/7/ NEWS LETTER Vol. 16 No. 2 SECOND AIR DIVISION ASSOCIATION June 1978 BEDTIME RAMBLINGS The bombardier came back and pow- dered the wound with sulfa, wrapped a by Jacob T. Elias (44th BG) bandage on it. The ambulance was waiting as soon as we stopped on the Why? I often wonder why. It is now not my idea of winning the war and revetment, a fast trip to the base over thirty-eight years since I left getting the Congressional Medal of medic, and then a longer trip to Shipdham-in-the-Mud, and yet, in those Honor pinned on my chest by the Pres- Wymondham where the nickel sized half-real moments before I fall asleep. ident of the USA himself. My attitude piece was removed, the smaller pieces my mind flies over the sea to that was probably noted by — (I'll be left in the leg for souvenirs. place I was happy to leave. A pot- charitable and not mention his name). A month there, living in a warm pourri of memories slowly floats My request for transfer to a combat room, clean white sheets, food served through my consciousness. People, crew was quickly approved and I on dishes, attentive nurses. Like a va- places, smells, violent scenes, rain, moved to the 68th Squadron area. A cation. except for feeling hemmed in, hoar-frost on overhead wires, muddy month later I found myself listed on useless. Restlessness grew as the ten- tires on a bicycle. the alert sheet for my first mission as sion before D-Day grew in the British Transfer to the 14th Combat Wing at waist gunner. Isles. I pursuaded the doctor to let me Shipdham. The bustle of organizing the Shaking with fear as we rose in the go back to Shipdham earlier than he Wing, the excitement as word came of half-night and assembled in the blueing wanted. Leon Johnson's promotion to Brig. sky, headed for the Channel. Tension Back at the 68th I was assigned to General, the impossible attempts to and fear as I looked at the Dutch the "Flak Magnet", Joy Smith in make the long cold brick barracks liv- coastline. "Clear the guns" came the charge. What a pilot! Cool, efficient as able. Cold. Summer, I was told, had order, and the shaking gun in my hands a computer, a rock of strength, yet lasted several weeks this year instead told me this was no bad dream, but with a sly sense of humor. The rest of of the usual three days. A tiny stove in reality. A terrible fever raged through the crew great, knowing their jobs. the center of a long, high-ceilinged me as I realized the ground underneath Kenny Sprowl, "Sparks", Gene De- room with concrete floor and brick was hostile. Waters, Flight Engineer, Johnny Shel- sides, totally inadequate for heating Coming in over the target on the Pas ton at the waist window across from anything but a few inches of air di- de Calais, black blossoms with red cen- me. Several missions to France and rectly above it. Our ration of two buc- ters appeared miraculously around us. Germany, then D-Day. One engine kets of coke was fireproof anyway. Pretty, I thought. What are they? A knocked out, we fly alone on the re- We fled to the Red Cross building few blossomed closer, thuds shook the turn, but we make it OK. Another time when we could, basking in the warmth plane. Then it struck me — this was Johnny gets a piece in the neck and of that fireplace. Mud everywhere, FLAK! More evil blossoms flowered all the bombardier and I are frantic in our -sticky, cold, mocking. around us and then we swung away as efforts to stem the blood. He made it I found a bicycle for two dollars, one the bombs were released, the shudder- in spite of us. Bastogne and bombing of the best investments I ever made. ing stopped as the bomb bay doors by radar, praying the bombs don't drop American style coaster brake, too, in- closed and we headed back for home. on our own troops — a good friend of stead of the handle levers, probably the How welcome was the sight of the mine is down there with the 82nd Air- only one on the base. Rides through Channel, more welcome the sight of borne. the narrow roads over the gentle hills, Lowestoft and the friendly fields of My thirty missions are finished just a the high hedgerows, mist and fine rain. Suffolk and Norfolk. That first step on few days past New Year of 1944. What A stop at a tea shop in a village, and solid ground, how good it felt! a relief! Yet it is hard to part with all hot aromatic tea with heavy cake or A couple of days later and over to those guys on the crew and in my