Rendezvous With Destiny - 2008

MEMORIAL DAY 2008

‘

There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a ...

rendezvous with destiny ’ — FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, JUNE 27, 1936

A long time ago, they were soldiers, sailors and flyboys.

Some stepped up to volunteer and some were drafted.

Regardless of how they got there, they served their country when it needed them most.

They are World War II veterans, part of the Greatest Generation that is slowly passing into history.

Last week, some 100 veterans of that conflict from Nebraska and western Iowa traveled together to the nation’s capital, the trip a gift of appreciation for helping save the world from Axis domination.

The World-Herald sought to talk to all of them, collecting a wealth of stories rapidly being lost. The youngsters in the group, after all, are in their 80s.

Read their words and you see that they are ordinary people who rose to meet the extraordinary challenge of their time — a “rendezvous with destiny,” as their president, FDR, called it.

In an epic era most of us can only look back on in black and white, they lived its full spectrum of glorious, and

often terrifying, color.

Some talk freely of those times. Others speak guardedly, hinting of things they’ve never cared to talk about.

Their jobs were not always glamorous. But whether a daring pilot, a grunt rifleman, a scrape-knuckled mechanic or a paper-shuffling clerk, they repeat the same refrain: “Somebody had to do it.”

They circled the globe, enduring Aleutian cold and steamy Burma heat. They battled the enemy; they fought against boredom. They had brushes with greatness; they had brushes with death.

They prayed only to live; they had the time of their lives.

They witnessed history in the making; they witnessed things they’ve tried to forget.

But this is a day when we should all remember — what they, and all other veterans, did for their country, and for us.

On this Memorial Day, take some time and read their memories.

— Henry J. Cordes

Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 2

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation: bobby nickels

WWII romance was letter-perfect

Mary Nickels still has the $5 engagement ring Bobby Nickels sent her as he shipped off to World War II service in France in 1944. Mary said yes — as long as Bobby promised to return. He did. Their story, first printed in Sunday’s paper, reappears in today’s commemorative section.

A GI’s investment in a $5 ring paid dividends: steady stream of mail from faithful fiancee COLUMBUS, Neb. — Around Christmas of 1944, days before he boarded a ship and sailed to war, Bobby Nickels took a leap of faith.

Nineteen years old and hundreds of miles farther from home than he’d ever been — and fueled by mugs of free beer courtesy of Baltimore’s grateful dock workers and shipbuilders — Nickels stopped at a small jewelry shop after a night on the waterfront.

He chose the only ring he could afford on his $21-a-month soldier’s pay: a simple gold-plated ring with a tiny stone. He paid $5.

A few weeks later, in Henderson, Neb., Mary Remple’s father handed her a worn envelope.

“My dad had scrutinized it very much before he gave it to me, because he knew who it was from,” she recalled.

“I opened it up and here was the most beautiful $5 ring I had ever seen in my whole life. I was so happy — though very unhappy that I didn’t get it right away.”

In the bitter winter of early 1945, as Nickels marched over bomb-cratered roads through ruined French villages, Remple’s reply reached him: “Yes! But not until you get home.”

For the next year, letters postmarked in Henderson — as much as clean socks, warm meals and dry tents — helped Bobby Nickels cross war-ravaged Europe.

As an infantryman in the “Big Red One” — the Army’s legendary 1st Division — Nickels began the long march through wintry France just after the Battle of the Bulge.

Sometimes he wore nine layers of clothing — anything he could find to ward off the deadly cold.

With the Big Red One, he helped chase the last German resistance across the countryside.

One day, a mortar hit a nearby building and sprayed hot shrapnel into Nickels’ shoulder and neck. Another time, Nickels improvised a Molotov cocktail and threw the fiery bomb into the back of a German tank, destroying it — and later earning a Silver Star for the act.

All the while, he waited for Remple’s latest letters.

“It was tough, but she was real faithful about writing to me,” Nickels recalled. “More so than I was, probably.”

Back in Nebraska, Remple worked in a Grand Island defense plant. She did whatever else she could to help the war effort: saving tires, conserving gasoline and coffee . . . and writing letters to the soldier she hoped would come home to her.

“You did everything you could in those days. Everyone did,” she said.

Nickels’ unit was hiking up a large hill near the town of Halle, Germany, when word of the Germans’ surrender reached them.

Nickels eventually found himself in Nuremberg, guarding a nearby prisoner of war camp and standing watch in town during the first motions of the famous Nuremberg war crimes trials.

In February 1946, Nickels headed for home. On Remple’s birthday, March 31, Nickels was formally discharged in St. Louis. Nineteen days later, back in Nebraska, he and Remple were wed.

Sitting in his Columbus living room earlier this month, with his wife’s hands on his shoulders, Bobby Nickels, 83, smiled at the memory of the hastily mailed wedding ring — which Mary said had become worn and thin.

“After you get so much beer in you, back then, you’d get some crazy thoughts that seemed like good ideas,” he said, patting his wife’s hand. “But I guess it worked out OK.”

— Tim Elfrink

Bobby and Mary as a young couple

the greatest generation eug en e k uh n While scouting ahead of the Battle of the Bulge, 19-year-old found he had gotten behind enemy lines

Green soldier in epic battle If you ask Eugene Kuhn what it was like to go face to face in battle against the dreaded Nazi SS troops, don’t expect a long conversation.

“I could only pull the trigger and let them have it. It wasn’t pleasant. I don’t even talk about that.’’

Then he quickly changes the subject.

“I think this is a wonderful deal they are doing for the veterans,’’ he says of last week’s Heartland Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. The 84-year-old Columbus native brought home a trunkful of memories from his service with the 106th Infantry Division — including many unpleasant ones.

Kuhn’s unit had the distinction of suffering the heaviest losses of any U.S. division during the Battle of the Bulge, Hitler’s final desperate effort to stave off defeat in western Europe.

Enlistee Kuhn, 19, and the 106th were both green and untested. They had spent only five days in the Ardennes region of Belgium, in a supposedly quiet area, when the German thrust began in December 1944.

Kuhn and two other soldiers who had been up ahead scouting suddenly found themselves behind enemy lines.

“They went right through us,’’ he said. “We didn’t have a chance to get started back.’’

Although large elements of the 106th were encircled and captured, Kuhn managed to make it back to the American side and rejoin

the fight to repel the German advance.

Separated from his own outfit and with American commanders filling gaps wherever they could, Kuhn at one point was placed in a tank company. He said he’d never been in a tank before, but for 10 days he served as a gunner on a tank crew.

“We got in among (the German tanks) and hit a couple, knocked the tracks off one,’’ he said. “I was one of the happiest guys you ever saw to get out of a tank.’’

During the American counterattack, Kuhn and others took more than a dozen German soldiers prisoner after finding them in the basement of a building, singing carols.

“They were in shock, with their guns laying back in the corner. One of them told me, ‘You Americans are crazy attacking on Christmas Eve.’ ’’ When it was over, the Americans had won, but the 106th was decimated, with more than 8,600 killed, wounded, captured or missing.

Kuhn didn’t see any more fighting before the war ended. He returned home to his young wife, Marcy, to whom he has now been married for 65 years, and started a family gas station business.

Kuhn said he had nightmares from his war experience for nearly 30 years.

Still, he knows he was lucky to return to a happy life in the states.

“I feel sorry for the boys who didn’t make it back.’’

— Henry J. Cordes

Eugene Kuhn, front, and other veterans from Nebraska and Iowa arrive in Washington, D.C., last week to visit the National World War II Memorial.

The engagement ring that Bobby sent Mary

On Omaha.com Veterans tell their own stories through video and audio interviews and slide shows by World-Herald photographers Peter Soby, James R. Burnett and Kent Sievers

Inside this section

Bobby Nickels’ induction notice

Pages 2-4: Six stories from veterans who made Wednesday’s Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Pages 5-7 and 10-16: Profiles of 96 Midlands World War II veterans who made Wednesday’s flight and two who were originally scheduled to make the trip Pages 8-9: A special keepsake poster of photos from Wednesday’s trip

For reprints or extra copies of this section Contact LibraryLink at (402) 444-1014 or link@owh.com

Section credits SECTION CONTENT Michael Holmes, Regional Editor ..........................mike.holmes@owh.com Henry J. Cordes, Staff Writer.................................henry.cordes@owh.com Tim Elfrink, Staff Writer............................................tim.elfrink@owh.com Matthew Hansen, Staff Writer ........................ matthew.hansen@owh.com PRODUCTION AND EDITING Shelley Larsen, News Editor............................... shelley.larsen@owh.com Frank Hassler, Copy Editor .................................. frank.hassler@owh.com Tim Sacco, Copy Editor ............................................ tim.sacco@owh.com

Nickels’ Army songbook

PHOTOGRAPHY Jeff Bundy, Section Photo Editor ............................... jeff.bundy@owh.com James R. Burnett, Photographer ..............................jim.burnett@owh.com Rebecca S. Gratz, Photographer .......................... rebecca.gratz@owh.com Additional photography: Jeff Beiermann, Kiley Cruse, Matt Miller Imaging: Steve Allard, Chris Machian, Jolene McHugh, Chuck Moss Photography on Pages 8-9 by James R. Burnett and Rebecca S. Gratz When available, veterans’ war-era photographs were provided SECTION DESIGN Dave Elsesser, Presentation Editor ..................... dave.elsesser@owh.com Josh Crutchmer, Deputy Presentation Editor .......josh.crutchmer@owh.com Tim Parks, Assistant Editor/Presentation ...................tim.parks@owh.com Contact the World-Herald newsroom: (402) 444-1000 Special thanks to Heartland Honor Flight organizer Bill Williams and his wife, Evonne, to the WWII veterans who shared their memories and to all U.S. veterans for their service to our country.

Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 3

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation: wally junge

He saved mission when pilot ‘lost it’

Nebraskan socked the captain, took control of the plane RIGHT: Wally Junge, a B-26 pilot, shown in a pup tent during the war.

BELOW LEFT: Junge earlier this month with a model of a B-26.

BELOW RIGHT: A piece of shrapnel and part of the hydraulic line it severed on a Junge mission.

YORK, Neb. — Wally Junge leaned forward in his kitchen chair, a plastic model of a B-26 bomber perched for takeoff on the table behind him, and told a story he’d never told before.

“It’s my worst mission and I don’t like to talk about it,” said Junge, 86, squinting through the deep creases that frame his lively eyes.

December 1944. On the ground, in the frozen Ardennes Forest, American and German troops are locked in the epic Battle of the Bulge.

Junge, a farm boy from outside Bradshaw, Neb., was a first lieutenant, co-piloting a B-26 with an Army Air Forces captain toward the small Belgian town of St. Vith.

“You can’t imagine the airplanes, so thick in the sky that day,” Junge said.

“We’d been grounded for three days or longer because the fog was so thick you couldn’t walk across the street. The Germans were at the center of the battle in St. Vith, so that was our target area.”

Junge was ready for anything.

On his very first mission months before — his first ride in a B-26, in fact — Germans riddled his plane with shrapnel and severed the bomber’s hydraulic system.

Junge’s plane separated from its formation and dodged in and out of the clouds, running from German fighters that peppered the plane with bullets.

“When we landed, we had probably 25 holes in the plane. That’s how close we came to getting hit. I said to the pilot, ‘What would I have done if you were killed in this plane? I’ve never even been in a B-26 before.’ He said, ‘You’d bring it home.’ ” But the scene over St. Vith shocked even the battle-hardened Junge.

Bombers and fighters swarmed the sky, which was cloudy with anti-aircraft fire.

“Between the fighters and the flak . . . it was absolutely terrible.

You didn’t think there was any possible chance you were going to live through it,” Junge said.

As they neared their targets, flying in formation with other bomb-

ers, something happened to the captain flying Junge’s plane.

“He lost it. He just lost it,” Junge said. “We were flight leaders, so we had six airplanes in a flight formation with us. He just put our plane into a straight dive.”

Junge reacted quickly, instinctively. “I hit him. I hit him hard, and I said: ‘What are you trying to do, kill us all?’ ” “He just sat back like this in his seat and never said another word,” Junge recalled, covering his face with his hands. “I took over the controls and brought us back into formation.”

The bombers regrouped and finished their run, dodging Nazi fighters on the return to England.

Only as they descended did Junge’s captain recover his composure, taking over the controls to help with the landing.

Junge went straight to his flight officer for a debriefing, fully expecting a court-martial for hitting a superior officer.

After he told his story, the officer responded simply that he’d done his job as co-pilot: “Why in the hell do you think we’ve got you flying with him for? Someone’s got to bring him back.”

There were plenty of other close calls. Of the 37 missions he flew in the B-26, Junge guessed his plane was hit on 25. Toward the end of the war, Junge executed a belly landing when the bomber’s wheels collapsed on the runway. He skidded hundreds of feet toward a tent full of soldiers, stopping just short.

But he’ll never forget the captain on that day over St. Vith.

“You don’t realize what these pilots and enlisted men and gunners go through. I’ve seen young men, and their hair will turn white overnight, or they’ll lose their hair overnight,” he said.

“I was fortunate that I lived through it OK. I just prayed to the Lord on every mission to bring us back. When you’re flying through flak and the plane right in front of you gets hit and parts and bodies are flying all over, it’s tough to forget that stuff. That’s why you don’t talk about it.”

— Tim Elfrink

the greatest generation: lambert mills

Patton’s pep talk helped clear his conscience For all the glorification in the movies, fighting a war comes down to killing the enemy.

It’s a raw, brutal art, one that World War II veteran Lambert Mills became quite good at. It was, he said, the only way to survive.

The 85-year-old Lincoln man tells about the time when a buddy got cut down right beside him. He saw a group of German soldiers running.

“I set that 30-caliber (machine gun) down, and I mowed them down like they were flies,’’ he recalled. “I really did.’’

During the battle to liberate Europe, Mills served as a machine gunner with Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army. Or more precisely, as he recalled it: “I was in the 3rd Army, 71st Division, 66th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Battery B. I still remember all that.’’

His introduction to combat came near Vichy, France. His unit went right onto the line in relief of another outfit, and German 88 mm artillery shells began bursting in the trees above them, sending steel and tree limbs raining down.

“Then, at 5:30, we took off with the tanks. You’d never seen anything like it. Our planes were strafing in front of us and bombers were overhead. It was a real Fourth of July. We did a lot of walking and I did a lot of fighting. I shot a good many Germans.’’

That task, he said, got a little easier when, early on, his outfit captured a German camp where French prisoners of war were held.

The dead lay all about, and many of the surviving captives were too weak to walk.

“Gen. Patton came and talked to us right there. He said, ‘See what these sons of bitches did? Now go out and kill ’em.’ I didn’t have any sympathy for Germans after I’d seen the way they treated human beings. It didn’t bother me a bit to kill them.’’

Once they reached the Rhine, he said, German resistance quickly wilted. After crossing the river in an assault boat, he heard motors.

Suddenly, six truckloads of German soldiers came through the trees.

“I opened up on the trucks, and

Lambert Mills, left, of Lincoln and Wally Junge of York talk with fellow World War II veteran — and former Kansas senator — Bob Dole last week in Washington.

they didn’t put up much of a fight,’’ he said. “The guy in the command car surrendered right away.’’

The Americans took 200 prisoners.

Days later, he was on guard at another river crossing when three German soldiers came walking along the creek bank.

“When they got to the top, I hollered ‘Halten sie!’ They hollered back ‘Nicht schiessen!’ I knew what it meant: ‘Don’t shoot.’ I had them drop their guns. The commander congratulated me on what I did.’’

The end came in Austria, when Mills and a buddy were guarding

the east side of a bridge. Two Russian soldiers approached and told them they were taking over that side of the river. Mills had his picture taken with them before happily joining the American forces on the west side.

In civilian life, Mills spent 30 years working at the Goodyear plant in Lincoln. He became a regular around the Legion Club on O Street, where he’s been known to tell a war story or two.

“At first, what happened over there bothered me; but after a while, I talked about it,’’ he said.

“People have told me, ‘Why don’t you put that in a story?’ I never have written it down.’’

Looking back, Mills is thankful he had the chance to serve his country, and he thinks he served it well.

“I’m not sorry about shooting people over there. I protected myself and my buddies. That’s what I was told to do.

“I think it had to be done. We had to stop that Hitler. Because of World War II, we got what we have today.’’

“Gen. Patton came and talked to us right there. He said, ‘See what these sons of bitches did? Now go out and kill ’em.’ I didn’t have any sympathy for Germans after I’d seen the way they treated human beings. It didn’t bother me a bit to kill them.’’

Lambert Mills, reflecting on seeing a German camp where French prisoners of war were held

— Henry J. Cordes

Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 4

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation: reuben schleifer

Notorious Nazis his prey

Heartland Honor Flight participants Reuben Schleifer, left, and Cal Burge have a lot to see in their one-day trip to the nation’s capital last week.

Doing intelligence work in Germany, Crete translator felt kinship with Ike One thing is certain about Reuben Schleifer’s life: It would have turned out differently if he had decided to study Spanish in college.

At Doane College in 1940, Schleifer instead enrolled in German courses, partly because the teacher offered rent-free lodging in her basement.

In 1945, he used that education to read secret German documents captured at the war’s end — one translator in a massive global manhunt for notorious Nazis such as Hermann Goering, Karl Doenitz and Rudolf Hess.

“I can’t tell you who we were looking for,” Schleifer says today. “That’s confidential.”

Schleifer’s strange linguistic journey began at Doane, where he took German courses to feed an interest in his grandparents’ native tongue.

He liked the language and benefited because Doane’s only German instructor let him and

another student live in her basement, as long as they mowed the grass and shoveled the snow.

Schleifer’s military superiors learned of his German ability soon after he joined the Army Air Forces, and he was then enrolled in a military intelligence school in Maryland.

After the Germans surrendered, Schleifer found himself a world away from Crete, Neb. He was given a third-floor desk in the IG Farben Building, the headquarters of the Allies’ postwar command in Frankfurt.

Every morning he could look down from that perch and watch a Kansas boy, General Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower, arrive for work.

“I never shook his hand, but I did see him so frequently. There was a bond there for me.”

After Eisenhower’s entrance — complete with marching soldiers, waving American flags and other flourishes courtesy of

Reuben Schleifer, center, in France during the war.

the general’s honor guard — Schleifer would get down to the day’s work.

