SSgt. Frank H. LaBlotier
branch: Natl Guard & Army Air Corp
service: USA & England
My military career started in the middle of 1940. I joined the New York National Guard 212 C.A. (A.A.) Battery “D.3” Anti-air Craft Weapons. Under the new National Defense Act of 1940, we were inducted into Federal Service January 1941 and sent to Camp Stewart, GA. It was an artillery unit, but we received complete infantry training (6 months). We (the guard) were to be in Federal service for one year. Things got looking bad in Europe, so the Guard was going to be held in Federal Service for another 18 months. In September 1941, I reenlisted in the regular army for three years. I did this with the understanding I was to be sent to school to be an Army Air Corps Air Craft Mechanic. The next day I was told to pack, I was going to Lowry Field, Denver, CO to school in Air Craft Armament. Upon completion of training, I was sent (Feb 10, 1942) to Davis Monthan Field in Tucson, Arizona, to help form a cadre to start the 56th material squadron, later changed to 364 Material Squadron.
Early 1942, we were shipped to England on the S.S. Stratllen (a very small ship) out of Bombay. It was a real tough crossing. We lost a number of ships to the Wolf pack (German subs that were operating in the North Atlantic). We landed in Scotland and headed south to Kim Bolton, England where we joined the 91st Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force. We arrived before the planes (B17 Bombers). The first ones in went through the runways. Col. Wray went looking for a base and found one the British were moving out of: Bassingbown. We now became the 441 Sub Dept. to do large and heavy repair work (all kinds of battle damage). I was assigned to the 401-bomb sqdn. of the 91st Bomb Group to help with their armament work, but was still in the 441 for paperwork, rations, pay, etc.
After the change, I was put with Bomb Sight, Gun Sights, Turrets and all related armament work crews. I was one of the few who could set the fire cut off box in the turrets so the gunners wouldn’t shoot off parts of the plane. My (bad) eyes took me off being gunner, but I did get some raids (no credit). When someone showed up sick or so on the flight line and couldn’t go, I went as them. I was there from early 1942 – July 1945. Upon return to the States, I had a short leave. I went to Denver and married the young lady who waited for me for 3 years. We (the 91st) were called back to go to the South Pacific. We were to ship out of Tampa on September 1, 1945, but the war ended August 15, 1945 and we lucked out.
June 29, 2010
1Lt. Kenneth R. Thomas
branch: Natl. Guard & Army
service: USA & France
My Uncle, Kenneth Thomas, is an amazing and inspiring person; giving to our country at a young age. Kenneth lied about his age, joining the National Guard while still in high school. The National Guard, including Ken, was called into Federal Service, with "G" Company, 157th Infantry, stationed at Fort Sill, OK. Ken was transferred from Fort Sill to Ca, Barkley near Abilene, TX, eventually becoming First Sergeant. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Ken was sent to Fort Benning, GA, training as a Junior Infantry Officer. From Georgia, he relocated to several different camps including: Camp Forrest Tennessee, assigned to the 79th Infantry Division, the 315th regiment providing draftee training; to Camp Blanding at Starke, FL; maneuvers in Tennessee with mud, rain and cold to Yuma, AZ where it was hot and dry. After that he was sent to Camp Phillips near Salina, KS where winter had set in.
Leaving KS via train to Massachusetts, he boarded a ship to England. The Company encamped in Northern England then on to a restricted area by Southampton. They crossed the English Channel for the Utah Beach assault in Normandy, France. At first light, Ken said it was an awesome sight; the sea covered with all types of ships - the air full of planes. Landing was easier as he was not in the first assault wave. They moved inland proceeding the Cherbourg, engaging a large fortification and taking a sizeable number of prisoners. They then headed back to the breakthrough area and Ken was wounded and sent to England for hospitalization. Recovered, Ken returned to France with a replacement unit, ending up as an Instructor of Mines/Field Fortifications at the Infantry School at Melun, France; from there to Southern France, he was assigned to yet another Infantry Division, but the war in Europe had ended. Ken attained the rank of First Lieutenant before his discharge.
Ken married and they had 3 sons. Following his first wife's death, he met and married again at the age of 81. He lives in Longmont and continues to amaze with his enthusiasm and outlook of life. He is a very creative individual who does oil painting primarily but utilizes his abilities in many areas around the yard and house. He will be 89 on June 27th.
