[anoldafvet]

What most people are not cognizant of is that every person who joins the military swears an oath to give their life for this country if necessary. The folks who send these people into harms way should keep this in mind.

I am in awe of the Doolittle Raiders as well as the guys who flew the B-17's out of England. They committed to 25 missions, even though in the beginning it was statistically impossible to complete 25 missions. I am also in awe of the F-105 pilots who flew the aircraft I loaded in Vietnam. They flew the missions, even though the R.O.E. was designed to help the enemy shoot them down over Hanoi and Haiphong.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My dad flew C-46s over the Hump in the China-Burma-India Campaign, was burned in a crash landing in India and received some of the first skin grafts at the Army burn hospital in San Antonio.

My uncle was a navigator on a B-17 out of England and made all his return flights. Uncle Lloyd received the Silver Star (among other medals) at the end of his tour.
My dad was a civilian pilot and other than the medical care, got no recognition.

[HeadOn]

“Thud’s”, right? I read “Thud Ridge” many years ago, and was extremely impressed with these brave men. Talk about the rules being stacked against you... God Bless them, and all of you who served with them.