Well, SuperCPA and Dennis, I just LOVED reading your post about the war....but it made me bawl like a baby. It just reminded me of my late Dad, who was a WWII B-25, B-26, P-38, P61 pilot, and a real hot shot, too.
It's just great that you shared these stories with us, especially with me...as I just love hearing and reading about our history of sacrifice our brave parents, grandfathers, etc. did in the war. It never gets old for me.
It just makes me miss my Dad even more....really an empty space in my heart that just kills me sometimes....hurts.
And, WOW!!!! That Army Air Corps hat you have there!!! I still have my Dad's AAC hat like that....I put it in the rear deck of his Grand National that's now mine. I still have Dad's WWII flying goggles he used while training in a Stearman, AT-6's, etc. and all of his flight stuff....including his silver wings, his dog tags, graduation pictures from flight school, so many things that I'm so thankful to have in my possession. It's just everytime I look at them, my eyes gets so wet. Very wet. It's still hard for me that he's gone forever.
I miss Dad so damn much....but I'm proud of him and his service to our country way before I was born. I'm proud of ALL of our servicemen who faught in that war and in today's war. I very proud to be an American who has brave warriors that fight for us today, as well as the ones in the past.
Dad was the main reason I recently flew in a restored B-25 Mitchell bomber...a dream I've had since I was a kid. Through lots of tears, I very much could imagine what it was like taking a bomber, like the B-17, B-24, B-25, B-26 in combat conditions.....here I was flying in the 25 safe and sound, but I was imagining the protection those of the past had from death in these planes....not much. Only an aluminum skin of the plane that I could push in from the inside with my finger. You were only as good as the 50 cal machine guns were accurate or the 20mm cannons in front. That's it......and hot lead coming at you from all directions in the sky........it makes my skin crawl and my hair stand up on end. Those guys.....they were brave.
Dennis, that piece of the plane from Pearl was AWESOME!!!! Imagining holding a piece of history right in your hands like that. Thanks for showing us that.
To the warriors of the past.....and the present....I SALUTE YOU.
Bruce '87 Grand National