 Roy landed in Japan for occupation duty. One of his most memorable experiences was driving a staff car for the many judges involved in prosecuting Japanese accused or war crimes during the war.

Roy was discharged from the military on October 18, 1946 with the rank of Tech Sergeant. He received the Philippine Liberation medal, Combat Infantryman’s badge and the Good Conduct medal.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 Flt. #18 HFDFW

 

Richard Joined the Marine Corps. On May 5, 1943 at the age of 20.

After boot camp, Richard was sent to the South Pacific. After further training as an aircraft armorer, Richard was assigned to Marine VMF-532 which was a night fighter squadron flying mostly PV-1 Ventura aircraft.

Richard’s unit moved several times during the war with Richard seeing service in the Gilbert, Marianna’s and Marshall islands.

After the war, Richard was discharged on March 5, 1946 with the rank of Corporal.

Corsair

May 2014 Dallas Police Shield

 

Continuing this month with the year this writer attended the Dallas Police Academy which by the way  has nothing to do with this piece but was right in the heart of the Disco era, 1977, the Dallas Morning News had an interesting, and a rare article of praise for the DPD. It reads in part,

In the old grey building on Harwood and Commerce, your police department can’t be perfect. No-body driving a car likes to be stopped and corrected, much less arrested. But an officer’s duty is just that-a duty. It’s a duty as he sees it. He’s trained in what’s right and wrong, legal and illegal. But he has to make an instant decision; and being human, he can be wrong.

These thoughts come to mind when we read a minor item recently out of city hall: in 1969 there were 666 (?) complaints against Dallas police officers. By 1975 that total had been cut to 250, now it is down to about 200. The department in 1977 receives about 500,000 calls for service a year. Response time for emergency units is five minutes, nonemergency, eight minutes.

That’s not bad for a city of nearly a million people who cover an area of 360 miles. We note the above, editorially, to give a pat on the back to a department that rarely gets it.

Or gets it in 2014 either…

When I got of the academy and started working east Dallas in July, 1977 it seemed like the majority of calls that we answered on evenings were minor accidents and alarm calls. I still have my notebooks that were clipped to my handy steel clipboard that in my rookie mind, I also could use to whack a suspect if need be. Luckily I never had to use it for this. Anyway, most of the calls for service were for these two seemingly minor incidents.

Minor accidents were the number one pain. Officers serving now have no idea how frustrating it was to find two people blocking traffic and about to fight on a hot Friday rush hour on Ross Avenue when a rusted Toyota with bad brakes ran into the back of a smoking Datsun or something with only a tail light busted out. Later the police department got smart and did away from these calls, even though people still refuse to pull out of the street to this day. It’s one of those enduring urban myths that the two vehicles aren’t supposed to move so the “expert” police officer can determine who really was a fault!

The DPD also was working on the false alarm problem. You know we all were and are trained to be alert and vigilant every time that we answer a call. But the problem was, and I remember this, you would go from call to call to call, say on that Friday afternoon. An officer would answer a burglar alarm, and knowing this alarm was usually bad, give the call only a cursory look, jump back into your car, and go answer a “good” call. There were no fines for the business’ or the alarm companies. So, they didn’t care. Heck, it was good to have a squad car show up every evening at 8 o’clock or so, and it was free. Sort of.

I remember business owners actually telling us this.  

But, as we all know, 99.9% of burglar alarms were bad, but it’s that one particular alarm call that when you rounded the back of a building, there’s a burglar coming out of a back door with a pistol pointed at your head.

Finally in the spring of 1977 the City and the police department were looking for ways to curb these (every night at the same place) burglar alarms. The proposed draft, only in its initial form but published in the newspaper, received massive push back from of all places of business, banks…and bankers. Back in those days, the term banker’s was usually describing the head guys, not everyone that, well worked in a bank as today.

If Ft. Worth was a steer and cowboy town, Dallas was all about banking and fashion. Really, that’s what the books say. Bankers were, and to a point still are, heavy hitters in this town. So when they as a group voiced displeasure on change to a system that always worked well, for them at least, the City of course took notice.

False alarms in the city had gone from 20,000 in 1972 to 31,000 in 1976 and was increasing because of the booming 1970’s Dallas economy and new construction. The police and fire departments were answering about 175 false alarms of one kind or another every day. The City estimated that it cost 1.8 million in 1977 money for personnel and equipment to answer these calls.

Robert McKnight of the City’s public utilities staff said “After you go into a store for the third time in a period of a few hours because of a false alarm, it’s easy for an officer to let his guard down and expose himself to danger if the latest alarm proves to be the real thing.”

The DPD reported that of 700 or more alarms answered at financial institutions in 1976, only three were “valid.”

