Honor Flight DFW trip#9

Harbor on the cars radio.

Robert was inducted into the US Marines in November, 1942 at the age of 21.

 Robert went into flight training to become a pilot. In his career in the Marine Corps Robert flew dive bombers and fighters. Among some of the aircraft he flew were the SBD Dauntless, the SB2C Helldiver (the Beast), and the F4U Corsair fighter.

He was assigned to the VMSB-331 squadron of the 4^th Marine Air Wing. His unit was based at Majuro in the Marshall Islands.

During his service Robert flew many missions hitting nearby islands such as Millie, Jaluit, Maloelap and Wotje Island. Wotje Island held a large Japanese seaplane base. One of the important facts about Millie Island is that this was the location of the first formal surrender of Japanese forces after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On August 22, 1945 the USS Levy DE 162 was host to this historic event and first surrender of Japanese territory as WWII ended.

Roberts’s most memorable experience was when his dive bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire during a bombing run on Wotje Island. Robert had to “dead stick” a landing of his damaged aircraft into the Pacific. Luckily he and his rear seat gunner were picked up by a Navy PBY Catalina flying boat. He and his gunner were soon back at their base.

Robert was discharged from the Marines on December 22, 1946 with the rank of Captain. He received the Air Medal during his time in the service.    

Honor Flight DFW trip # 9

Charles is a native of Dallas Texas, and still resides there to this day. He was in high school at Adamson High in Dallas Texas when he heard the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He joined the Navy at the age of 17 in 1944, starting boot camp in San Diego.

This sailor shipped out on the U.S.S.Wake Island CVE-65.which was an escort (or Jeep) carrier from San Francisco to Hawaii in late 1944. The Wake Island then sailed for the Philippine Islands passing through the Sergio Straight just after New Year’s Day, 1945 joining the massive fleet for the forthcoming invasion of Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Charles had the very hazardous duty of being an aircraft handler on the deck of the Wake Island. With planes moving around the deck with rockets and bombs attached, and props spinning, this was one of the most dangerous jobs that a sailor on an aircraft carrier could do.

The Wake Island participated in the Philippine campaign, then was stationed off Iwo Jima and sent naval aircraft to attack the island in support of the Marines for 24 consecutive days. After being relieved and refitted, Charles and the rest of the crew of the Wake Island arrived off Okinawa arriving in the operating area in late March, 1945. The ship was attacked at one point by Japanese kamikaze aircraft with one narrowly missing the ship, but causing extensive damage to the hull.

The Wake Island continued to serve in the Pacific until the end of the war. After the war, Charles was part of the tests off San Diego where the navy tested the FR Fireball, the first jet to land on a U.S. carrier.

Charles eventually got out of the service and went to work for Braniff Airlines. He went to school, obtained a Masters degree, and retired as a principal for D.I.S.D. after 25 years. Charles and his wife have been members of White Rock United Methodist Church for over 50 years.

Charles told me that in visiting his WWII Memorial, all the thoughts and memories of the men he served with, and didn’t come back will come flooding back.

Honor Flight DFW trip #9

Robert was a high school senior when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened on December 7, 1941.

He joined the US Army Air Corps on March 15, 1943 at the age of 18.

After basic training, Robert was sent to gunnery school to learn how to shoot the .50 caliber machine guns used on heavy bombers. He soon qualified and became a top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator.

Robert was sent to England and was assigned to the famous 8^th Air Force. He was assigned to the 492^nd Bomb Group, 856^th Bomb Squadron.

Robert’s most memorable experience was the day that his bomber was hit by German flak. The plane was on fire so the order was given for the crew to bail out. Robert came down from the top turret and realized that his flying suit was on fire too! He saw that his parachute was not fully hooked up but he jumped anyway. Robert landed in the cold Baltic Sea and was soon picked up by a patrolling German E-boat crewed by German Marines.

Robert said that he was lucky and that God was surely looking out for him. He found out after the war that he was the only surviving crewman on his B-24. He got out of the hospital and spent the next year as a prisoner of war. Before his release, Robert walked 800 miles across Poland and Germany, heading west since the Russian army was coming. The German’s didn’t want to release their prisoners, and they didn’t want to become POW’s of the Russian’s.

Robert was discharged on October 31, 1945 as a Tech Sergeant.

He received the French Croix De Guerre medal, the POW Medal, Purple Heart, D-Day Normandy Campaign Medal, and the European Air Offensive Medal with clusters.  