June 28, 2010
Capt. William Albert Fluallen
branch: Army/194th Art. Btln
service: Italy
William Albert "Bill Bert" Fluallen was born in Delta, Colorado. His father, Dr. William A. Fluallen, was one of one or two dentists in Delta and his mother, Dutie Sandburg Fluallen was the librarian and English teacher at Delta High School. Records show an approximate birth date of 1914. It's assumed he was a ROTC officer as he reached the rank of Captain but apparently was not a career military officer. Prior to going overseas to the Italian Theatre, Bill Bert met and married Mary Ellen Pullen of Bossier City, Louisiana. Affectionately known as “Jackie” they were wartime sweethearts that got married in short order as he was shipping out and Jackie, an officer in the WACS, was sent to the Pacific Theater.
After the War and Bill's death, Jackie came to live with our family in Cheyenne, Wyoming for two years and worked in a gift shop in downtown Cheyenne know as the Little Shop. She left Cheyenne and re-married an Air Force Officer, Colonel Worrall and had two daughters. Bill Bert had been in the 194th Artillery Battalion. As is commonly known, artillery warfare in WWII was most brutal during the Italian Peninsula campaign. The Americans and the Germans battled back and forth at Anzio with heavy artillery for nearly six months and casualties were very high. He paid the ultimate price when killed in action and was recognized with a Purple Heart.
William Albert Fluallen represents so many Colorado veterans that have been essentially forgotten, in part, because his records were probably destroyed in a fire with many others. His service deserves recognition as he left behind what might have been a successful profession career such as his father (a lifetime of dentistry) and as an only child, left a huge vacancy in his family's life. Colorado should be proud of Bill Bert and many other unsung heroes who defended the United States and did not survive the brutality of combat in an extremely dangerous battle assignment.
June 25, 2010
1Lt. Aubrey C. Moulton, Jr.
branch: Army Air Corp
service: Europe
Enlisted in 1942 and trained as a bombardier. Served with the 305th Bombardment Gp, 355th Sq. in England. Shot down 24 Aug 44, POW in Stalag Luft III near Sagan, Germany (now Zagan, Poland). Moved to Stalag VII - A near Moosburg, Germany in Jan 1945. Liberated on 29 Apr 45. Retired from USAF in the grade of Lt Col in 1962.
June 24, 2010
Carpenters Mate 2nd Daniel C. Sorensen
branch: Coast Guard
service: Pacific & Europe
My father worked at Camp Hale (Colorado Mtn Division) during its construction and enlisted in the Coast Guard serving on the USS General W.M. Black, AP135, a Navy troop ship carrying the troops overseas. He is still alive here in Denver, CO.
June 23, 2010
Sgt Orrel Arlan Daniel
branch: Army Air Corp
service: CBI (China/Burma/India)
Orrel A. Daniel was an 18-year-old country boy with a deep faith and a sense of wonder when he left for basic training at Buckley Air Force Base. He then went to Supply School at Camp Santa Anita, California., where this photograph was taken on Halloween, 1943. He served as supply sergeant in the CBI, specifically Assam and Karachi, where he offered stability, courage and honor through his calm leadership. His friendships with civilians included inviations to their homes to meet their families and share a meal, and long after the war was over, Orrel taught his children about Patriotism by stressing the recognition of servicemen and introducing them to his military friends.
He was honorably discharged, returned to Colorado and became a lawyer, civic leader and family man. At the memorial service after his death on November 10, 2009, a full honor guard detail, which included a bugler who played Taps, recognized Orrel's service to his country.
June 22, 2010
SSgt Harry L. Tuthill
branch: Army
service: Pearl Harbor
Served and was wounded at the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
June 21, 2010
Sgt Charles Joseph Purcell
branch: Army
service: Europe
My father, Sgt Charles Joseph Purcell, was a member of the 149th Combat Engineering Battalion and landed in the first wave at Omaha Beach on D-Day. He passed away when I was only thirteen years old, but I have many photos of his time in Europe as well as his Silver Star and Purple Heart citations. After crossing the channel in an LCM, the ramp dropped and my father took cover behind the blade of a bulldozer he and his engineers had offloaded into the water.
He continued to take cover while the bulldozer moved up the beach, when another LCM nearing the beach struck a mined obstacle and was completely disabled. Under heavy enemy machine gun and artillery fire, with utter disregard to this own personal safety, he went back into the water and helped save the lives of seven men who were aboard the stricken LCM. He went on to lead his engineers in the Rhine River crossing and returned safely to the US in December of 1945.
June 18, 2010
Lt. Col Jack G. Hook
branch: Army Air Corp
service: Italy
Jack Hook is a native of Denver. During WWII, Jack served with the 2nd Bomb Group of the 15th Air Fore based in Foggia, Italy. He flew on 5 combat missons as a navigator/bombadier on a B-17 Flying Fortress. After the war, Jack returned to Denver, completed college at the University of Denver and pursued a career in the Denver Public Schools, becoming a prinicpal.