He would read and translate letters, other correspondence and German military records captured by Allied soldiers as the Nazis retreated and surrendered.

Often, the dozen translators in his office would be assigned to track the whereabouts and name changes of Nazi leaders. Many had used aliases and vanished into South America in 1945,

Schleifer said.

Others were presumed dead, but a death needed to be confirmed by a translator reading a captured German death record.

“We just pored over documents, volumes and volumes of stuff,” Schleifer said. “Most of it was nothing. Once in a while . . . we’d get a breakthrough.”

The translator saw the fruits of this labor when he attended a war crimes trial in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Taking the witness stand that

day was a Nazi nurse who had administered lethal injections to thousands of Jewish concentration camp prisoners during the war.

The questioning proved laborious. An American lawyer would ask a question in English, and it would be translated into German. The process would then be reversed, and the nurse’s German reply would be translated into English for the court.

Schleifer, of course, understood the nurse’s answers perfectly in either language.

Schleifer, now 86 and living near Chester, said her answers remain in his memory today.

“The most common thing she said was, ‘I was only following orders.’ I’ve thought about that, and I’ve thought about the line from ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’: Their’s not to reason why, their’s but to do or die.

“That’s what she did.”

World War II veterans

the greatest generation: sam sambasile

Dungeonlike cell ... foul soup ... bread hard as stone: A South Omahan’s harrowing memories come pouring out

Haunted by months as German POW

Sam Sambasile has lived the past 63 years with a World War II story trapped in his head.

He never told his mother about his first-ever parachute jump, head first from the back of a burning B-17 bomber, 17,000 feet above Germany.

She was worried enough already, Sam said — so worried that she was rushed to a hospital when she got word that her middle child was missing and presumed dead.

Sambasile never told his wife about the old German man brandishing an ancient rifle who captured him, or the week or two he spent trapped in a windowless dungeon awaiting his next interrogation.

He and his wife separated a long time ago, Sambasile said. No use going into that.

He has never told his son about the mystery ingredient in the prison camp soup, how he dropped more than 40 pounds and dreamed of burgers and malts and the old Santa Lucia parade through south Omaha.

“I never spoke about it. What was there to say?”

But during an interview, the words started tumbling out, and the 82-year-old man talked for an hour, then two — the longest he had ever talked about his time as a German prisoner of war.

The trouble began on Oct. 6, 1944,

just minutes after Sambasile’s B-17, nicknamed “Boots and Her Buddies,” dropped its bombs on a Berlin factory during his 33rd mission as a gunner.

German fighters attacked, strafing the plane with gunfire and knocking out both right-side engines. The right wing exploded in flames. The pilot and crew rushed to the tail door to escape.

Sambasile was second out. He jumped head first, immediately pulled his chest cord — “It’s a miracle I didn’t get caught in the tail of the airplane” — and floated down. He almost smashed into a park bench as he thudded down in a German village.

When he looked up, an old man was shaking a rifle and screaming for him to surrender. Police rounded up seven other crewmen. Villagers shook their fists and cursed in German. Nazi troops marched the prisoners away.

Sambasile was separated from the others, isolated in an underground room with a dirt floor and a wood bench. Once a day he would be dragged out and questioned: Where have you come from? What is your purpose here? Who were you with?

“All I did was give my name, rank, serial number. When they got tired of listening, they put me back in the dungeon.”

Days and nights blurred. Sambasile thinks he was transported to a POW

camp in Poland within the month.

“The first meal they brought me was soup. I was real hungry. I mean to tell you, really hungry. I asked this Irish guy, ‘What are the white things in this soup?’ He said, ‘Those are maggots.’ I finally ate it.”

Twenty prisoners lived in a 12-foot-by-12-foot cell. They ate bread as hard as stone. Some nights, they got a potato.

The 19-year-old Omahan weighed a healthy 170 when he entered the camp. By February 1945, when the guards put the prisoners onto trains, he weighed less than 130.

Their destination was a second prison camp in Germany — a trip Sambasile remembers as his low point. More than 100 prisoners were packed into train cars meant for 40.

Life improved marginally after they reached the camp in northern Germany. There was still no food — Sambasile remembers chasing a cat and being crushed when another prisoner caught and ate it — and they faced periodic beatings and strip searches.

But he made friends: guys named Boone, Smitty, Ken. They played bridge. They talked about sizzling steaks and greasy french fries, pretty girls and scary movies. They didn’t talk about home.

“Nobody ever said whether they were married, had a mother or fa-

— Matthew Hansen

ther,” he said. “I didn’t even know any of their last names. We couldn’t think about those things.”

In May 1945, a rumor was whispered through the camp: Russian troops are coming to save us.

The German guards had orders to shoot the prisoners and then flee, Sambasile said. But one morning, he awoke to find that the guards had disappeared.

The 10,000 prisoners went wild, tearing down the camp’s barbed-wire fences.

Months later, Salvatore “Sam” Sambasile was home in south Omaha, wearing his dress uniform and hugging his mother. “God, she squeezed me so hard.”

What happened next, he said, was that life went on. He got a job at Union Pacific Railroad, married, had two children and moved into a house in the old Italian neighborhood, right next door to his boyhood home. He lives there today, at the corner of Seventh and William Streets.

When he got back, buddies would ask about jumping out of an airplane.

More recently, two kids doing school reports asked him about his time in the war.

But he’d never told the whole story all at once.

“Why? I don’t know why, really. I guess nobody ever asked.”

— Matthew Hansen

NATIONALLY

16.1 million

Americans who served in the war

2,604,000

Surviving veterans from the war

298,000

Estimated WWII veteran deaths this year NEBRASKA

139,754

Nebraskans who served in the war

18,133

Surviving veterans from the war

1,931

Estimated WWII veteran deaths this year IOWA

286,650

Iowans who served in the war

31,650

Surviving veterans from the war

3,647

Estimated WWII veteran deaths this year Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration; U.S. Census Bureau; Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs; Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs; Nebraska State Historical Society

Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 5

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

See photo at right

Earl Baker Age: 84 Home: Shenandoah, Iowa Service: Army Engineers, 1062nd Forestry Engineers In the war: Spent several weeks on the front lines at the Battle for the Rhineland, then served in the occupation of Japan.

In his words: “I remember leaving the battle and going back for R & R, and it was the first clean sheets I’d seen and the first bed I’d slept in in weeks.” As for the fighting: “I tried to forget all that. I was no hero. I just did what they told me and went where they took me.”

See photo at right

Robert Bailey Age: 82 Home: North Platte Service: 52nd Battalion Field Artillery, 790th Railroad Operating Company In the war: A railroad clerk in civilian life who was trained for artillery, he was transferred to a railroad unit once he reached the just-liberated Philippines in 1945.

In his words: “I learned a lot of discipline, although at the time I had trouble accepting a lot of it. I do think compulsory military training for one year, or something like the Peace Corps, would be good for everybody.’’

Robert Anderson Age: 79 Home: Atlantic, Iowa Service: Navy, electronics instructor in Memphis In the war: Anderson taught new Navy pilots how to use radar and radio.

In his words: “I was never on a ship, never saw a ship, never saw an ocean. Radar was still fairly new at the time, and quite secretive, in fact.

We think of it today as telling us the weather, maps to show us where the snow is. In those days you were lucky if you could locate a cloud.”

Vilis Berst Age: 88 Home: Lincoln Service: Army, 803rd Tank Destroyers In the war: Rode out war from Normandy to Germany in an M8, a light armored troop carrier, probing enemy lines.

Wounded by a mine but didn’t get Purple Heart.

In his words: “We were kind of scouts. We’d pull out ahead. When we got shot at, that’s when we knew the enemy was around. ... We hit some road mines once, setting off a chain reaction of 13 of them. I was back in the turret area and it was a ball of fire. I couldn’t hear after that, but I survived it.”

Ivan Boerner Age: 82 Home: Nebraska City Service: Navy, storekeeper aboard the USS President Adams, a troop transport In the war: Sold a lot of cigarettes and personal items to Marines about to be landed on Pacific islands. Came down with a nerve condition that affected him long after the war.

In his words: “A lot of us got sick and they didn’t know what happened. If I got overheated or overexcited, my heart would pick up and I would pass out. They never figured it out, but I learned to live with it.’’

Robert Anderson stops to take a photo Wednesday at the National World War II Memorial.

“

”

I dug my old uniform out of the trunk the other day and put it on. I still fit into it. That’s unreal, isn’t it?

Vilis Berst (middle in photo above)

Sam Buda spends time at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday.

Lawrence Borgelt Age: 89 Home: Grand Island Service: Army, 8th Armored Division, 53rd Armored Engineers In the war: Machine-gun sergeant, served in several major battles.

In his words: “During the Battle of the Bulge, we did just about everything.

We were infantry, and we built bridges across the Rhine River. ... I don’t remember too much of the war, it was such a long time ago. But I’ll always remember when we went through France, our feet got pretty cold.

We actually froze our feet that winter.”

Bob Baumann Age: 85 Home: Omaha Service: Army, 102nd Reconnaissance Squadron In the war: Tracked German troop movements as Allied forces moved across France and Germany following the D-Day invasion.

