Perhaps this shall serve as an answer to a question I once heard on television---" Daddy, what did you do during the war?" Well, I was converted from a civilian college student to a Private in the Infantry and trained to be an Armorer- Artificer. Later I transferred into the Army Air Corps and was schooled to become a Radio Operator - Mechanic. I went to gunnery school and became an aerial gunner. After becoming a I)adio- Operator-Mechanic Gunner, I was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and assigned to a B-26 Martin Marauder combat crew. The plane was a medium bomber with a colorful reputation and of dubious value among some circles.

Most important, when I arrived at Barksdale Field for combat crew assignment and training, I discovered that I was to be affiliated with five of the finest cream of the crop civilian soldiers ever to wear the uniform of the United States Army Air Corps. With their help, expertise and assistance I survived 23 combat missions over Germany to return home unscathed to resume my life as a civilian.