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When I was growing up back in the 1960s, it seemed like all of my friends' dads had participated to some degree in the big one -- World War II. I pretty much took it for granted. I knew my dad had served. I had seen the black-and-white photos he kept in his room and the big cardboard box in the closet that contained some medals, maps, photos, a Japanese yen with the names of cities handwritten on it, and books to help spot enemy planes based on their silhouettes. But we never really talked much about what he had done.
Well, it's taken me 30 years to start asking, and maybe it’s taken him that long to feel comfortable about it, but the stories are starting to emerge. Stories of being scared, airsick, feeling the heat and smelling burning cities as the planes roared in at only 5,000 feet.
His old box of memorabilia is gone, but its contents are not. Most of them are packed away in a dresser drawer in the bedroom I use when I visit my parents in Seattle. I always make a point of looking in that drawer when I am there. It’s a time capsule. When I open that drawer, gone is the 81-year-old who dotes on my Mom and putters around in his garden. In his place is the skinny 19-year-old from Iowa City who enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and wound up on a tiny speck in the Pacific named Saipan, an officer and navigator aboard a B-29 Super Fortress bomber.
His first mission was on Feb. 25, 1945 and his plane, named "Pocahontas" with its alluring, scantily clad namesake painted on the nose, took off around 7:00 in the morning. It was just one of 100 bombers heading off to attack Tokyo. His job as navigator was to get his plane to the city and back, a 14-hour flight over the ocean. The weather on the way to Japan was awful with heavy clouds masking sea below and sky above which forced the planes to split up to avoid collisions. The radar stopped working and my dad had to navigate using his charts and wits. As they approached the city it was hidden beneath the clouds. Knowing they needed enough fuel for the long return trip, the pilot made the decision to drop their load of incendiary bombs, target or no target, and head home hoping to avoid enemy fighters.
For the next several hours, the huge bomber with its crew of 11 lumbered home alone, their fate resting in the skills of their rookie navigator, the kid from Iowa. My dad kept peering out the tiny navigator's window looking for a glimpse of the moon or stars so he could plot their course back to Saipan. A mistake would have doomed the plane that night. The chances of survival after ditching in the open sea were slim; the chances of rescue were none. After seven hours my dad figured they were close to home and sure enough, as the bomber descended there it was -- Saipan dead ahead. "It was right on course and my calculations were only a minute off" my dad told me. I was "very lucky" he said with the kind of understatement that guys of his generation posess.
It is lucky for me too that my dad made it though that night and plenty of others during that long ago war. He is starting expand on his wartime diaries and write things down so they don’t get lost and I’m looking forward to reading them. I guess there is really not much more to say except, thanks Dad.
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The 'Early Nightly' is up
In a world where individuals seem to have lost respect for others I find it disturbing to hear the media constantly refer to President Bush as "Mr. Bush". Where I come from, no matter what you are, a Democrat or a Republican, you treated the person that was President or Past President with that salute and honor. Kevin Corte, tonight as the White House Correspondant refered to our President as "Mr. Bush, SEVERAL times and I dislike that lack of class or respect. He is not the only one on your station and other stations that does this. May I ask why we no longer treat our presidents with that respect. Sincerely,
Kay L. Bohls
Cheboygan, Michigan
Kay Bohls (Sent Dec 3, 2006 8:31:39 PM)
can someone tell me where i can find a biography on Ed Bradley
Turino, toronto canada (Sent Nov 13, 2006 11:06:40 AM)
Thank you for your story. My grandfather recently passed away at the age of 81. He was in the Navy during WWII, during which he was severely injured. His ship, the USS Helena, took fire from Japanese fighters. He was physically disabled from those injuries, having taken shrapnel to his brain and leg. He lived a great life, having been willing to give his for our country. Because of my grandfather, I have freedom. Please remember all our troops this Nov 11th and everyday they risk their lives for all of us.
(Sent Nov 11, 2006 3:48:35 AM)
I know this isn't a note from a veteran, but it's a note to a soon-to-be-veteran with a response that makes me proud
Dear Robert,
First off you MUST let me know you received this letter, then read on.
Hi Robert. I know I'm not generally awake but I couldn't sleep. Your Dad came home from Hill's tonite and told me the news.
I know you've been wanting to go do what you feel is your destiny. I also know how hard this is for your Dad. I just want you to know that you've truly made your Dad proud, you've given him more dignity, hope, respect, care and love than you could possibly understand. I don't think I'm writing the words correctly, but I think you know what I mean. I know he's worried but won't show his reality of feelings. He shows the proudness but not the pain. Regardless, we both know you'll be fine. This will be just one obstacle of life along with a journey you'll never forget. You've done well and you are the strong and you will endure whatever is handed your way.
Today is a difficult day and you are always on our minds, in our hearts, souls and even though we don't practice regularly, in our prayers. You will definitely be a person that's beyond belief to those who encounter the knowledge of your presence. You will forever hold memories they will never forget by who you are and what you do. I know we've all had our moments of ups and downs, good memories and bad, but regardless, we hold the one most feeling with us, which is the Love and Prayer and belief in Our God along with Our United States that everyone holds so Dear and NO-ONE can take it away. I don't care how often some moron vows to take us down, We will not allow that possibility.
We will always be beside you Robert, we will always give you strength to your fullest and you will know how to embark on that strength. You will feel our presence with every step and breath you take as you journey through this obstacle. Whenever you can, talk to us and whatever you do, know that we are standing right beside you, holding your hand and feeling your pain, but most of all, we will be PRAYING AND LOVING YOU!