In his words: “The infantry guys used to say they were glad they didn’t have to go where we went. . . . I remember I was riding in a Jeep one day and the Jeep in front of us went over a mine. I ran up there and the guy said, ‘Well, I guess I’ll go home without my legs.’ ” Sam Buda Age: 85 Home: Omaha Service: Navy Dental Corps In the war: Served as a dentist at a base in California and on a Navy ship. An older brother was killed in France and another brother was wounded in Germany.

In his words: “When I got called up, my mother went crazy. She wasn’t going to let me go. You can imagine after losing one and almost losing another, her baby boy just wasn’t going. But I finally convinced her that I wasn’t going to be carrying any guns. I was going to be fixing teeth.”

Robert Bock Age: 81 Home: Central City Service: Army, 728th Engineer Depot Company In the war: Served in Luzon, Philippines, supplying engineering equipment to occupying forces; later drove trucks in the Korean occupation.

In his words: “It was so much different than my life in Nebraska when I got to the Philippines. We lived in tents the whole time. ... We had pretty large tents, so it was comfortable. I liked it in the Philippines, it was nice and warm, and we didn’t have to work too hard.”

Lloyd Brownlee Age: 85 Home: Lincoln Service: Army and Army Air Forces In the war: After training for artillery with the University of Nebraska ROTC, he was transferred to Army Air Forces, then back to artillery, and then to infantry. After two years of training, the war was over and he was still in the U.S. Finally assigned as an officer with an all-black engineering battalion in postwar Philippines.

In his words: “Even though I had a screwed-up, nothing military career, it was interesting all the way.”

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Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 6

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

Cal Burge Age: 81 Home: Blue Hill Service: Navy, LST-816 In the war: Served in the engine room on a landing craft; transported Marines to Okinawa the day the U.S. secured the island; after the Japanese surrender, served in the Philippines and Japan.

In his words: “I caught my ship in Gulfport, Miss., and then we went through the Panama Canal and on through to Hawaii. We ended up at Guam, which had already been secured at that time. They had a big hospital there, treating wounded guys that had been hit with shrapnel or had other injuries.”

Estel Combs Age: 85 Home: New Market, Iowa Service: Army, 103rd Infantry Division In the war: A Jeep driver during fighting through France, Austria and Germany In his words: “In the mountains, it was just advance a little ways, get pushed back, advance.

There was pretty heavy stuff going on at times. ...

It was hot enough to suit me, that’s for sure. ... We hauled ammo and drove people from one place to another, usually in the dark. The mines were pretty treacherous. You were thinking about those all the time.”

Marvin Carlson Age: 81 Home: Stanton, Iowa Service: Army, stationed at Fort Sill, Okla.

In the war: Served as a rations clerk at Fort Sill after the war ended while he was in basic training.

In his words: “I worked in that kitchen until I got discharged (in 1947). It wasn’t too strenuous, I’ve got to tell you. ... Do I feel lucky? Oh, gosh, yes.

If the war hadn’t ended when it did, we’d probably be pushing daisies somewhere in Japan.”

Jack Burger Age: 89 Home: Central City Service: Army Air Forces, 6th Air Force In the war: Served in Central and South America, guarding bases and doing clerical work.

In his words: “ When Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt visited Guatemala City, they said, ‘We have to find some honor guards.’ I said, ‘I’ll be the honor guard for her.’ I went to the American Embassy, and she came out to meet me.

She sat on a bench with me and talked to me for 30 minutes. I’ll tell you, she changed my opinion of her right there. She was just the nicest lady.”

Estel Combs during World War II. Clarence Christensen Age: 85 Home: Valparaiso Service: 15th U.S. Air Force, 464th Bomb Group In the war: Bomber pilot on B-24 based in Italy; made 35 missions, hitting targets in Germany and Austria.

In his words: “When we first started flying missions, ignorance was bliss. Then airplanes started blowing up around us and people started coming back to empty tents. It hit home.

We were terrified for a while, then we just decided to hang on as long as we can.’’

Don Craig Age: 94 Home: North Platte Service: Army, infantry captain with 35th Division, 134th Infantry, Nebraska National Guard In the war: Saw action all across Europe, liberating Saint-Lo in France.

In his words: “Taking Saint-Lo would be the most memorable. ...

During the Battle of the Bulge, my company commander disappeared, and I had 500 men to take care of. By maneuvering and taking care of those guys, I was able to bring every one out without an injury. I took care of my men and myself and came through very well.”

Left: George Dailey (back left) during World War II. Right: Dailey on a golf course on May 13.

“

”

You always had three things that were dangerous. There’s always the possibility of trouble with the plane — they were pretty reliable, but now and then there’s a problem. If not, it could be the weather. And if not that, you still might have the enemy attack you. We experienced all three. ... We flew straight through a typhoon once, and by the grace of God we made it out.

Calvin Dahlke

Calvin Dahlke Age: 84 Home: Alda Service: Army Air Forces, 314th Wing, 19th Group, 30th Squadron In the war: Served as a tail gunner on a B-29 in the Pacific campaign. Flew eight missions from Guam.

In his words: “We lost an engine and had to go to our third target and we were flying formation in the daytime. We knew we couldn’t get back to Guam, so we had to go to Iwo Jima. But there were so many planes in that same predicament that we just circled the island at least a dozen times before we could land.”

George “Jerry” Dailey Age: 84 Home: Wahoo Service: Army, 80th Infantry Division, 318th Regiment In the war: Spent 126 days as a prisoner of war after being captured by Germans during the Battle of the Bulge, when he and seven other soldiers got trapped behind enemy lines. At one point he and other POWs were marched past a concentration camp.

In his words: “We looked pretty healthy compared to those people ... (they looked) like layers of cordwood, just emaciated.”

See photos above

See photo at left

James Chenault Age: 84 Home: York Service: Army Air Forces; 489th Bomber Group In the war: Piloted 32 missions on B-24s based out of England.

In his words: “We flew our own plane over there, and then on our first mission it got shot up so bad that the plane never flew again. It was antiaircraft fire, and it caused our gas tanks to leak. We had a big problem getting back to base before our fuel ran out. . . . That was my first mission. I was beginning to wonder how I’d ever get through it.”

Harry Dornan Age: 89 Home: Omaha Service: Army, 75th Infantry Division In the war: Former New York cop earned two Bronze Stars fighting in Europe from the Battle of the Bulge into Germany.

In his words: “My division had 89 days of straight combat, and I was in most of them. ... I was in a ‘diaper division,’ with a lot of young boys in it. The reason I survived is I was 26 and more mature.

When the replacements came up, I told them what to do. Some of them didn’t listen to me and some got killed.”

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Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 7

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

Roy Fisher Age: 84 Home: Curtis Service: Navy, construction battalion In the war: Spent two years working in a parts warehouse on Guam.

In his words: “We would get requisitions for parts, and it was my job to get them out. ... It wasn’t an enjoyable life, but somebody had to do it. If we hadn’t, can you imagine what kind of country we’d be living in now?’’

Justin Floyd Age: 91 Home: Hayes Center Service: Army, administrator with 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry, Nebraska National Guard In the war: Served in the Aleutians, off the Alaskan coast.

In his words: “I was in the headquarters. I shuffled paper. Somebody had to do it. ... The place was awful miserable. We spent most of our time fighting the elements, and I think the Japs did the same.’’

Homer Focht Age: 84 Home: Red Oak, Iowa Service: Army Air Forces In the war: Trained to pilot a B-25 bomber, but the war ended before he shipped overseas.

In his words: “We got shipping orders to go to Greensboro, N.C., and from there we had no assignment. But we assumed it was the invasion of the Japanese mainland. ... We were excited (when the war ended). We were only 21 years old and full of all sorts of vim and vigor. We thought we were pretty special. At the same time, we didn’t look forward to meeting up with the Japanese. ”

Arnold Gerst Age: 84 Home: Omaha Service: Army, driver with 602nd Field Artillery In the war: Part of a specialized, go-anywhere unit that used mules to haul guns deep into the mountains of Italy and landed by glider in France.

In his words: “We packed howitzers on mules, and the Germans couldn’t figure out how we got those big guns out there. ... We landed our gliders in a vineyard. The dust settled, and all I could see was nice big grapes.

The bullets were flying, but I was eating my grapes.”

James Van Ginkel Age: 85 Home: Atlantic, Iowa Service: Army Air Forces, 466th Bomb Group In the war: Pilot of a B-24, flew in 35 missions. He participated in the firebombing of Dresden near the war’s end.

In his words: “We set the whole town on fire. When I came back from the war and people said that 40,000 Germans had been killed, you start to wonder why ... you think there was maybe no use to destroy their country.”

Leonard Goeden Age: 80 Home: Lincoln Service: Navy, gunner on destroyer USS Brush In the war: Entered service just as war in Pacific ended; patrolled off of Korea.

In his words: “I wasn’t even 17 when I enlisted.

My dad had to sign for me. I had six sisters and wanted to get away from home. That’s a standing joke in my family. ... It was a mop-up duty kind of thing. Somebody had to do it. It was a fun time.’’

See photos at right

John Grady Age: 87 Home: Lincoln Service: Army, artillery gunner with 78th Infantry Division In the war: Saw action in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge and in Hurtgen Forest and Ruhr Valley in Germany.

