We flew our 24th mission on New Years Day 1945, and from our 14th mission on, we Led or Deputy Lead in the formation of our 36 plane formation. It was a position in formation we thought and considered to be safe. At least better than tail end Charlie. We were flying Deputy Lead on January 6, 1945, target railroad marshalling yards was our primary, Duetz Bridge, Cologne, Germany our secondary target.
The whole time that we were on the front it rained, day and night. So, I suppose that did not make it any easier. They told us that it would probably rain for at least two more months. I was wet and scared, dug into a little three foot fox hole, and seeing my first action of the war. One of the two other boys whom I came into this outfit with were wounded on the front. He was only a few yards away from me when he was hit. It was just an arm wound, so he was all right, but it definitely indoctrinated us into the combat life.
William Gieske during WWII
By William Gieske
(Continued from 2/7/22)
This is the Army
MOUT Training, Ft. Devens, MA, 1973
Taken From Just a Few Lines: The Memoirs of Keith L. Winchenbach
By Keith L. Winchenbach was born in Rockland, Maine on July 13, 1923
Submitted by Jessica Winchenbach from handwritten notes from her grandfather, Keith L. Winchenbach. All chapters have been edited and proofed by Jessica Winchenbach.
In Elementary Flying School in Canada, Keller learned to fly old biplanes called Fleet Finches. His instructor tied long red ribbons to the struts of his plane when he made his first solo flight. “I guess it was a warning for other planes to steer clear!” he notes wryly. He polished his training on Prince Edward Island, where he graduated to the powerful 450-horsepower planes called, ironically, Harvards.
Marion was one of the few who actually volunteered for the war. His voluntary submission to the U.S. Army came when he saw his brother’s draft summons. The cold reality of war was now knocking on his door, pulling his brother from the safety of The Lone Star State, and into the grasps of the armed forces. At that moment, Marion knew he wanted to go, not as a draftee, but as a willing servant. “If I don’t go, they’ll get me to go anyway,” he said stoically.
The school leaving age in those days was 14 and Billy’s father arranged for him to stay on another year hoping to improve his knowledge. However the truth of the matter was that Billy just didn’t have what it takes, which they now say is the result of unfair genomes distribution (biological makeup). So what he’s trying to say, is being a dum-dum wasn’t his fault and he’s not guilty your honor.
In November 1946 Billy was ordered to report to Kempston Barracks in Bedfordshire for six weeks basic training in the British Army. Entering the gates of this impressive foreboding looking fortress, which was built in 1875 and could easily be mistaken for a prison, he couldn’t help thinking that his only crime was to reach the tender age of 18.
By Jennifer Sidle
Dwight Foster, a poor southern boy growing up during the depression in North Caroline, finds himself “just another mouth to feed” as his frustrated and volatile father, a cabinet finisher, struggles to support a wife and their eight children. Dwight escapes his father’s frightening fury by maintaining a quiet existence.