My late father in law Calvin (1923-2003), a B-24 waist gunner during winter-early spring 43-44, preferred not to talk about the carnage, mostly the training, and life on the bases. He grew up the youngest of 7 brothers (plus 2 sisters) who taught him how to hunt, how to shoot, and how to clean a gun. He said his 50 never froze at those extreme temps when entering combat, because he would take it apart and clean the grease off before departure. He saw others’guns freeze, after warning them to clean the grease off them.
His fellow waist gunner insisted that Cal had a super-human aim, and was credited with seven kills. Cal wouldn’t talk about it. He would just say, “I made it home,... many didn’t.” Among the awards for a crew member that completed 30 missions, he also received the DFC. When the subject his service came up at family gatherings, my mother in law would mention the DFC, and Cal would blow it off, “Aww, everybody got that. My awards are being alive, and having a family”. I miss him. He was one of the most honest men I’ve ever known.
My mother’s only brother, a 24 tail-gunner perished over Germany on his first mission. In my father in law’s later years, upon seeing our government become more corrupt (he had kissenger, pappy bush, and puppet clintoon pegged), one day said to me in a somber voice, “Son, I fear your uncle and many others died for nothing”.
God shows mercy and grace, but warns against receiving it in vain due to spiritual and moral declension. The more blessed, the more accountable.