In his words: “We crossed a pontoon bridge over the Rhine and the German 88s started hitting the water. Some in my outfit got hit. I never heard how bad. I never saw them again. We turned one corner and a brick building blew up in front of us. ... There were a lot of things, but I don’t talk about it much.”

World War II photos of Roy Fisher of Curtis. Above is a photo of Fisher while stationed on Guam, where he worked in a parts warehouse. At right is Fisher with his late wife, Katherine.

Robert Hallstrom Age: 85 Home: Syracuse Service: Coast Guard, USS Eastwind In the war: Sailor on Coast Guard icebreaker; captured German radio station and soldiers serving there.

In his words: “We had a plane that scouted ahead for us, and it found this small German radio station on an island off the coast of Greenland. ... After going through all the ice, I went ashore with our party around 2 in the morning. The Germans were all asleep, thank goodness. We captured 15 to 20 of them without a fight.”

Thomas Hallstrom Age: 81 Home: Omaha Service: Navy, USS Harris In the war: Served as a yeoman on the Harris, a troop transport that was among the first U.S. ships to dock in Tokyo Bay after the war. Participated in the invasion of Okinawa.

In his words: “We were really happy the day the (atomic) bomb was dropped. We knew it would be over then and we were in a squadron that had been planning the invasion of the main island of southern Japan.

So we were damn glad Truman made that decision.”

Forrest Halvorsen Age: 89 Home: Syracuse Service: Army, coast artillery In the war: Was a communications technician for an artillery unit serving at Pearl Harbor, Canton Island and Saipan.

In his words: “The thing I really missed over there was a drink of cold water.

They didn’t have ice. I said over there if I ever got home and got thirsty working in the field, I would shut the tractor down, go downtown and get me a malt. And I did, too.’’

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Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

The one-day Heartland Honor Flight for World War II veterans from Nebraska and Iowa arrives at Dulles International Airport in the Washington, D.C., area on Wednesday, May 21.

Ivan Boerner of Nebraska City served on a troop transport that landed Marines on Iwo Jima. He stands in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial, which depicts the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.

Sam Buda of Omaha walks past the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Buda’s older brother was killed in France and another brother was wounded in Germany.

Students greet Claudio Orsi, front, and other Midlands veterans at the entrance to the World War II Memorial.

A moment to honor their service

Clarence Christensen of Valparaiso stands at attention during taps Wednesday at the National World War II Memorial. Christensen was a bomber pilot with the 15th U.S. Air Force, 464th Bomb Group based in Italy. Christensen, now 85, made 35 bombing missions, hitting targets in Germany and Austria. “I’m proud of what I did and the crew I was with. We all did our part.”

Last Wednesday, 102 Nebraska and Iowa veterans of World War II made the first Heartland Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to visit the National World War II Memorial and other monuments. “It makes me sad, because I think of a lot of guys who helped put it here who aren’t around to see it,” said Richard Lang, 81, who served with the Marines in the South Pacific.

Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 10

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

Alvin Hays Age: 81 Home: Red Oak, Iowa Service: Navy, special operations forces In the war: Served in five invasions in the Philippines and participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa.

In his words: “It was hazardous duty, but at 17, that didn’t seem to bother me. We’d go in with four-man crews in the middle of the night, float in on a rubber raft and do reconnaissance.

You could see the Japanese walking around but they never saw us.”

D.A. Heuertz Age: 82 Home: Roseland Service: Navy, aboard the Nathan Towson and LCI-398 In the war: First served as a gunner on the Nathan Towson. Later became a cook on LCI-398, a landing craft in the South Pacific.

In his words: “It was later in the war by the time we made those trips to Murmansk, so we only had four or five sub and airplane attacks. ... We hauled supplies over there for the Russians — ammo and things like that, steam engines. It was really cold ... up there on watch, I’ll tell you that much.”

Vernon Hoops Age: 83 Home: Byron Service: Army, 45th Infantry Division In the war: Served as an infantryman and scout in France and Germany starting in January 1945.

In his words: “We crossed the Rhine River the day I got wounded. ... As the first scout, they asked me to see if I could spot some enemy forces ahead.

Before I could spot them, they spotted me. I had this book in my pocket, this Bible my pastor had given me. ... I thought I was a goner. But it went through my arm and just skinned the edge of my skin on my chest.”

Robert Jenkins Age: 82 Home: Lincoln Service: Navy, light cruiser USS Reno In the war: Served as helmsman and gunner during Pacific campaigns until ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in November 1944.

In his words: “I had just gone to bed in my bunk and the torpedo hit not more than 40 feet from me. It knocked me out of my bunk and across the compartment. The ship didn’t sink, but it was totally disabled. That was the end of the war for us. ... I felt like I contributed my little bit to help the country.’’

“

”

We were just kids, 18 years old, so we looked at everything as a challenge. It was interesting, exciting.

We just took things as it came.

D.A. Heuertz, who served in the Navy during World War II

Harlan Herrick Age: 82 Home: North Platte Service: Army, rifleman with 96th Infantry Division In the war: Saw action as a replacement soldier during the Okinawa campaign.

In his words: “I wasn’t there when it started, but it was pretty rough. I don’t go around bragging about it, but it’s all pretty memorable. You don’t forget it very fast.’’

Melvin Jones, far right in photo, on serving alongside his twin brother, Marvin, second from left, throughout their service as riflemen in the Pacific

Floyd “Marvin” Hood Age: 87 Home: Grand Island Service: Navy, 36th LCT Group In the war: Was a sailor on a destroyer escort during the D-Day invasion; was about 3,000 yards from the shore while landing craft from his unit took men and equipment to shore for the invasion.

In his words: “Oh, I was scared on D-Day. I thought if I could wiggle underneath that paint on the deck, I’d get underneath there. But that paint was awful thin.”

Marvin, left, and Melvin Jones are greeted at the National World War II Memorial on Wednesday.

Sam Italia Age: 88 Home: Omaha Service: Army Air Forces, 13th Air Force, 29th Air Service Group In the war: Personnel sergeant major for three years, inspecting all clerical work, such as payroll records and promotions paperwork.

Stationed in Guadalcanal, other islands, then the Philippines.

In his words: “We had air raids every day. We had foxholes deep enough to stand up in, and we’d sit in there and wait for the all-clear. The Japanese would drop bombs on us and they’d strafe us, too.”

“

”

Oh, we certainly worried a lot about each other. That’s why we asked to be separated on patrols, in case something happened to one of us. Twins are a lot closer than brothers.

See photos above

Marvin Jones Age: 81 Home: Norfolk Service: Army, 77th Infantry Division In the war: Marvin and Melvin (right), identical twins from Battle Creek, Neb., were drafted together and served as riflemen in the Pacific.

In his words: “You had to be careful at night because there were no fires around and the Japanese would sneak into your lines when you weren’t watching. We always had to talk to the person in front and behind of us in the chow lines, just say, ‘Hello, Joe,’ to make sure they could speak English.”

Melvin Jones Age: 81 Home: Norfolk Service: Army, 77th Infantry Division In the war: Served with identical twin Marvin (left) as riflemen in the Pacific.

Their unit entered Hiroshima after the atomic bomb dropped.

In his words: “(Hiroshima) was absolutely devastated. The only things standing were the smokestacks. ... We were preparing to be the invasion force into Japan, and we didn’t even know they’d dropped the bombs. We were in Tokyo Harbor near the (USS) Missouri when they surrendered.”

See photos above

Margaret Johnson Age: 87 Home: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Service: Women’s Marine Corps In the war: Worked at the Navy Annex Building in Arlington, Va. In her words: “I was a clerk and helped fill the needs of the troops, what they needed in ammunition. ... It was kind of like being in college and living in a dormitory. It was all women, and we’d come from all different walks of life. When we left (in 1946), we all said, ‘Well, we’ll see each other again.’ But most of us never did.”

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Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 11

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

George Kreifel Age: 84 Home: Table Rock Service: Army, 7th Infantry Division In the war: Served in the invasions of Guam and the Philippines, and wounded during the invasion of Okinawa, one day after President Franklin Roosevelt’s death.

In his words: “We started up that hill ... it was just a turkey shoot. When I got hit, out of 15 guys (in my unit), there were only three left. And when I got hit (by shrapnel), it got all three of us.” Doctors at a military hospital saved Kreifel’s arm.

Richard Lang was seriously wounded during the invasion of Guam, and his parents were accidentally notified that he had been killed. Top: Lang’s photo of a Guam cemetery.

Below: Two letters Lang’s parents received after his injury. One said he had been killed in action.

Edwin Kudlacek Age: 80 Home: Valparaiso Service: Army Air Forces In the war: Enlisted after war ended and spent three years as a radio instructor at an air base in Illinois.

In his words: “I don’t know how good I was, but they made me an instructor. It was time well spent, I guess.’’

Jerome Kudron Age: 84 Home: Columbus Service: Navy, escort carrier USS Shamrock Bay In the war: Served as machinist in many Pacific campaigns, including Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

In his words: “Our planes did a lot of strafing and bombing in the South Pacific. I didn’t even know half the time because I was working below decks. ... We were young and we didn’t care. We wanted to get this war over with so we could head home. I’m thankful we all went in and got the job done.’’

Richard Lang Age: 81 Home: Omaha Service: Marines, 3rd Division In the war: Served in the invasion of Saipan and then was seriously wounded during the invasion of Guam.

