By Jennifer Sidle
Dwight Foster, a poor southern boy growing up during the depression in North Caroline, finds himself “just another mouth to feed” as his frustrated and volatile father, a cabinet finisher, struggles to support a wife and their eight children. Dwight escapes his father’s frightening fury by maintaining a quiet existence.
Being a WWII British veteran (RAF) now an octogenarian (80+), I wonder what my fellow Vets (Brits & American), think about all the counseling that the modern forces receive after being involved in any skirmish. I do not remember in my youth (aged 18) as a WWII aircrew when I was flying in Bombers (Lancaster) receiving any consideration in that way.
It was a known fact that no combat plane could fly faster or take more punishment than the B-24. World War II probably could not have been won without it. It was called, "the flying boxcar," because when fully loaded, it weighed over 60,000 pounds and 8,000 of those pounds were in bombs alone.
Starting with December 5, 1944 the 143rd began to hear rumors that they were to move forward from their present deployment around Liege to fire on the sites launching the buzz bombs that were landing in and around Liege. Recon parties started leaving the area, coming back with reports of the situation at the front and stories were heard of emplacing the batteries within 1800 yards of German outpost positions.
The soldier in this story can honestly say that he only enjoyed two meals during the 2½ years of his military service and they were both on Christmas day. The celebration at Moascar, Egypt was the most memorable, because of the relaxed atmosphere and warm weather. If everyday in the army was like Christmas in Egypt, there would be long lines of men attempting to enlist and they wouldn't have to bother non-believers like our hero.
By Robert Abrahamson
My base camp was Stalag 2B. We were sent out from there to the farm in Burzen. All privates had to work but NCO's were not required to do so. I am glad I had to work because the main Stalag was boring with nothing to do all day.
"You look at the biography of Edward Flanagan, the word that comes to mind is incredible. Faced with perhaps our Nation's the darkest hour, America definitely needed for men to step up to the answer of our nations call. From 1942 to 1946 Ed Flanagan served our country. . . Ladies and Gentleman we are in the presence of a hero."
It was lucky indeed, for Al because he was born a "blue baby." A lot of blue babies were, born in 1919 due to the flu epidemic. "I was born with a bluish tint to my skin due to a lack of oxygen during my delivery," Al reports. "Sometimes blue babies would be born with heart defects. Dr. Lund told my folks that he doubted I would live to be 21 years old. Well, here I sit-84 years old-and I always say that I've been living on borrowed time since I was 21!"
As the saying goes, “It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop.” A great deal of ingenuity has gone into reintroducing someone to the ground gracefully, but no safety device is foolproof. Rockport resident Gilbert Weaver learned that lesson well enough during his service with the U.S. Army as a paratrooper, though he is among the relative few to walk away from a “failed” jump and live to tell the tale.
But like so many of them, though he seldom talked about it, he could have told you one hell of a story. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart all in one fell swoop in the skies over Germany on December 31, 1944.