One of the “bankers” (that term again meaning the 1977 era big shots) called the ordinance proposal “outrageous” to have such fines.

Paul Bentley of the all powerful (in those days) First National Bank, the downtown building with the rocket on top, now condos I think, said “I feel we should be able to get that service without paying through the nose for it.” Hmmm…

The City backed down somewhat as usual saying that the draft was only a “proposal,” and a “working draft” and additional meetings will be held… soon.

B-17 "Nine-O-Nine"

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

On Sunday, December 7, 1941 Bobby was a sophomore in high school in Hughes Spring, Texas.

Bobby enlisted into the U.S. Army on July 10, 1944. While at the recruiting office, Bobby saw a poster showing a paratrooper and he decided this was what he wanted to do!

After basic training, Bobby was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia for parachute training. Soon he was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 11^th Airborne Division, 2^nd Battalion, Company E. A few weeks after graduation, Bobby was on a troop ship sailing from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines, then sailed to Okinawa.

Bobby was a member of a mortar squad and landed on the island of Okinawa on the day of the Japanese surrender in August, 1945. After being on the island for a few days, Bobby and others were assigned the duty of going into previously taken positions because there were Japanese soldiers still held up in caves.

The caves were concrete for the most part and were reinforced. Since it was so dangerous to enter the caves with fanatical, half-starved Japanese soldiers, the soldiers found the best way to flush out the enemy was to throw hand grenades in first. Bobby threw one in at the first cave that they encountered. The grenade was thrown too high, hit the concrete roof, and bounced back. The grenade rolled to about three feet in front of Bobby and he threw himself to the ground and froze. Luckily, the grenade was of poor quality or the blast went high but Bobby and his buddy were not even scratched!

Within a few days of that incident Bobby landed at Atsugi Airport in Japan. There Bobby and his troop were to act as honor guards on the dock when general MacArthur and the Peace Treaty party passed through to board ship for the trip to the battleship Missouri for the signing of the documents that officially ended WWII in September, 1945.

Later Bobby was sent to Moriokas, Camp Haugen to begin occupation duty. He served as a sergeant of the downtown Morioka C.P. Patrol until discharged from the military in August, 1946.

Bobby received the American Theater and Asiatic-Pacific Medals. He also received the Philippine Liberation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachute and Glider Badges and the WWII Victory Ribbon.

 

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

John enlisted into the Marine Corps in February, 1943 at the age of 19.

After boot camp, John was assigned to Marine Air Group 31. His job was aerial gunnery ordinance with SBD Dauntless and SB2 Helldiver aircraft.

One of John’s most memorable wartime experiences was while he was on the island of Okinawa. There was a Japanese Banzai attack on Yontan airfield in May, 1945. John and others successfully fought off the attack by the fanatical Japanese. John’s unit received the Presidential Unit Citation.

John was discharged on March 10, 1946 with the rank of Corporal.  He had received the Good Conduct and the World War II Victory medal.    

Cpl. Powell in August, 1944 with British a dispatch rider. The other photo is the same rider in September, 1944 with some grateful Dutch civilians. HD-WLA. From WLA's in Action.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Oda was living in Marble Falls, Texas on Sunday, December 7, 1941, the date that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He enlisted into the U.S. Navy on December 23, 1943.

Following basic training, Oda was assigned to the U.S.S. LST- 918 which was a (landing-ship-tank). The 918 received two battles stars for action in the Pacific during World War II. Oda served aboard the ship from June, 1944 to March, 1946.

The 918 was involved in the Leyte Gulf landings in October, 1944. She also participated in the invasion of the island of Okinawa and stayed on station around the island from March to June, 1945.

Oda was discharged with rank of Signalman 3^rd class.    

B-24 Jersey Bounce

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Joe was from Wichita Falls, Texas and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942 at the age of 17. He says that some of his buddies had enlisted into the Coast Guard so he decided to follow them.

After basic training, Joe was assigned to the U.S.S. Cavalier (A.P.A.-37) which was a Bayfield class attack transport.

The Cavalier participated in several battles in the Pacific. Some of these were the invasion of Saipan and Tinian.

In September, 1944 the Cavalier was also involved in the retaking of the Philippine Islands where she successfully off loaded troops and equipment in Leyte Gulf.

After training in New Guinea in January, 1945 the Cavalier sailed back to the Philippines where she participated in the invasion at Lingayen Gulf. On January 30, 1945 while off Manila Bay, the Japanese submarine RO-115 fired a torpedo and hit the Cavalier on the port side. The result was that 50 sailors on the ship were injured, and the damaged ship was towed to Leyte Gulf for repairs.

