Profiles Spring-Summer 2013 HFDFW

 

Charles enlisted into the U.S.Army Air Corps in January of 1942. This was partly because Sheppard Air Base was in Wichita Falls, Texas, and it was close to home. He was 22 years old.

His first stop after training was England. Later he participated in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa. He was part of the 12^th AAF, 49^th Fighter Squadron. Charles was in tech supply, his job was to order parts for airplanes including the P-38 Lightning, known to the Germans as the “Forked Tail Devil,” since it was a twin engine, and twin boomed aircraft.

Charles reports that as he was a musician, sometimes he and other talented airman would play in the evening as part of recreation for the others on base. Once after taking the airfield from the Luftwaffe at Oran Algeria, the base was bombed by German bombers. He was sleeping on the concrete floor of a hanger. He was told later of the bombing, apparently Charles slept right through the bombs dropping! Lucky for him, the hanger was spared getting hit that night.

Charles participated in the invasion of Sicily and later Italy. While in Italy, Charles was assigned to the air base at Triolo Italy. This is where he remained until the end of the war with Germany.

He was discharged in July, 1945.

 

   

HFDFW profiles, Spring-Summer 2013

 

Jake enlisted in the U.S.Navy on December 17, 1941, ten days after Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the Navy because he thought that it was the best branch to belong to. He goes on to say “I was correct!”

He was trained as a sonar man but also describes himself as a swab jockey and a paint chipper!

Jake also had the job of being the helmsman while on battle stations on the U.S.S. Hubbard, DE-211 while on anti-submarine patrol in the North Atlantic. The Hubbard sunk at least two U-boats in the Atlantic, including the U-248 and the U-546, which was brought back to the Boston navy yard.

Jake was also assigned to the U.S.S.Honolulu which was awarded four battle stars while serving in the Pacific. The Honolulu was a light cruiser that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war, Jake served aboard the patrol craft U.S.S. PC-1232.

While awaiting discharge, Jake worked in the “Chiefs Club,” which he describes as the best duty ever!

Jake was awarded the American Theater medal, as well as the Asiatic-Pacific and European-African theater medals. He also received the WWII Victory medal and the Good Conduct medal.

He was discharged as a Seaman Third Class in March 1947.

D-Day then and now

Approaching Omaha Beach ,amazing!

March 2013 Dallas Police Shield

 

I usually try and stay focused on one year while writing this column over the years. I happen to have a few articles from several different years that I’ve found that didn’t make the Shield. So here goes.

In November 1971 a Dallas Police officer was indicted by the Dallas County grand jury for altering a public record, or ticket fixing as is more commonly known. The officer had been assigned as a bailiff in the Municipal Court after he was injured in an on-duty motorcycle crash.

This action was a result of a police department investigation where it was discovered a ticket fixing scheme that was allegedly masterminded by the 51 year old officer. The tickets he was accused of doctoring were picked up from several businesses in The Grove. Then these businesses would share in the fees required to get the tickets fixed. Or something like that.

 Chief Frank Dyson then suspended the policy of assigning officers to bailiff duty in the wake of the investigation. City and court officials apparently met soon after the discovery to install tighter safeguards in processing tickets.

Also in 1969 the DPD Tactical unit traveled to Ft.Hood to receive training in riot control. Due to the urban unrest at the time it was thought that this was needed. As we’ve discussed before, Dallas was spared most of the riots that happened on college campuses about the war in Vietnam and other social issues of the time.

Yes, lucky for us, the nearby university of choice, SMU was not then or now a hotbed of radicalism. BMW’s yes. 1960’s radical movements like the SDS, SNCC or Weather Underground no.

Dallas did have their share of problems however in the hot summer of 1969. On June 25th of that year firefighters were called to a fire at 1900 block of Record Crossing. This was the second night of trouble in the area, where bogus calls for the fire department would be called in, at which time citizens would throw rocks and chunks of concrete at the firefighters and police. This night there was a massive fire in a building, plus two cars and also a grass fire was blazing. As the fireman battled the inferno, at least one shot was fired at a fire chief’s car. Rocks were thrown by nearby citizens at several fire trucks.