June 17, 2010
2Lt. Victor Michael Boffa
branch: Army Air Corp
service: Italy/455th Bomb Gp
Enlisted in the Army Air Corps September 15, 1942. Comissioned as a 2nd Lt (Bombadier) August 5, 1943. Served as a crew member on a B-24 based in Italy. Shot down and was a POW in Romania for 6 months. Awarded 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 3 Air Medals, Purple Heart and 3 Battle Stars. Discharged from military service in December 30 , 1946.
June 16, 2010
Sgt. James A. Alexander & Pvt Ken W. Thompson
branch: Marine Corp
service: Pacific
My mother's brother, Uncle Ken went to the Pacific and on a leave at home in L.A., CA where his parents had gone to live until he came home, he brought his Sgt, James Alexander who met his sister Roze. James married Rozetta in 1945. The Thompson and Alexander families ran a restaurant in L.A. called the Ken Roze Cafe where all Marines received free dessert during the war. They also ran a construction company and a farm. Ken has two children in Denver and a son in AR where the 3 children of Rozetta live. Aside from that one leave, Jim Alexander spent 4 years in the Pacific fighting in every battle you would recognize. He never spoke of the war. Thanks Dad! And thank you to all who have served and do serve. May God Bless.
June 15, 2010
Maj. Henry Jesse
branch: Army Air Corp
service: Normandy/Battle of the Bulge
Interpreted German air signals with Patton's 5th Army
June 14, 2010
PFC Ely Karasik
branch: Army/44th Inf Div
service: France, Germany & Austria
Heavy Weapons Company - 30 caliber machine gun squad. Ammunition carrier and later - gunner.
June 10, 2010
Boatsmate 2nd Charles Andrew Jackson
branch: Navy
service: USS W. Virginia & Farragut Naval Base
My Father entered the Navy in 1931 when he was only 15 and served on the USS W. Virginia. He was sent home early because his Mother died. He met and married our Mother and had 3 daughters, so when the war broke out in 1941, he was not called, but then went in and served at Farragut Naval Base in Idaho.
He worked at various areas there and right before the war ended, he was in charge of German Prisoners of War who were sent there. He had our Mother teach him some German so he could talk to them. He was very upset that so many of his shipmates on the USS Virginia were killed, he would have been there, but God had other plans for him. He lived to be almost 93 years of age, died in 2008.
June 9, 2010
2Lt. Stewart H. Scales
branch: Army Air Corps
service: England with 446th Bomber Grays
In May '43, at Texas Tech, I joined the Air Corps Reserve and was called up for basic training at Wichita Falls, Texas, then sent to Denver, Colorado, as an Air Cadet. We were housed in fraternity buildings along Evans. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, I was sent to Albuquerque to learn to fly the B-24 combat bomber; then to March Field to meet the nine airmen trained to form a B-24 flight crew. In England, we were assigned to the 466th Bomber Grays, Squadron 785, stationed in Attlebridge.
Our first combat mission was to Karlsruke in early September '44. In December, the weather became very bad, scrubbing many missions. At combat mission briefings, the Weather Officer was booed by the flight crews. Occasionally, weather prevented us from landing at our home base and we flew west to the British bomber bases. The Brits were always great hosts. There was never a beer shortage at a British bomber base. December '44, the Germans launched an attack through eastern Belgium. Unable to help the Army ground forces because of the terrible weather, the Air Corps decided to destroy the bridges along the Rhine River to slow the Germans' retreat.
Our group, the 466th, was sent to destroy the bridge at Remagen. Although we damaged the bridge, we failed to destroy it. The Germans had decided to establish a defense along the east bank of the Rhine River, an excellent choice for a defensive arrangement. One day a group of GIs came out of the Belgium forest and saw the peacefully flowing Rhine River and no German in sight. They also saw the still-standing Remagen bridge. They dashed across the bridge and surprised a German crew preparing to dynamite the bridge. Within hours, tanks and other heavy equipment had crossed the Rhine River. The German defense plan was foiled. Historians agree that the Germans' inability to establish a defense along the Rhine River shortened the war and saved many lives. All because our bomber group, the 466th failed to destroy the bridge at Remagen.
In March of '45 we completed our quota of 35 combat missions. I returned to the U.S. on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner which had been converted to a troop carrier. Later I learned that our old airfield in Attlebridge, England had become the largest turkey farm in Europe. The War was over.
