[benjaminthomas]

He missed all of '43 and '44, and most of '52 and '53. Do you happen to know what he was doing during all of that time? I'm just curious -- was he in training, or just in a non-combat zone?

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

He was in combat in Korea in 53. He had to learn to fly jets in 52 after being recalled to active duty and spent most of his time in training commands and as an instructor during WWII. I remember reading that he was a classmate of George H. Bush in either Pensacola or Jacksonville.