  i met my stepmother the other night to get my dad’ s old newspaper clippings,  forms and documents from when he was in world war 2.  many of the newspapers are old,  frayed and yellowed,  but i am able to glean much information from them.
 i hope to be able to restore or at least preserve what i have.  i plan on making copies for my brothers also.  my dad was a pow/ mia in Rumania.  one of the pieces of memorabilia i have is a western union telegram informing my dad’ s mom (
whom had passed away way before i was born)  that he had been reported missing!  imagine the dread she must have felt receiving that.  the newspaper clippings outline where he was,  what he did,  and what happened to him.
 it is truly amazing the things he did.  he was an aerial gunner on a b- 24 liberator.  he flew 30 missions and was part of the bombing of the ploesti oil fields.  he was part of the 15th aaf,  376th bomber group and the 513th squadron.
 he was only 21 years old at the time!  there are all sorts of front page news stories about his rescue and return to the states.  some of the documents have names of other men that were enlisted with my dad.  i’ ve become engrossed in research on the web about the war,  his time in it and possibly finding some of these men he toured with.
 i have signed up on some yahoo groups and found sites pertaining to his bomber group.  i hope find out if his plane had a name.  many of them did… sweet meat,  the wench,  lady be good,
 and the brewery wagon to name a few.  it is all very fascinating.  one of the most amazing things was that he received the soldier’ s medal for heroism!  here is what the citation states:  “
for heroism at great risk of life during the period from 24 august to 26 august 1944.  volunteering to evacuate wounded american flyers who had been interned in an enemy prison hospital in rumania,  these gallant men,  during an intense and heavy bombardment and strafing attack lasting continuously for over forty- eight hours,  carried wounded personnel to air-
raid shelters and also carried medical supplies,  bedding,  food and clothing from blasted and burning buildings in order to insure the comfort and safety of the patients.  regardless of incessant sniping,  strafing and bombing,  these men with complete disregard for their own safety,
 were instrumental in saving the lives of countless american and allied wounded personnel.  by their superb courage,  valor,  and devotion to duty,  these men have upheld the highest traditions of the military service,  thereby reflecting great credit upon themselves and the armed forces of the united states of america.
 only 17 other men received it.  i read this excerpt to my brother,  who was in the navy,  and he couldn’ t believe it. our dad was a hero and he never even talked about it!
 my dad was enlisted in the army ( or aaf back then)  from 1942- 1945.  in addition to the soldier’ s medal,
 he also wore an air medal with an oak leaf cluster,  the european theatre of operations ribbon with two stars which denote his part in the italian campaign and the air offensive over europe,  three bronze stars,  and an aerial gunner badge.  i am very proud of my dad and his efforts for america during that time.