Honor Flight DFW profiles trip #9

On Sunday, December 7, 1941 Joe was at home in Oklahoma City. No doubt he and his family heard the first reports of the attack around noon or so that day. People were scared. Where was Pearl Harbor? How did the Japanese surprise us like that? Questions like this lingered for weeks, months, even today.

He joined the Marines and was inducted on October 20, 1942 at the age of 18.

Joe participated in some of the most horrendous battles in the South Pacific. He was in the famous 2^nd Marine Division;”C” Company, 1^st Medium Tank Battalion at Tarawa.

Later he was a member of “A” Company, 2^nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division at Saipan-Tinian and again at Okinawa.

Joe states that two of his most memorable experiences during the war were the invasion of Tarawa, and the terrible first night on the island of Saipan. Both times he experienced fanatical Japanese suicide attacks, and since they favored night assaults, little sleep was had for days.

He says that during the war he matured fast. The horrible things that happen in war makes him realize that we should avoid it at all costs. Unless we are thrust into a war like the US was in WWII.

Joe received the Purple Heart on Tarawa, and the Presidential Unit Citation with one star.

He was discharged as a Corporal on January 6, 1946 after participating in the initial occupation of Japan.  

Honor Flight DFW profiles trip # 9

James was home on December 7, 1941 when he heard the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

He joined the US Marine Corps on January 11, 1945 at the age of 18.

While in the Marines, James was in the infantry, and was assigned as a camp guard.

His duty locations included Parris Island, Camp Lejune, Camp Pendleton and the USNS Pier 91 at Seattle, Washington.

He attained the rank of PFC and was discharged on August 19, 1946.

Honor Flight DFW profiles, trip # 9

Oscar was riding in a McCamy Texas school bus traveling from Austin Texas back to McCamy when he heard about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Sunday December7, 1941.

Oscar was inducted into the US Army Air Corp on November 28, 1942 at the age of 18. He began pilot training after boot camp, and soon found himself on the way to Italy.

This author had an uncle that was in the “Checkertails” of the 15^th Air Force. He was based at Foggia, Italy where I believe Oscar was based as well. Oscar was assigned to the 15^th Air Force, 52^nd Fighter Group, of the 2^nd Fighter Squadron.

Oscar flew P-51 Mustangs which is considered to be the finest fighter of WWII. He flew 50 combat missions and attained 250 combat hours as a fighter pilot.

His duties while in Italy were as a fighter pilot, but he also was the Operations Officer, and Director of Personnel.

During his time with the 15^th Air Force, Oscar flew many missions that involved strafing and bombing German troop transports, aircraft on the ground, and trains. Trains were particularly dangerous to attack because many were heavily fortified with flak guns on flatbed railcars.

However Oscar’s most memorable experience was when he shot down a German Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf FW-190 fighter. This was considered by many to be the hottest German fighter (before the ME-262 jet) in the Luftwaffe inventory.  

Oscar received the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) with four oak leaf clusters, and the European Theater Ribbon with seven battle stars.

He had a long career in the Air Corps, later the US Air Force. Oscar retired in 1976 with the rank of Major.

Honor Flight DFW profiles, trip#9

Benjamin joined the US Army on November 25, 1940 at the age of 18. He was at Camp Bowie Texas on Sunday December 7, 1941. Actually he was watching a movie that Sunday afternoon near the base. Around 2:30PM the lights came on during the film, and the manager walked out on stage. He announced that all military personnel should return to base.

Benjamin was a member of the 142^nd Infantry, 36^th Division also known as The Texas Division. He participated in action in North Africa, Italy, Southern France, the Alsace Loraine area of France, the Rhineland in Germany, and the Austrian Alps.

He was a Staff Sergeant, battalion S-4 responsible for supplying five companies with food, weapons, ammunition and clothing.

Some of Benjamin’s most memorable experiences included landing in the second wave in the invasion of Salerno Italy, the first wave in the invasion of Southern France, the liberation of Rome at midnight June 4, 1944, and the attack behind German lines at Valletri, Italy.

Benjamin has said that his experience during WWII caused him to grow up to become a mature young man.

He was awarded the Good Conduct, and American Defense Medals. He also received the EAME Campaign Medal with five bronze stars. The Bronze Star Medal, the 36^th Infantry Medal, and the Non-Combat Medal for Outstanding Service.

Benjamin was discharged on June 28, 1945.