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He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
When Paul, Bob and I arrived at the 344th we were assigned to the 494th squadron and given separate quarters along the squadron street. I entered mine and dumped my stuff on the one empty bunk there. I unpacked my B-4 bag, hung up my uniforms and put stuff on the shelf including personal photographs and shaving stuff. Then I went to the officers mess where I was supposed to meet Bob and Paul for evening chow. Bob showed up. We waited for Paul then decided to go ahead knowing he would be along soon, It took quite a while. When he showed up he was white as a ghost and obviously shaken. Bob and I looked at each other and finally asked Paul what happened. Paul just shook his head, obviously quite sad and unhappy. He then told us the story of what had happened when he entered his quarters. When he went in there were 4 bunks, but all were neatly made up with clothes, foot lockers and personal effects such as photographs of family. Paul thought he was in the wrong place since there were no empty bunks. Just as he was leaving one of the guys in there said, "C'mon back Lieutenant, you are in right place." Paul said that there were no empty bunks. The guy said "That one over there is yours. The guy who was sleeping there went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. The Padre and the Officer of the guard will be here soon to collect his stuff. You can have his bunk as soon as it is cleared out." We understood Paul's sadness. We were sad too. We flew our first mission the next morning, but never, to this day ever forgot that bunk with family snapshots and personal efects that wasn't cleared out. And there would be more as the war went on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer |
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Hi, Art, i like the idea of posting a story at a time in the n/g, it'll get
them read, all the more poignant knowing that you were there! regards, Mark. "ArtKramr" wrote in message ... He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. When Paul, Bob and I arrived at the 344th we were assigned to the 494th squadron and given separate quarters along the squadron street. I entered mine and dumped my stuff on the one empty bunk there. I unpacked my B-4 bag, hung up my uniforms and put stuff on the shelf including personal photographs and shaving stuff. Then I went to the officers mess where I was supposed to meet Bob and Paul for evening chow. Bob showed up. We waited for Paul then decided to go ahead knowing he would be along soon, It took quite a while. When he showed up he was white as a ghost and obviously shaken. Bob and I looked at each other and finally asked Paul what happened. Paul just shook his head, obviously quite sad and unhappy. He then told us the story of what had happened when he entered his quarters. When he went in there were 4 bunks, but all were neatly made up with clothes, foot lockers and personal effects such as photographs of family. Paul thought he was in the wrong place since there were no empty bunks. Just as he was leaving one of the guys in there said, "C'mon back Lieutenant, you are in right place." Paul said that there were no empty bunks. The guy said "That one over there is yours. The guy who was sleeping there went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. The Padre and the Officer of the guard will be here soon to collect his stuff. You can have his bunk as soon as it is cleared out." We understood Paul's sadness. We were sad too. We flew our first mission the next morning, but never, to this day ever forgot that bunk with family snapshots and personal efects that wasn't cleared out. And there would be more as the war went on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer |
#5
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hey, you know i care !!
"ArtKramr" wrote in message ... Subject: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back. From: Ed Rasimus Date: 2/2/04 7:46 AM Pacific Standard Time Message-id: On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote: He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. Arthur Kramer Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine. I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105 tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4 tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear were still in the closet. Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and has published several aviation photo books since then. The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending. Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN #1-58834-103-8 These are things that stay with us all our lives. Paul and I still talk about it even after 60 years. He sees that bunk in his dreams to this day. But there was a lot more to come. I posted it because I thought it was time we got back to military aviation which is what this NG is supposed to be all about.But I guess we should be thankful that there are still some of us who remember and care. (sigh) Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer |
#6
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From: (ArtKramr)
Date: 2/2/2004 9:57 AM Central Standard Time Message-id: Subject: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back. From: Ed Rasimus Date: 2/2/04 7:46 AM Pacific Standard Time Message-id: On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote: He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. Arthur Kramer Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine. I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105 tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4 tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear were still in the closet. Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and has published several aviation photo books since then. The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending. Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN #1-58834-103-8 These are things that stay with us all our lives. Paul and I still talk about it even after 60 years. He sees that bunk in his dreams to this day. But there was a lot more to come. I posted it because I thought it was time we got back to military aviation which is what this NG is supposed to be all about.But I guess we should be thankful that there are still some of us who remember and care. (sigh) Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer Without comment. It speaks for itself. http://members.accessus.net/~tmcdonl...thse/Texas.htm Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired |
#7
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He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
Arthur Kramer Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine. I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105 tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4 tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear were still in the closet. Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and has published several aviation photo books since then. The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending. Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN #1-58834-103-8 I got a warm bunk in 1952 in Korea along with ten champagne bottles on a shelf above the bunk, nine empty, one full. The previous occupant, as a ritual, had consumed one after each tenth mission. Needless to say, my tentmates and I drank the final one, thinking he would want us to. Never have I tasted such bitter wine. Howard Austin |
#8
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"Ed Rasimus" wrote
(ArtKramr) wrote: He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine. I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105 tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4 tour. I heard about bunks, but being an enlisted man I got to use my sleeping bag and an air mattress :-) |
#9
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"S. Sampson" wrote in message news:XYATb.15799$Q_4.4790@okepread03... "Ed Rasimus" wrote (ArtKramr) wrote: He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine. I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105 tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4 tour. I heard about bunks, but being an enlisted man I got to use my sleeping bag and an air mattress :-) God bless America. |
#10
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Subject: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
From: "S. Sampson" Date: 2/2/04 3:22 PM Pacific Standard Time Message-id: XYATb.15799$Q_4.4790@okepread03 "Ed Rasimus" wrote (ArtKramr) wrote: He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine. I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105 tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4 tour. I heard about bunks, but being an enlisted man I got to use my sleeping bag and an air mattress :-) We lived in tents heated by a little pot bellied stoves, slept in cots on a sleeping bag. Damn near froze to death.And that was both officers and enlsited as well. Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer |
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