 On this second night of chaos, Deputy Fire Chief D.C. Lester ordered all fire equipment pulled back to the departments training tower at 1500 Record Crossing. He stated that he would not order fire personnel back into the area unless escorted by police.

 October 19, 1969 found a burglary suspect who lived on Fourth Avenue near Fair Park in Parkland hospital in critical condition. He had been shot in the head by Dallas Police after police received a call about a pre-dawn burglary in progress at the Safeway store at 2919 Cedar Crest.

Two other suspects who were with the shot burglar, remained at large. Police surprised the three men who were in the act of removing cigarette cartons from the store through a hole knocked in a plate glass window.

Officers chased after two of the bad guys who ran into a field west of the store. They outran the officers and escaped. Officer R.K. Abshire then said he saw an up to that time unknown third suspect suddenly jump up from a hiding place near the suspect’s still running vehicle.

Officer Abshire shouted several warnings before opening fire, hitting the third suspect.  Officers determined that the suspect vehicle was also used in an earlier burglary of a lumber company at 3025 Grand Avenue. In this incident the intruders made a run for it on foot with a security guard in hot pursuit.  As fate would have it, Officer Abshire was one of the responding officers at this late night burglary as well. He along with Officer Brashear opened up with a pistol and shotgun as the suspects ran at the officers after being discovered. One burglary suspect was nicked in the head by a shotgun pellet, and later was jailed with his burglary buddies at 106 S.Harwood.  

Police said that the suspects had moved a safe to the front door and apparently were about to load it into a car when officers arrived. A fourth man, driving the same car used in the Cedar Crest burglary, got away.

Asylum Mobilitarium February-March 2013

 

Recently I found myself hanging out at Strokers on a nice Saturday afternoon. This afforded me the opportunity to introduce a friend of mine to the culture of the local motorcycling community. This friend is somewhat new to the lifestyle of Harley-Davidson in particular and motorcycling in general. Saturday’s being somewhat slower and only slightly less crowded than most Sunday’s at the legendary bike destination, the people watching was better and sight lines were ah…better.

My friend was amazed at the seemingly different types of people present. Lawyers, doctors, plumbers, car salesman, felons and the latest in biker chic was apparently of great interest. I related that this venue probably gave a greater cross section of riders than almost any other biker-friendly hangout in Dallas.

 Just take a bench and take in all that is glorious in the local biker world. Stroker’s clientele is 90% Harley-Davidson people. But you will see the rare sport bike rider, a Victory rider looking for respect and his place among the other big bikes and yes, the occasional weirdly silent Gold Wing. Teutonic BMW riders in their high tech gear and extra gas tanks, Triumph guys that can’t help but look cool. Then there are the Moto-Guzzi riders who are as passionate as Harley folk. But mostly it’s the Orange and Black that is represented.

Since the motorcycling and especially the Harley lifestyle is a social thing, slightly more of those throttle-twisters will be riding two up today than riding solo. There are many happy couples hanging out enjoying each other and the lifestyle they’ve chosen to share. It’s always been that way. The Founder’s promoted that from the beginning.

 Of course on the other hand there is always the interesting drama of an ex wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend showing up on another bike with the new soon to be next ex. It can be a touchy situation. This writer has seen tears shed as the old ex walks by with the new, hopefully improved version. I’ve also seen slaps on the back and howling laughter as the poor, unsuspecting new flavor of the month looks over and wonders “why are those people laughing and pointing at me?”       

You’ll also notice on any Saturday or Sunday that there are women sitting around looking for backseats and guys frantically hoping not to be riding solo for very long. For women it’s that ageless 80’s club thing. Turn, flip the hair, glance around to see who staring, turn and talk to your friend, then repeat. For guys it’s taking that long look behind dark shades that will keep the dude from being caught doing that staring thing for too long.