Joe was honorably discharged on February 11, 1946 with the rank of Fire Fighter MM 3^rd class. He received the Purple Heart and Good Conduct medal. The Asiatic-Pacific Area ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars, Philippine Liberation with 2 Bronze Stars and the Honor-Respect-Devotion to duty medal. He received as well the American Campaign and the European, African and Middle Eastern Campaign medals.      

Brando in the film "The Wild One."

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Octa entered service with the U.S. Navy on May 17, 1943 at the age of 17.

He was sent to Rice University in Houston, Texas in June-November, 1943 for advanced training in the operation of radar. He had further training in radar in point Loma, California and again in Oahu, Hawaii.

Octa served aboard the U.S.S. Uhlmann which was a destroyer in Division 34 of Admiral Halsey’s Task Force 38 and Admiral Spruance’s Task Force 58.

The Uhlmann was involved in the invasion of the island of Tinian and other operations such as the invasion of Iwo Jima, then the island of Okinawa, right up until the surrender of Japan in August, 1945.

The Uhlmann received a unit citation for sinking a Japanese submarine, then shooting down two Japanese aircraft off Kyushu, Japan. Later the destroyer was patrolling off the island of Formosa and shot down four Japanese planes.

Octa was discharged from the navy on March 6, 1946 with the rank of Radarman 2^nd class.   

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Neighl was home in Enid, Oklahoma waiting for his girlfriend to come over on that fateful Sunday, December 7, 1941. After high school, Neighl was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Forces in July, 1943.

After basic training he was assigned to the Air Transport Command. Neighl remembers many times flying back from the Pacific on four engine C-54 aircraft with severely wounded soldiers on board from all parts of the Pacific.   

Neighl has never forgotten these heroes who gave up so much for their country. It installed a great sense of patriotism in him that has lasted to this day.

After the war, Neighl received a degree from the University of Tulsa and enjoyed a long career in medical sales and technology, later becoming a division manager for the southeast quadrant of the country.  

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

John joined the Navy on February 13, 1943 at the age of 18. He joined partly because his older brother was already serving in the Navy during World War II.

 After basic training, John was assigned to the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Barr as Fire Control Officer. Serving in the Atlantic, John was serving aboard the Barr on May 29, 1944 when a German U-boat 549 torpedoed the Barr. The ship was hit aft of the number 2 funnel. John dreams to this day of a fellow crewman strapped to a 20mm anti-aircraft gun flying through the air after the explosion of the torpedo. During this engagement, the jeep carrier U.S.S. Block Island was also hit and eventually sunk.  

Before the Barr was hit John was in Casablanca, Morocco in North Africa while the Barr was in port. There John and a couple of shipmates went to a local Moroccan café. John asked the waiter if he had anything like steak and eggs since everything on the menu was in French. John then was asked to talk to the cook, and he tried to explain what he was wanting.  After the Barr was torpedoed and was towed to Casablanca for repairs, John and four fellow crewman went back to the café. On the menu was written in English “Steak and Eggs American Style.’

John accompanied the Barr as she was towed back to the states for further repairs. He was then transferred to the Attack Transport, U.S.S. Crescent City. The Crescent City served off Okinawa in the spring of 1945 receiving casualties from the battle and transferring them to nearby hospital ships. The ship stayed off Okinawa until the end of the war, then was sent to China. There the Crescent City carried troops up and down the china coast to fight the communists fighting the Chinese Nationalist’s.

At the end of the war, John had been awarded the European-African Campaign medal with two stars. He also was awarded the American Campaign medal, Asiatic –Pacific Campaign medal with two stars, the American Campaign medal, Good Conduct and China Service medals.   

From "WLA's in Action," HD WLA at Camp Bowie Texas December, 1942.

Profiles Spring-Summer 2014 HFDFW

 

Harold had been riding his bike that Sunday, December 7, 1941 when he pulled up to the front of his house. His mother ran out on the porch and said that the Japanese had attacked a place called Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. She said that the radio was saying that America was now at war.

After high school, Harold joined the Army and was assigned to the Army Air Forces. This was in April, 1943. After basic training, Harold was sent to school and eventually became a high speed radio operator. While stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland Harold was with the 136^th Radio Security Section. There he participated in copying Morse code transmissions of D-day weather reports. They were then picked up by an AAF colonel who took them to Washington D.C.

Later in the war, Harold was sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) and North Africa. He spent many months in post war occupation in Algeria and four months in Germany.

Harold’s reports that his radio duties which were classified “secret” served him well in his future civilian life.

He was discharged as a Corporal in April 7, 1946. He received the Good Conduct medal, the American Theater medal as well as the European Theater medal.