scones. They were Spartan confections Abbeville. The flak was heavy, the ship Nissen hut. As I pack and ready my- — would never be allowed within a bounced and shook as we went in. self, the radio with the cracked case up hundred yards of a 'patisserie', but Bombs away, bomb bay doors closed, on the shelf faithfully sings out with they were full of the good stuff that a swing west, then I felt it, like a "Take the A Train". "One O'clock enable the Briton to withstand the hammer hitting my leg. What was that? Jump", "Deep Purple", "I Walk soggy winter. I asked myself, then felt something wet Alone". I look at the guys, stretched Typing letters and filing reports was rolling down inside the heavy clothes. (Continued on page 2) 1 Second Air Division Association BEDTIME RAMBLINGS (Continued from page 1) Eighth Air Force out on their bunks, reading, or sitting gun their engines, gently start to move on the edge, writing a letter. Van Ro- and then roar in a mighty effort to lift OFFICERS gers is heating water for tea, dropping ,their bomb-heavy bodies from the cling- Presdent J. D. LONG, JR. 102 Kemp Rd., Greensboro, N.C. 27410 an extra piece of wood down the insat- ,ing ground. And I saw the trucks and Vice President E. A. ROKICKI iable throat of that little stove to hurry jeeps busily going to and fro, the 365 Mae Rd., Glen Burnie, Md. 21061 Vice President up the heat. Harry Ricketts is sewing a ground crews watching warily as their Membership EVELYN COHEN button on his jacket, almost as though ships made their run and lifted off, 610 Plaza Towers, 2350 Tremont St. Philadelphia. Pennsylvania 19115 he knew what he was doing. Elvin worrying and praying. Vice President Scheetz is writing a letter. How 1 hate 1 walked back toward the Dereham Newsletter WILLIAM G ROBERTIE to leave them, much as I want to go road again and faces flitted through my P.O. Drawer B, Ipswich. Mass 01938 Treasurer DEAN E. MOYER home! What a wrench to go from them. mind, faces of men — boys, really, but 549 East Main St., Evans City, Pa. 16033 That scene made a mark on my con- men ahead of their time. Faces I had Secretary MRS. MILTON VEYNAR 4915 Bristow Drive, Annandale, Va. 22003 sciousness that has faded but never come to look forward to seeing in the gone. morning, faces of men I had come to American Representative. Board of Governors. In 1955 I went back to Norfolk to think beautiful no matter what the Memorial Trust JORDAN UTTAL visit my friends in Wroxham. Monica shape of nose or chin or color of eye, 7824 Meadow Park Drive, Apt. 101 Dallas, Texas 75230 dropped me off at "The King's Head" faces of men I had come to love for * ** * * one day, where the road goes into the their smiles, their teasing, their sadness GROUP VICE PRESIDENTS airbase from the Shipdham-Dereham in unguarded moments, for their cour- Headquarters WARREN L. BURMAN road. I refused her offer to drive me age in facing death though the fear in 34225 Pettibone Ave., Solon Ohio 44139 into the base. "I'll Walk Alone", as their hearts was deep as in mine. 44th BG CHARLES J WARTH 5709 WaIkertcb Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45238 Lily Ann Carroll used to sing in 1944. My heart was verily sad as I trod 93rd BG R. J. RHOADES The day was one of those normal with heavy heart toward Dereham. 3053 31st Ave., Columbus, Neb. 68601 389th BG EARL L. ZIMMERMAN ones, low gray clouds fleeing ahead of Where were they, those wonderful 8922 Haverstick Rd., Indianapolis, Ind. 46240 the cold wind though it was August kids? Those great-hearted kids with 392nd BG JAMES W. BLANCO again, the same month smooth cheeks, a few stray hairs on 326 Beck Rd.. Lindenhurst, III. 60046 I'd come in 445th BG DAVID G. PATTERSON 1943. The barman in "The King's their upper lip, kids who did not speak 28 Squire Ct., Alamo, California 94507 Head" assured me I was at the right of patriotism, love of country, fear of 446th CLARENCE H. HOOKS 7619 Clearwater Road, Hixson, Tennessee 37343 place. Then he gave me the name of death, but who went out and did the 448th BG JOSEPH T. MICHALCZYK another man who'd stopped a few best they could, clumsily at times, per- 241 West St., Ludlow Mass. 01056 458th BG CLINTON E. WALLACE weeks before, a professor at Syracuse fectly some times, but always the best Box 508, Brutus, Michigan 49716 University in New York, who wanted their only human minds and bodies 466th BG J M DANIELS to hear from anyone who could do.