Posted on 08/23/2014 1:48:00 PM PDT by bkopto
My uncle Robert Kuhle, 95, died yesterday in Huntington Beach, CA.
He was a kind, unassuming man, who derived his greatest pleasure in being around children. After WWII, he became an elementary school teacher in Southern CA, and all his students followed him like following the pied piper. He was even invited to weddings of his former elementary school students.
In WWII, he was a carrier pilot on the USS Wake Island, an escort carrier, piloting the Grumman TBF Avenger, in the South Pacific. He related one story, in sadness, of being in the takeoff row, and the Avenger taking off just ahead of him suffering some sort of malfunction, with the plane crashing into the ocean just ahead of the carrier. The carrier ran over the downed plane and continued onward, not having the time to investigate as a mission needed to be filled.
He related another story where he and his two crew members got lost, so he landed his plane on some unknown island, regained his bearings some time later, taking off and safely refinding his carrier.
He piloted his plane over Iwo Jima in Feb 1945, bombing and rocketing the Japs there.
He never did seem to enjoy telling of his WWII exploits, always trying to change the subject; his involvement in WWII deeply affected him.
Robert Kuhle, with his wife Vivian, in Seattle WA, 1955:
On the deck of the USS Wake Island, 1945: 
Thank-you for sharing your Uncle with us. Those Navy Pilots flying those piston-driven, single engine planes off of carriers were some kind of special brave.
And how young they were when they were kicking ass in all they were doing.
Yes, many were young and many paid the price but they got it done.
Condolences to you and the remainder of your uncle’s family and friends. R.I.P., sir. Thanks.
love
Those who saw the most talk the least.
My Dad was at Guadalcanal with the First Marine Division. He never said anything about the war.I did not find out until after he passed on that my aunts and uncles considered him to be a war hero even though he never would talk about the war.
When I was his caregiver the last 5 years of his life, I finally learned a few details about Guadalcanal. Like when the Japanese Fleet counter attacked Henderson Field a giant battleship shell landed close to his foxhole. Luckily for him and for me and my brothers, it was a dud,
Semper Fidelis DaddyO.
Will see you on the other side some day.
That will probably be 2050 or later. I hope you make it.
2050 will be 105 years after the end WWII. If the youngest WWII vet in 1945 was 18, he would be 123 years old in 2050. Not likely. :0)
Thank you Robert Kuhle. For your sacrifice, for your honor, and bravery.
We would not be here, as we are, if not for you and those like you.
May God grant you all the rewards in Heaven you deserve Sir.
Prayers for the family at this time.
Sounds to me like you had a good uncle. He’s at rest now, and I hope we today don’t allow his sacrifice and those like him go for nothing.
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