In his words: During Lang’s evacuation, medics accidentally switched his toe tag with that of a critically wounded Marine. “That’s how I was reported killed in action. My folks were notified. ... When we got to Oakland, they told me I should call home right away. My dad answered ... he said, ‘Oh, I know they couldn’t kill you.’ ”

Robert Liedtke Age: 80 Home: Stromsburg Service: Navy, USS Glynn In the war: In basic training in San Diego when the war ended.

Served one year as a crewman on the USS Glynn, a transport ferrying troops to and from the Philippines, the Marshall Islands and Hawaii.

In his words: “The thing I remember most was once our ship ran out of food. There was 400 crew and 1,600 passengers. ... I think we all got just an apple for every meal for the last three days of that trip.”

Vernon Mailand Age: 82 Home: Grant Service: Army, rifleman with 25th Division, 27th Infantry Company In the war: Served on Luzon in the Philippines during mop-up operations and later in postwar Japan.

In his words: “They had just finished when we got there, but they sent us into the hills on patrol looking for Japs. We ran into a couple. ... I always told people I walked halfway around the world but didn’t see much. It was an experience that I was proud of. That’s all I can say.’’

Gayle McKinnie Age: 95 Home: Afton, Iowa Service: Army Signal Corps, 982nd Signal Service In the war: Maintained and repaired a transmitter that sent and received coded messages.

Traveled with the transmitter, even sleeping next to it, as it moved across Africa and Europe.

In his words: “I never saw a German soldier unless he was dead or a prisoner.

I never fired a round of ammunition overseas.

Compared to some of these guys, I went to a Sunday school picnic. And thank God I did.”

”

“

Three of us were out on the outpost. The fellow on my right ... he stooped down and he handed me, he was going to hand me a papaya. He said, ‘Try this, Rich’ and he got hit. ... As soon as I tried to crawl over, I got hit. Hit in the knee. (I was thinking) ‘If I can just get a little closer, I may be able to help him out.’ That’s when I got hit the second time, through the hip and the back.

Then I just laid back and played dead.

Richard Lang, on how he suffered his injury

Jim McTygue Age: 81 Home: Eddyville, Neb. Service: Army, 25th Infantry In the war: Rifleman saw action on Luzon and was on ship preparing for invasion of Japan when war ended. Was part of postwar occupation near Nagasaki.

In his words: “I spent 81 days on the front lines.

We’d push all day and then at night it was two men in a foxhole, sleeping in the mud, and dirt down your neck.”

Raymond Meduna Age: 82 Home: Wahoo Service: Navy, USS Sanders In the war: Served on a destroyer escort that accompanied the USS Indianapolis on a secret mission: delivering the atomic bomb to the air base on Tinian Island.

In his words: “Nobody knew. Even the people aboard. ... A bunch of my buddies got put on the Indianapolis ... and they were teasing me because it was the bigger ship. ... Well, it turns out the Indianapolis sunk and those poor suckers hung on rafts for ... days. Most of them didn’t make it.”

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Ronald Mills Age: 80 Home: Red Oak, Iowa Service: Navy, USS Kermit Roosevelt In the war: Enlisted in 1946 and served on the repair ship in the months after the war ended.

In his words: “I enlisted when I was 17, primarily to get the G.I. Bill of Rights and see the world, and I did both. We spent time in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Saipan, Guam, Hawaii, northern China. ... We weren’t sitting around, that’s for sure. I thought it was a great adventure.”

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Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 12

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

See photo at right

See photo at right

Claudio Orsi Age: 85 Home: Omaha Service: Army Air Forces, 13th Air Force, 5th Bomb Group, 394th Bomb Squadron In the war: Served as a radio operator and tail gunner on a B-24. Flew 43 missions, including a 16-hour mission to bomb oil fields in Borneo.

In his words: “After we dropped our bombs, we threw everything out of the airplane: machine guns, flak suits, everything. Then we all moved up front. We got back. When we did, we had about 15 minutes of gasoline left. ... I’d say half of the planes didn’t make it back.”

“

”

It was the longest daylight mission of the war. We had to fill the two rear bomb bays with gasoline to make it. Right before we hit the target, we opened the bomb bay tanks, because if you got hit with a bullet, you’d blow up Claudio Orsi, second from right in the top row in the photo, on flying a 16-hour mission to bomb oil fields in Borneo

Doyle Munn Age: 86 Home: Grand Island Service: Army, 45th Infantry Division In the war: Served as a mortar observer, directing artillery fire; first served in North Africa, then marched across Sicily, Italy, southern France and into Germany after the Battle of the Bulge; was one of five brothers in his family of 12 to serve overseas; all five made it home.

In his words: “I was hit twice with shrapnel. The first one hit me right in the face. I got a piece of shrapnel right in my nose and I was out for four or five days.”

William Moore Age: 81 Home: Nebraska City Service: Army, 300th MP Company In the war: The war ended before Moore finished basic training.

He stayed in the military as a military police investigator and, in 1959, was ordained as a military chaplain.

In his words: “I was in Illinois during Vietnam, and they’d activate me for Vietnam funerals in the Chicago area. I was very used to serving at (civilian) funerals, but it was always different for the Vietnam casualties, because they died for different reasons.”

Harry Nekonchuk Age: 82 Home: Omaha Service: Coast Guard, USS Grand Forks In the war: Served on the Grand Forks near the end of the war.

In his words: “We were in the South Pacific, and we made a couple submarine runs. We dropped depth charges but we never knew if we hit anything. ...

Our claim to fame was that our ship was picked to host (some members of) the first United Nations delegation. We took them aboard and cruised around the bay in San Francisco. So I always called the ship the cradle of the United Nations.”

Gerald Natvig Age: 89 Home: Hastings Service: Navy, USS Hornet aircraft carrier In the war: Served on the deck as the launching officer, directing aircraft as they took off.

In his words: “We were attacked almost every afternoon if we were near shore, within 100 miles.

There’s no place to hide on deck. It’s not like being in a foxhole. ... We had kamikazes attack us several times. ... and of course every single ship was shooting at them. It was like the Fourth of July in Washington, D.C., out there on the water.”

Eddie Ohm Age: 92 Home: Elkhorn Service: Army, 75th Infantry Division In the war: Ferried munitions to the front lines during the Battle of the Bulge; hit in the helmet with a bullet and took shrapnel in the jaw.

In his words: “I got hit in my helmet with one shot, and I got hit in the face and still have that shrapnel in my face. My company commander said, ‘Hey, you’re bleeding. Put some pressure on that.’ It was so cold your blood didn’t really flow very well. I thought the thing just grazed my jaw.”

Millard Nouzovsky Age: 82 Home: Central City Service: Army, 6th Infantry Division In the war: War ended while in basic training in California. Spent 18 months in Daegu, Korea.

In his words: “We mostly guarded ammunition dumps, and it was always dark so you couldn’t see anything. Then we’d guard the streets during the daytime to keep the other soldiers from doing anything they weren’t supposed to do. . . . I was real happy, of course, that the war ended before I got sent to fight.”

William Moore was in basic training when World War II ended but remained in the military and ultimately became ordained as a chaplain in 1959.

“ ” I can tell you one thing: We like to froze to death on the way to the Bulge. My feet were so cold I didn’t even know I had feet.

Eddie Ohm, above, who served in the Army’s 75th Infantry Division

Raymond Ortegren Age: 83 Home: Palmer Service: Army, driver for 772nd Field Artillery Battalion In the war: Trained for infantry before being transferred to artillery. He joined the war late in the Battle of the Bulge.

In his words: “When I got to Europe, losses were so great in infantry, they were pulling guys from artillery. Only every 10th man got to (stay) in artillery. I was the 10th man. I really felt like the good Lord was taking care of me.’’

See photo at left

James Patterson Age: 87 Home: Oshkosh Service: Army, 475th Infantry In the war: Rifleman served in Burma, where he helped keep open the Burma Road supply line into China, and later trained Chinese troops.

In his words: “It would rain 20 or 30 inches and then the sun would come out and the steam would roll. ... They parachuted all of our rations to us.

The Japanese were getting about as much of it as we were. ... It’s funny now. There’s two ways of doing it: the right way and the Army way.”

Elmer Pankonin Age: 91 Home: Grant Service: Navy, 35th Construction Battalion (Seabees) In the war: Unit took the lead in the assault on Manila in the Philippines, and later built an airstrip on the island.

In his words: “At 3 a.m., I drove a big D8 Caterpillar to shore, mowing down coconut trees, and the Marines just followed us in. There were snipers in the trees all over. ... I just wanted to get it over with and get home. I had a son I hadn’t even seen.”

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Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 13

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

Bob Roberts Age: 85 Home: Loup City Service: Army Air Forces, 8th Air Force In the war: Served as flight engineer and gunner on B-24 bomber stationed in England, flying 35 missions over Europe in 1944.

In his words: “We were lucky. ... One that I remember, we didn’t know if we had enough gas. We took a vote among the nine people and decided to try to land rather than ditch in the (English) Channel. By the time we landed, all four engines were dead. That one really sticks out in my mind.”

Robert Robinson Age: 84 Home: Exira, Iowa Service: Army Transportation Corps, 8th Division In the war: Reached Japan after atomic bombs hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Served as a company clerk in the occupation until 1946.