Looking around, you might see the newly divorced rider who has a shiny new vest and a deer in the headlights look at all the strange goings on. He may elect to submit to the extreme peer pressure in his newly divorced guys bike club and go helmet-less. But he has the Sons of Anarchy doo rag expertly tied to cover a receding hairline and that will do nicely this day.

 There are the veterans standing around who have no more room for any additional patches on their leather or denim vests and have that bored been there done that look. They’ve “Seen the Elephant” more times than they would like to remember. Motorcycle crashes are hard to forget. Friends are too. They don’t ride without a helmet but respect the right for the other guy to do so if he wishes’.

There are the two really sunburned gal’s dancing by themselves in front of the Bad Company cover band on stage. SMU students in bikini’s (well that’s their story) selling beer and of course working their way through school. Their soon to be ex boyfriends standing close, but not too close, giving the evil eye to any and all possible new friend boys or boyfriends. Then there are other girls in bikinis attempting to wash bikes still too hot to touch, the steaming pipes resulting in a bad hair day.

At opposite ends of the covered patio you will sometimes see the bike-riders from the different outlaw bike clubs eyeing each other suspiciously but keeping in mind this is somewhat neutral territory. But today it seems to be different. There is an obvious tension in the air. This day there are the Outlaws MC from Oklahoma that have made a loud presence as they earlier rode in as a large group. There are no local Outlaw’s chapters in Texas. Maybe it was just a reconnaissance in force, to show the flag so to speak. Funny, there are no Bandido’s or Scorpions present for some reason this afternoon. Maybe there was an agreement among the 1%’ers that this would be the Outlaw’s day at Strokers. Or maybe it’s just blind luck that they are the only MC here. Who knows? But I’m sure many feel like I do… relieved that they are the only ones here. It’s always interesting to observe an outlaw club. The social interaction among other bikers is a study in this close community of bikers that may have different goals in the two wheeled world. Quick glances are shared, but don’t get caught looking for too long.

Mixing with most other riders are the ever present Booze-Fighters from Ft. Worth. They are a social riding group, starting in California with Wino-Willy Thornton in 1947. They always seem to be in a party mood and this day is no exception.

 Of course there are always HOG members just being social and also having a good time. Then there are the posers desperately trying to look cool, see and be seen is their mantra. Rolex riders, weekend warriors, they are all there. It’s all okay, that’s what makes up the interesting tapestry of motorcycling.

Well, the suns going down and as a leg is thrown over the iron horse and waits for the friend to saddle up behind him, the pilot glances over the crowd one more time. The big bike roars to life, and it’s northbound on Harry Hines. Just another Saturday and another slice of motorcycle mayhem!

 

   

January 2013

Profiles trip #10 Honor Flight DFW

 

Raymond had the distinction on flight #10 of being the oldest, although he looks very young for 99!

He enlisted at the Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis Missouri on January 9, 1943. From the dates listed, it looks like Raymond entered the service around the age of 30. In World War II, the average age of a service man was somewhat older than say, the Vietnam War. But going in at the age of 30 in early 1943 was unusual but admirable. It shows that almost everyone wanted to do their part, no matter what age.

Raymond served in the U.S.Army in France during the war. It is known that he strung communications and telephone wire in areas that the Allies had liberated in their march towards Berlin.

As with thousands of other WWII veterans, almost two-thirds of their wartime records, going back before the Civil War, and including veterans of the Vietnam War, were destroyed in a massive fire in St. Louis in 1973. This fire happened at a time when military records were kept in their original paper form in this vast government warehouse. No computer disks existed at this time of course.

Sadly, many families have no idea, or little knowledge of what their family members did during the war, and no copies of the records that were destroyed exist today.

Raymond was discharged from the Army in 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.