We Love You Robert!
Hey Sue,
Sorry it took me so long to respond to this email. I have been swamped with work and training recently especially since the upcoming deployment.
What you said is right, i want nothing more than to get my chance to go fight for such a precious cause. To stop tyranny throughout the world and defend a defenseless people. I agree with you, i think my dad does hurt on the inside and is scared for me, but like you said i will make it home safe. The thing that pushes me so hard to try and succeed in everything I do here is the support of my family, but mainly my dad. The support he gives me is unbelievable. All i have ever wanted to do is make him proud. I made the choice to volunteered and go fight not only for myself, but for every living breathing American. I greatly appreciate your support as well. Cause like you said no matter where I am or what i am doing, you are all always with me feeling the pain and the happiness. I hold everyone of you guys deep in my heart and nothing can every take that from me.
As you all pray for me i pray for you.
Susan Musil, Genoa, Il. (Sent Nov 10, 2006 11:10:29 PM)
I have always admired and respected the veterans from the greatest generation, we learned that in school and when I was drafted for the vietnam war I never questioned my role in what freedom for americans meant. I continue to admire and respect the latest generation of veterans whom without all of us vets, we would never be free. may God bless you all. A fellow vietnam vet.
keith illingworth myrtle beach south carolina (Sent Nov 10, 2006 10:33:36 PM)
Thanks for the story Andy. My dad was a grunt in WWII and I served in the AF in Vietnam in 1970. Today, I remain as proud as the day I wore our country's uniform and God bless the men and women that protect us today.
(Sent Nov 10, 2006 6:21:30 PM)
My Dad was a WWII disabled vet and former Naval aviator and flight instructor from 1943-45. He passed away last month, and the service was wonderful with honor guard present. He told me stories when he was a flight instructor and how, since they sent all the 'good gas' to the fleet, sometimes they couldn't even get sufficient air speed to take off -- just backfiring all the way down the runway, where the lucky ones ending up in the brush at the end of the tarmac. Then there were the unlucky ones. One was a member of his student squadron who apparently became hypnotized by a lone pine tree the squadron was using as a target and he must have lost his depth perception and flew right into the tree. Dad accompanied his student's body back to his parents in N. Carolina. I still have the letter the parents sent to Dad. I too am a service-connected 100% Vietnam era disabled veteran working now on veterans rights on benefits and political issues, and member of several veterans groups. I am a former Navy corpsman with the Marines and also got to work with the VN POW's during Operation Egress/Recap. Dad and I, and other of our relatives, were lucky and got to live out our lives. The real heroes did not. They died so that you and I could live out our lives to the fullest enjoyment possible. Bless our heroes.
Bruce Freeman, Newberg, Oregon (Sent Nov 10, 2006 6:16:50 PM)
God Bless ALL our veterans! My late Grandfather served as a gunner on the USS Essex CV-9 in WW2. I always let him know I was proud of his sacrifice.
R. Dabrowski Plano, Texas (Sent Nov 10, 2006 5:43:35 PM)
I am proud of your Father and proud of you for the interest you show in what he did. My Father served in WWII also and I remember going through his big locker and seeing items he had brought back with him. It's very special. Thanks for sharing.
(Sent Nov 10, 2006 4:55:44 PM)
I also served six years in our usaf. I was a fighter jet mechanic.My last duty outffit was the Flying Tigers. I am a Vietnam era veteran and I also served a year in Korea at Osan.I am extremely proud of my service time and gratefull for the experience. I even got the chance to fly in the back seat of an F-4 Phantom when I was staioned at Holloman AFB Alamagordo NM. Fredoom is not Free. God bless all who have served, are serving now and will serve in the future.
(Sent Nov 10, 2006 4:22:04 PM)
I just came across you site and read the story about
Andys Dad. It was very good.
Yesterday Nov.9 the Junior High Students put on a program Honoring all Vetrans. It made Me feel very Proud For serving during the Korean Conflict. And after reading I think I should start My own History for my children so I don't get lose.
Robert H. Berntsen Berlin N.H. (Sent Nov 10, 2006 3:49:07 PM)
Wow! I couldn't agree with the above comment more. I'm glad I'm an American too. It's unfortunate that so many young people have had to die to keep us strong and free, but I guess that's a glitch in the system. Unfortunately, too many people don't remember that freedom isn't free, and the men and women who have gone to fight aren't the ones who made the decision to start a war. It's the old men and women in Congress and the White House who do that. God Bless America!
Michael W. Michelsen, Jr., Riverside, California (Sent Nov 10, 2006 2:28:42 PM)
Dear Andy
Every time I read about an experience like that I place myself at 19 or 20 years old and wonder what kind of guts and courage and love of country individuals like your dad possessed. As Tom Brokaw stated in his infamous book, "we're all grateful for the sacrifices of that generation."
Rob DiNardo, Rochester, NY (Sent Nov 10, 2006 2:20:54 PM)
Very nice message. I just had the opportunity to show and tell my fathers medals to a third grade class. They were very receptive and were jittery with enthusiasm. This was a way that I was able to show my since deceased father that what he did was not in vain and hopefully pass on how important it is to be respectful and grateful for the freedoms we still have in this country and how important it is to protect these freedoms. Thank you Dad!
Jude, Sycamore, Illinois (Sent Nov 10, 2006 1:47:18 PM)
when i read or hear about service men and woman just doing there jobs it brings tears to my eyes. i served and i'm glad i did. i love being an american.
dan derousseau (Sent Nov 10, 2006 1:35:09 PM)
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