In his words: “The thing I remember most is that one time, 17 of us guys from Guthrie County got together over there (for a friend’s going-away party). That’s really quite unusual, when you think about it ... 17 guys from Guthrie County, Iowa, in Japan.”

Myron Roker Age: 84 Home: Glenwood, Iowa Service: Army, 44th Infantry Division, 324th Regiment In the war: Served 204 days in combat with his unit during the fight across France and Germany. At one point, the unit saw 144 consecutive days of combat.

In his words: (See Roker’s story along with the photos at right.)

Loren Rowell Age: 83 Home: Omaha Service: Army, 26th Infantry Division In the war: Fired mortars and machine guns during the Battle of the Bulge.

In his words: “I wouldn’t take a million dollars to say what I saw and did, and I wouldn’t take 10 cents to do it again. A lot of the boys feel that same way, I think. . . .

When I came back, I had a year-and-a-half-old daughter I’d never seen. I pretty well got into a little alcohol. It kind of numbed the feeling. It was an all-new environment, home was.”

Loyal Ruhl Age: 85 Home: Central City Service: Army; Armored Engineers, 8th Armored Division In the war: Built bridges and dismantled land mines across Europe.

Traveled from England across France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Czechoslovakia. Was in the Battle of the Bulge.

In his words: “I’m really not much for remembering those days.

I don’t care much to talk about it — not now. I had some great friends over there.”

Reinold Schutte Age: 86 Home: Hastings Service: Army, 87th Infantry Division In the war: Served as a communications specialist and translator; grew up near Guide Rock, Neb., the son of German parents.

In his words: “One of my worst experiences was crossing the Rhine River. ... I actually had my paddle shot right out of my hands while we crossed. Me and one guy, we were in communications, and my buddy was loaded down so bad with wire and the telephone and everything, another engineer grabbed his paddle. He got hit in the head right away.”

“ Top: World War II photo of Myron Roker. Middle: Roker talks to students in Glenwood, Iowa, on May 7 about serving in war.

Above: Roker’s license plate, which shows that he earned a Purple Heart while serving.

William Schwartz Age: 89 Home: Omaha Service: Army, 1st Armored Division, 6th Armored Infantry Battalion In the war: Served as a machine gun platoon leader and staff sergeant during the invasions of North Africa and Italy.

In his words: “If a kid came up to me and told me he thought he was going to be killed, I’d send him (off the front line). ... We were battling for the last hill in Africa and this kid asked me to take over his machine gun. I didn’t, and it was the best decision I ever made. ... A mortar dropped right beside him ... and that was it.”

This is hard for me to tell. . . . (My friend), he always called me Rokes. He said, ‘Rokes, what about a cup of coffee?’ ” As they drank the coffee, sharing a cup, his friend was called to go examine some trip-wire mines. “They weren’t gone five minutes and I heard explosions, and I figured right away it might be bad. . . . He was supposed to be married. Sometimes there are things you don’t understand in a war.

Myron Roker

Donald Slaughter Age: 86 Home: Kearney Service: Army Air Forces, pilot with 440th Troop Carrier Group In the war: Co-pilot of a C-47 transport, he mostly flew shipments of gas to fuel Patton’s drive into Germany.

In his words: “We hauled a few loads of displaced persons from different places in eastern Germany, where concentration camps were located. They were skin and bone. I have very little patience with modern people who say there wasn’t any such thing.”

”

Dorral Schleif Age: 82 Home: Hebron Service: Army, 63rd Infantry Division In the war: Served as a rifleman as the unit marched across Germany. Wounded in a battle outside Munich when he was 18.

In his words: “The fighting wasn’t good.

Absolutely nothing can be good about it. When I got back, my (German-American) grandfather wanted to know all about the scenery in the country.

He was disappointed because I couldn’t tell him anything, really. I wasn’t on a social call.”

Alva Smith Age: 88 Home: Fairmont Service: Army Air Forces, 386th Bomb Group, 554th Squadron In the war: Worked in England, France and Belgium as a mechanic on short-range bombers that provided close air support for troops.

In his words: “The first plane I had flew 139 missions. It would get so much battle damage, but I would fix it up and kept it flying. I got a Bronze Star for that. ... We tried to make things a little easier for the troops.’’

To the extraordinary veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces and the courageous men and women who currently serve, we say thank you.

Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 14

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

See photo at right

“

Benjamin Somer Age: 86 Home: Grand Island Service: Navy, USS Buckingham In the war: Engineering officer on the USS Buckingham, a transport ship in the Pacific Theater.

Also served as gunnery officer on a 40 mm gun.

The Buckingham ferried troops into Saipan and served as a hospital ship, bringing wounded troops home for treatment.

In his words: “We brought troops ashore at Saipan.

We’d haul fresh troops in and then take the casualties back to the states. We became a hospital ship on the return voyage.”

Walter Stander Age: 79 Home: Louisville Service: Coast Guard, air-sea rescue In the war: Too young to see combat in World War II, Stander signed up for the Coast Guard just days after the Japanese surrendered.

In his words: “I still saw a bunch of things. ...

Remember that airplane, the Spruce Goose, made out of plywood? We were there, patrolling the water, the only time it ever flew. (Howard Hughes) just barely got off the water. It vibrated like you wouldn’t believe.

An airplane shouldn’t be built out of wood.”

“

”

As engineering officer, I kept the ship running, basically. ... It was operational almost all the time. We did have to stop once to clean some buildup out of the boiler tubes, but mostly we kept her running.

Benjamin Somer (at right, standing next to his brother, Bernard)

We marched up through this timber. Our information was this town was supposed to be clear. But in the meantime, the Nazis had come back and set up some machine guns. So we advanced across this open area and they cut loose on us. . . . The bullet took out one of my ribs. . . . I wasn’t as worried about the wound, but when we were laying in this command room where they took us, the worst thing that scared me was hearing them say that if the Nazis advanced, everyone should pull back because we didn’t have enough forces to hold the position. I could just see myself there, being in enemy hands and wounded. In those days, they didn’t pay much attention to the wounded, they just put you out of your misery.

”

Lyle Storm, who was wounded in a German ambush in 1944

Don Stella Age: 84 Home: Ralston Service: Marines, 2nd Division In the war: Rifleman fought during mop-up on Guadalcanal and was part of the invasion of the Solomon Islands.

In his words: “It was scary. We hit the beach and dug in. ... We were young and it was the war.

The mood was just different then. When they attacked us, it just stopped everything.

Everyone wanted to be in the service.”

Lloyd Synovec, who served in the Pacific on a destroyer, plays a piano during a stop on leave at a North Platte canteen.

Kenny Struble Age: 83 Home: Exira, Iowa Service: Marine Corps, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing In the war: Served as a supply sergeant. Arrived at Okinawa three days after the battle began and served there until the Japanese surrender.

In his words: “I was discharged after the war in San Francisco. And this is incredible, but I didn’t see what the use was in paying $105 for a train ride back to Iowa, so I hitchhiked all the way home from San Francisco. And I made it in three days.”

Raymond Swanson Age: 87 Home: North Platte Service: Army, 3281st Ordnance Depot Company In the war: Served in supply company during postwar occupation of Okinawa.

In his words: “I had about 10 or 12 Japanese prisoners working in the warehouse that I had. I was friendly with them and they were friendly with me. ... I was discharged by San Francisco and my wife came out on the train. She was excited, I’ll say. My son didn’t know me when I came back. Daddy was a picture on the wall.’’

Lloyd Synovec Age: 80 Home: North Platte Service: Navy, electronics technician on destroyers In the war: Enlisted at 17, but war ended before he got into action. During stop on leave at North Platte canteen, he was captured by a photographer sitting at a piano, drawing a crowd.

In his words: “I’ve never claimed to be one of the stalwarts of the victory. I was one of the recipients. ... As any old piano player would do, the minute I saw a keyboard, I had to sit down and play. ... It took you away from the military for a little bit.’’

See photo above

Lyle Storm Age: 84 Home: Lyons Service: Army, 26th Infantry “Yankee” Division In the war: Joined the 26th Infantry in France. In November 1944, was marching to a small town that was supposedly clear of Nazi forces; in fact, the Nazis had returned and set up machine guns. Of 180 troops, only about 10 men, including Storm, survived the ambush.

Storm took a machine gun round to the chest; the bullet exited his back, missing his spine by an inch.

In his words: (See Storm’s story at left) Jean Steckmyer Age: 85 Home: Central City Service: Army Air Forces, 464th Bomb Group, 779th Bomb Squadron In the war: Flew 36 missions as a B-24 bomber pilot after 1944, based out of Italy.

In his words: “One mission was flying over Auschwitz, Poland, which is where the death camp was. We bombed right alongside it, but we didn’t know at the time that’s what it was. There was a hospital there marked with red crosses, and we weren’t supposed to bomb that. But otherwise we had no idea what was inside that camp.”

Ralph Smith Age: 84 Home: Omaha Service: Navy, 107th Construction Battalion (Seabees) In the war: Built bases and airstrips on islands that had been recaptured from the Japanese.

In his words: “We worked night and day to build bases for the B-29s. We built the largest air base in the world on Tinian.

