In Harms Way Page 2
 
Individual stories of the war years from the people who lived them. These stories are sometimes heroic, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, or sometimes simply remembering things that should never be forgotten.

I will never forget the feeling of being separated from that ship.   Adrift at Sea! His ship, a small patrol craft was completely disabled but afloat, Yeoman Barnes watches as the ship that was towing them back to safety dropped the tow and sped away . . . leaving them for weeks in hostile waters.

Bill Barnes, 1944 Click the image for a larger view  Click here for Bill's story

Also, Hall of Heroes A Paraglider Trooper Remembers D-Day The story of a young man assigned to a Forward Observer Team to land via glider behind German lines on the D-day landings. Like most of the Horsa gliders, they didn't get down unscathed but, injured, he went on to St. Marie Eglise and, indeed, the rest of the bloody march across Europe, including Operation Market Garden. Click the star for the story. See the Market Garden Quiz. See The Market Garden Story

Alfred (Fritz) Joseph Nigl, PFC  Click here for Fritz's story

Milo Smith, 1945

But not in 1950, in 1945   Inchon Landings! By Milo Smith  Click here for Milo's story

Keeping China Alive Tales of "Flying the Hump."   By Charles R."Bob" Pitzer

Charles R."Bob" Pitzer

The Japanese occupation of China, begun in 1937, had sealed off the country from the rest of the world. By 1940, Japan controlled the entire coast of China forcing Chiang Kai-shek's army westward. In May 1941 President Roosevelt decided that the defense of China was vital to American security, making that country eligible for lend-lease assistance. The only way for American lend-lease materiel to reach Chiang Kai-shek's army was via the Burma Road which was a narrow, twisting route through the mountains (Himalayas) that connected Lashio, Burma, with Kunming, China. In May 1942, Japan's successful invasion of Burma closed this last route for lend-lease aid into China. China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) developed and pioneered routes over the Hump from India to China but it fell to the US Army Air Forces to use them to supply the remaining Chinese army. Americans quickly established ‘the Hump,' an airlift of troops and supplies over the Himalayas designed to keep Chiang Kai-shek's army in the fight  Click here for Bob's story In July, 1945, when the author (Charles Pitzer) was flying the Hump, 71,000 tons of cargo was carried. In all, some 650,000 tons of gasoline, munitions, materiel, and men were flown over the Hump. More than half was carried in the first nine months of 1945. Here are some stories from one who was there!

Joe Elliott with his medals. Taken on Remembrance Day 11/11/1999 by the village monument. Click image for a larger view

THE WAR MEMORIES OF A BOMBARDIER By Joe Elliot Joe, who told us the wonderful story, Birds Eye View remembers more. After maritime service, Joe was in the thick of it - from Norway to Bombay - never losing his sense of humor. Don't miss this wonderful story from a British bombadier's viewpoint.  Click here for Joe's story

NAS Richmond in 1943 Lighter-than-Air combat Know how to fly a blimp? Fight a German U-boat or how it feels to fly through the air in a hurricane so severe that it destroys three huge"hurricane proof" Hangars? Arch McCleskey takes us there as he describes his adventures as a crewman on WWII blimps.  Click the star for Arch's story See NAS Richmond now

Arch H. McCleskey Jr. in 1943

Art and Micky Morneweck

More on the first American troops in Korea   Korea, 1945 The first American troops in Korea were sent there to take the Japanese surrender. Art Morneweck was there during this almost forgotten episode. A tiny group of GI's move in to secure a country that had been brutalized by Japanese occupation.  Click the star for Art's story

Perilous Duty in Wonsan Bay in 1951-1952 Korea, 1951! What was it like as you deliberately force your way through mine infested waters? After all, that's why you are there -- to find the mines and destroy them. Did it help when the North Korean shore batteries opened up -- NO! Or when your own friendly battleships fired their 16" guns over you -- well, yes but unnerving! Ride with ENS. Gilliland as he joins the battle in Wonsan Bay. Dr. Burl Gilliland is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at The University of Memphis. He retired in 1997. He served in WWII on LSTs and in the Korean War on minesweepers. He retired in 1987 with the rank of Captain. He has co-authored several major graduate level psychology and counseling textbooks.

Burl and Martha Gilliland, 2003  Click here for Burl's stories ..........Shore Batteries .........Dozo the Mascot ...............Minesweeping ........................Sabotage

George Osepchuk

Would you believe GIs in drag entertaining the troops? Here's George's story of a burlesque troop made up of GIs that toured Korea right after WWII. Entertainment was rare but these guys were popular. Don't miss George's story.  Click here for George's story

Navy publicity photo  Click here for Glen's story Special thanks to Sheila Davidson who compiled and edited Glen's notes and scanned his photos. Tom Kercher - consulting and Image preparation. Jack Henzie - consulting and final editing.

Combat in the air Glen Wallace's War Diary. This is the actual combat diary, with timely updates, of a Corsair/Hellcat pilot. Glen takes us with him in the cockpit as he completes training on Sable and Wolverine (side-wheel aircraft carriers), fights in the Pacific, then returns home to "live happily ever after" with his beloved Bonnie. Fly with him on his first combat mission. Fly with him when he enters, with some trepidation, enemy territory for the first time. Fly with him as he participates in the sinking of Yamato, the largest battleship ever. And, finally, as he triumphantly flat-hats over a defeated Tokyo. What a story; what a life! Don't miss this one!

Dog platoon at Driniumor river Driniumor River If you have read Paul Tillery's story of the battle(s) at the Driniumor River in New Guinea or Dr. Thomas Deas' Last Full Measure, a tribute to a hero of the Driniumor river battles, you may wonder about the place. Another veteran of Driniumor has cleared it up. He was there in a Dog Platoon and with his own sketches and photos makes it clear what is was like. Bill's clear descriptions make it very apparent how it was to be there. Read his story here.

Cpl Bill Garbo and Teddy, 1945  Click here for Bill's story

PFC Mario "Ben" Benedetto, 1945

Almost forgotten episode in 1945 First American Troops in Korea The first American troops in Korea were sent there in 1950 after North Korea invaded. Right? WRONG! In an almost forgotten incident, the 7th Infantry Division was sent there in 1945 to accept the surrender of the Japanese troops that had brutally occupied Korea for years. They stayed to help South Korea recover from the war. Ben Benedetto was one of those. Read his story here.  Click here for Ben's story

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