June 8, 2010
Pvt. Frank L. Gallucci
branch: Army
service: S. Italy & France
My Uncle Frank (my Grandfather's little brother) was part of the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, Company D. While parachuting into Southern France he was wounded. A courageous French family saw him land on their farm. They put him up in their attic to be safe from the Nazis. My uncle remembers the Nazis interrogating the family after they had seen him drop. The Nazis even came speaking English to try and trick them. He stayed in the attic and the family fed him and cared for him until Americans came and found him. He was flown to Italy where he was fixed up. My uncle is still around and lives in Indiana as a retired attorney.
June 7, 2010
Pvt. Manuel Greenberg
branch: Army Air Force
service: Alaska
Manny Greenberg, enlisted at age 17 and was inducted at age 18 on 8/3/45. He was placed in the Cadet Program for pilot training. WW II was over and he became a control tower operator in Alaska. He was honorably discharged on 12/15/46, used his GI Bill benefits to complete his BS degree at Roosevelt College in Chicago. He was awarded two medals: American Campaign Medal and WW II Victory Medal. He loved serving his country, always flew the flag in front of our home on holidays, and cried at parades and when he sang the Star Spangled Banner.
He died on August 30, 2009 at age 82 while we were traveling in China. We placed an American flag on his coffin. I keep that flag on our bed now. Manny Greenberg was a patriot and had a deep faith in our country. At his request, we played Fanfare to the Common Man at his funeral service. He viewed himself as a typical "common man", but , indeed , he was a most uncommon man, a true member of The Greatest Generation.
June 4, 2010
Werner H. Niebergall
branch: German Wehrmacht
service: Russia & Germany
My dad was born in NYC in 1927 to a German citizen. They went to Brazil until 1939, then moved to Germany when the economy got better. Dad was put into the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth), and then was drafted into the Wehrmacht (German Defense Forces). In 1942 at age 14, he was sent to Sebastopol, Russia, and then retreated back to Hamburg, just in time for the Hamburg Firestorms. In 1945, my grandmother told my dad that he was NOT a German citizen, but was American by birth. He was then deported to NYC and didn't speak a word of English. He met my mom 1 year later, and they had 12 children. He passed away in 2006. There's much more to this story!
June 3, 2010
Cpl. Walter Duane Patterson
branch: Army Air Corps
service: India, China, Burma
Flew "The Hump" between India & China with the 3rd Combat Cargo Group. Equipped with C-47's. The Hump was the name given by Allied pilots in WWII to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains over which they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the United States Army Air Forces based in China. It was ridiculously dangerous.
June 2, 2010
1Lt Robert L. Beauvais
branch: Army Air Corps
service: Europe
8th Air Force, 381st Bomb Group, 534th Bomb Squadron from May - Sept 1944.
Based at Great Yeldham/Ridgwell Airfield, England. Robert was co-pilot for B-17G Flying Fortress "My Son Bob". Stayed in after WWII and made the Air Force his career.
Robert L. Beauvais 8/7/1920 - 8/9/2001.
June 1, 2010
Reinholt (Reiny) Aschenbrenner
branch: Marines
service: Philippines & Japan
He was born in Lincoln, Neb. and resided in Sterling, CO. Reiny was a marine serving in the Philippines before the Japanese invaded that area. He with many others fought until they ran out of ammunition and were captured. He was a prisoner of war from 1942 until the surrender of Japan. He remained until the end of the war. During that time he and his fellow prisoners worked in the coal mines. He was also one of the camp cooks and they survived on rice and fish heads most of the time. He returned to Sterling, CO at the end of the war and retired from the Post Office.
SSgt. Frank H. LaBlotier
1Lt. Kenneth R. Thomas
Capt. William Albert Fluallen
1Lt. Aubrey C. Moulton, Jr.
Carpenters Mate 2nd Daniel C. Sorensen
Sgt Orrel Arlan Daniel
SSgt Harry L. Tuthill
Sgt Charles Joseph Purcell
Lt. Col Jack G. Hook
2Lt. Victor Michael Boffa
Sgt. James A. Alexander & Pvt Ken W. Thompson
Maj. Henry Jesse
PFC Ely Karasik
Boatsmate 2nd Charles Andrew Jackson
2Lt. Stewart H. Scales
Pvt. Frank L. Gallucci
Pvt. Manuel Greenberg
Werner H. Niebergall
Cpl. Walter Duane Patterson
1Lt Robert L. Beauvais
Reinholt (Reiny) Aschenbrenner