Friday again, and time for what’s “new” in the world of “old,” with the Weekly History Wrap Up. Kentucky Marine, Dakota Meyer, received the Medal of Honor this week in Washington. World War II bomber pilot, and the son of Mexican immigrants, Roberto Ruiz, flew 35 missions of Europe. World War II Lady Marines reunite [...]
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve made several posts on waist gunner, Pete DeBrular and the Garveston Twelve. Today, we take a brief look at another member of the Garveston Twelve–Lt. Gerald E. Hirschman. Lt. Hirschman served as the navigator on the ill-fated B-24 bomber, piloted by Lt. Ray Sachtleben, that crashed at Garveston, [...]
For the newly drafted, plucked from hometowns across the country, life in the service was an adjustment, to say the least. Terry Weber was drafted by the U.S. Army in December 1965, during the Vietnam War. Following Basic Training, he reported to Fort Polk, Louisiana for AIT in March 1966. “I don’t like the Army, [...]
Last week, we looked at chance meetings in war with the reunion of the Gage brothers at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Today we’ll examine a similar encounter, though under the most tragic of circumstances. Brothers Pete and Tom DeBrular, orphaned at an early age, grew up and received their educations at the Indiana Masonic Home, [...]
Monday morning already? Yep, and time for the 90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week. I love this photo. You can almost feel the excitement as 90th ID soldiers gather in the town square at Susice, Czechoslovakia to listen to Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s legendary VE Day speech, informing the world of Germany’s defeat. And [...]
Wow, what a week! TGIF, and time for the Weekly History Wrap Up. Even after 150 years, the jury’s still out on Civil War notable, William Quantrill, and his legacy. The World War II battleship, USS Iowa, is heading to LA, where it will permanently dock and serve as a museum. Two World War II-era [...]
I am continually amazed by the chance meetings of friends, or even brothers, serving in different units, during wars. Coincidence? Maybe it really is a small world after all. Several come to mind, but one in particular has stuck with me. Bob and Jim Gage were brothers, and both bomber pilots fighting for the 13th [...]
Over the past week, we’ve logged multiple posts on Pete DeBrular and the Garveston Twelve, who served with the 492nd Bomb Group out of North Pickenham, England. Just 25 miles to the southeast set the Tibenham Airfield, home to the 8th Air Force’s 445th Bomb Group. In this edition of Letters From War Wednesday, we [...]
The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial spans some 30 acres outside of Madingley, England. The pristine grounds provide a final resting place for the remains of over 3,800 American soldiers, sailors and airmen killed in World War II. The dead include member of the Garveston Twelve, Pete DeBrular. DeBrular’s B-24 bomber crashed into the village [...]
Today, here in the States, we’re celebrating Labor Day, a break for us hard-working folk. But there’s no rest for the History Junkie. Monday means time for the 90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week. The photo shows newly arrived 90th Infantry Division replacements tearing down their full-field packs for something more manageable for their [...]