I joined the Air Corp Cadets on turning 18 years old
on Sept. 28, 1943.
I attended Basic Training at Biloxi, Miss. starting
in November 1943. Attended College Training Detachment
at Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater, Ok. in early 1944.
Went to Navigation School at San Marcos, Texas to early
1945.
I
joined B-29 Crew at Lincoln, Neb. And joined group
of Navigators at Jackson, Miss. for over-water training
over the Gulf of Mexico in B-17 planes.
I
rejoined my own crew at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson,
AZ for B-29 Phase Training.
We
departed Kearney, Neb. for Guam in mid 1945. Arrived
North Field Guam early August 1945. Our crew got in
one Combat Mission before the end of the war. We flew
several Recon Missions over Japan
before the peace was signed. Flew most Recon Missions
out of Iwo Jima Base, Later flew some mail trips to
Manila.
Returned
to the States on Aircraft Carrier Boxer in Sept 1946.
Was discharged at Camp Beale, Calif. approximately
Nov. 1, 1946.
Returned
to Fowler, Colo. and entered the family business.
We operated a tomato canning business for 63 years
in the Arkansas River Valley of Colo.
I
married Joy Lee Elliott in La Junta, Colo. on Nov.
6, 1949. We have a son, Stacy and a daughter Linda.
We have one-grandson and twin granddaughters.
We
are semi-retired and spend our time between Fowler,
Co and Green Valley, AZ.