That’s where the atomic bomb took off from, if you know your history. . . . I can say we were pretty proud of what we did. We ended the war and accomplished a lot of things.”

Bob Sweet Age: 81 Home: Omaha Service: Navy, Third Fleet In the war: Served as a gunner on the destroyer USS DeHaven, which patrolled the South Pacific, during the final year of the war.

In his words: “We intercepted some Japanese ships trying to escape the Tokyo Bay, and it was a real one-sided affair. Their navy was all gone by then ... it was like shooting fish in a barrel.”

“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” ~ Jose Narosky

Today we honor the soldiers, who died for freedom as well as the men and women who serve their terms of duty and return home.Your wounds are our wounds.Your memories, our memories.

Your legacy, our present and our children’s future.

Iowa’s Leading Edge in Orthopaedic Health Care One Edmunson Place, Suite 500 Council Bluffs, IA 51503

712-323-5333 www.millerortho.com

Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 15

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

Leo Tomasiewicz Age: 88 Home: Omaha Service: 9th Air Force, 455th Bomb Squadron In the war: Flew 58 missions as bombardier on a B-26, including two missions on D-Day. In his words: “The hairy part was always the 10 minutes before you hit the target, because if you were flying at, say, 12,000 feet, then you had to stay at the altitude and never veer off course. The Germans were shooting the (antiaircraft guns) at us. You’d see the flashes, and in about 10 seconds the sky would explode and some planes would get hit.”

“

”

You couldn’t get at the Germans, you couldn’t do anything, because you were just flying straight ahead.

Leo Tomasiewicz, on facing anti-aircraft fire while on bombing runs with the 9th Air Force, 455th Bomb Squadron

Ralph Turkel Age: 85 Home: Omaha Service: Navy, Navy Dental Corps In the war: The dentist examined troops in California, some leaving for war and some returning.

In his words: “The guys that came back needed a lot of dental care. They were fighting a war, after all. They didn’t have time for things like fillings.”

Loren Turner Age: 81 Home: Central City Service: Army, 174th Infantry Division In the war: In training in Alabama when the war ended. Discharged without overseas service.

In his words: “We were all ... a few miles from the camp when we heard that the war was over. But we didn’t really have a chance to celebrate, because they made us all go back to camp when we got the word. I don’t know why they did that. Maybe they thought there was some security concern or something. ... But I was sure glad it was over with, no doubt about that.”

Mauri Turner Age: 84 Home: Omaha Service: Navy, 122nd Naval Construction Battalion In the war: Led a team of surveyors helping build bases in the Philippines and New Guinea.

In his words: “We’d go in with landing groups, start in on construction and lay out airfields and roads, hospitals and docks, anything connected with a forward base. We worked 24 hours, usually 12-hour shifts. What may surprise people — it surprised me — was we’d be able to build an airfield and have our planes flying off of it in three days.”

Marlin Wells Age: 81 Home: Central City Service: Army, 716th Military Police In the war: Spent two years as a prison guard at Sandy Hook, a peninsula off the New Jersey coast.

Processed prisoners — mostly U.S. military members.

In his words: “I suppose it was all right. They always say when you were serving stateside, it was better for you. ... I say I spent most of my time in prison, but the good news is I had a pass to get out whenever I wanted. It’s good to remember which side of the bars you’re on.”

Charles “Doc” Wempe Age: 91 Home: York Service: Navy, aviation units In the war: First piloted PBY Catalina “flying boats” around the Gulf Coast and off the Florida Keys, looking for German submarines. Later trained Navy pilots in Pensacola, Fla., on a variety of aircraft.

In his words: “We were submarine hunters. Most people didn’t know how much shipping we lost just a few miles off our shores to submarines. ...

So we carried depth charges, and we would look for subs.”

“

”

I loved to fly and the people I worked with as a trainer, especially the students. As any teacher, it was a really good feeling when your students came back to you and thanked you for the training you gave them.

Charles “Doc” Wempe, who served in the Navy aviation units (shown at top with his wife, Helen, and above on Wednesday with Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel)

Leon Wendt Age: 86 Home: Glenwood, Iowa Service: Navy, USS Alabama In the war: Worked in the engine room and transported ammunition during the Alabama’s bombardment of Wake Island.

In his words: “Three years, one month and nine days in the service. I spent my 21st, 22nd and 23rd birthdays and my first wedding anniversary overseas. ... In the engine room you got all the pumps, all the temperatures, you got to keep control of all that.

You gotta be on the stick, that’s for sure.”

Theodore Wickard Age: 81 Home: McCook Service: Navy, signalman on destroyer USS Welles In the war: Saw action in Pacific campaigns, including Philippines, where he engaged in a conversation with an Army officer with “lots of gold on his uniform.’’

Turned out to be Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

In his words: “He introduced himself as Doug and asked me how much I liked the Navy. I told him I was Ted and we stood there and talked a bit. ... Someone asked me (later) if I knew who I was talking to and I said all I know is he was Army.’’

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Alton “Mook” Wilhelms Age: 85 Home: Lincoln Service: Army, assigned to Navy Adm. Chester Nimitz’s staff.

In the war: Stationed in Guam, helped plan for never-executed invasion of mainland Japan.

In his words: “I had files on all the (U.S. military) units in the world. When Nimitz or any of his officers needed a unit (for the invasion), I’d find the unit that best fit their description, and then I’d go ahead and send the orders, start the unit moving into the Pacific and toward Japan.”

See photos at left

Audrey Wolfe Age: 86 Home: Lincoln Service: Army, medic with 40th Division, 185th Infantry In the war: Went into Guadalcanal for mop-up duty before making three beach landings in the Philippines.

In his words: “The worst fighting was on Luzon.

We went in under a lot of fire. I was a medic, so I was pretty busy. ... Our own planes bombed us one night, and that was the only wound I got.

Shrapnel in the arm. I didn’t even report it. I treated myself.’’

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Omaha World-Herald / Monday, May 26, 2008 / Page 16

RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY

the greatest generation Duty, honor, memories: Midlands veterans reflect on World War II

John Yarger Age: 87 Home: Massena, Iowa Service: Army Air Forces, 331st Troop Carrier Squadron In the war: Flew 55 missions, dropping paratroopers over China.

In his words: “When you fly those kind of missions, it’s just like flying today: Like flying passengers, people you are supposed to take care of. And that’s what you do. You do the best you can. You try to put it behind you.”

“We have faith that future generations will know that here, in the middle of the 20th century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, and produce, and fight to destroy the forces of ignorance, and intolerance, and slavery, and war.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1943

Dennis Madison of Lincoln and other veterans line the route to the Durham Museum in Omaha before a Tuesday night dinner for the veterans taking the Heartland Honor Flight.

Paul Zanker Age: 87 Home: Hamburg, Iowa Service: Army Air Forces, 440th Troop Carrier Group, 98th Squadron In the war: A radar operator on C-47 troop transport planes; arrived in England in spring 1944; helped drop paratroopers and supplies during D-Day invasion and throughout the rest of the war; had more than 400 hours flight time.

In his words: “You can’t believe what the landing beach was like (on D-Day).

It was chaos down there. ... It was kind of an iron pile down there.”

Frank Furasek Age: 84 Home: Valparaiso Service: Army, mortar gunner with 7th Division, 17th Regiment In the war: Had just finished training when the war ended. Served in postwar occupation of Korea.

In his words: “The war ended while I was on a boat. We were headed for Japan. I was tickled to death.’’

Above: Veteran Lawrence Petrashek, left, comforts George Kreifel during a tough World War II memory on May 9 at Table Rock, Neb. The men were a year apart in school and served in the Army in the Pacific. They remain friends.

Gerald Gude Age: 82 Home: Hamburg, Iowa Service: Navy In the war: Served on oil tanker USS Merrimack and headquarters ship USS Ancon.

In his words: “There were times things could have gone the other way. It wasn’t a lead-pipe cinch we would come out on top.’’

Carl Morris Age: 85 Home: Council Bluffs Service: Navy In the war: Part of a Carrier Aircraft Service Unit in the Philippines.

Benjamin Person Age: 83 Home: Scottsbluff Service: Navy In the war: Flew on seaplanes delivering supplies to Pacific islands.

In his words: “I had over 1,600 hours of flight. The troops wanted to get their mail.”

Left: Veteran Lloyd Synovec — who was known for a photograph of him playing the piano to a crowd in North Platte while on leave from World War II (see Page 14) — plays it again, this time for the veterans at dinner on Tuesday night in Omaha.

More veterans’ stories A few veterans who signed up for the Heartland Honor Flight were unable to go at the last minute, usually for health reasons. Here are the stories two of them shared.

Lawrence Petrashek

Paul Rowoldt

Age: 84

Age: 80

Home: Table Rock

Home: Columbus

Service: Army, 102nd Infantry Division

Service: Administrator with Army, 9th Corps, 8th Army

In the war: Helped train soldiers in Hawaii.

Never sent into combat duty.

In his words: “It was a pretty good deal. I got to stay there all 17 months. I consider myself lucky.”

In the war: Drafted just as the war ended and spent a year in postwar Japan giving orientation lectures for new

troops. Job started him on to career as Lutheran minister.

In his words: “You’re in a country with a foreign uniform and most of the people don’t want you there. ... Everyone had their job to do. I was just grateful to do what I did for my country.’’