Thanks, Bama.

Another pertinent book read: The Fall of Fortresses by Elmer Bendiner .

I first saw it recommended in the WSJ IIRC, as one of the five best books about WW II.

A remarkable man has left the world, but not our hearts. Every one of this generation has, or had, a story to tell that makes our everyday lives look as though we are wandering through the world half-asleep.

My math teacher at school was in the RCAF, and flew on 86 missions over Germany, around thirty-five as a Flight Sergeant, earning him the DFM, and then, after commissioning, the rest, which earned him TWO DFCs. I had to find all that out by reading the squadron log - he never mentioned it, except, that on Remembrance Day, he positively clanked, like every single one of our teachers.

An excellent and moving read about how the RAF carried out the bombing war against nazi Germany can be found in Murray Peden's 'A thousand shall fall'. His few words describing the death of his best friend, Tommy Penkuri, are moving beyond belief - 'I loved him like a brother'.

That was a great story. Thanks for posting.

Sad that there are so many other great stories that have never been told, and never will be. My dad died over ten years ago, he was 87. He was a deck officer on a destroyer in the Pacific. He never talked about his service. Oh, he would answer any questions I had but that was it. Like so many others, he kept what happened to himself.

I don't know, it's probably better to air things out but who knows, these guy were of a different breed.

Thank you for posting. A true hero. Make me think about the true heroes in my family from those times who have pasted

Jim

Thank you for sharing this.

Godspeed Sir.

wow... rest in peace!!

My uncle Jack was a waist gunner on a B-17 that was shot down. He survived and spent time in a prison camp.

Wow. Thank you for posting this. Thank you, Mr. Luke.

My Granddad was in the Battle of the Bulge. He earned three purple hearts and bronze star with three clusters.

It was told that he and a brother volunteered for WWII before they were drafted because they believed they had a better chance of getting what they wanted. Granddad was chosen to possibly to flight school but he turned it down and went to the infantry. His brother was in the pacific. We found letters between him and Uncle Perry and it was so interesting to read what they thought was going on at the time. History was already written but they didn't know it with news being much slower than it is nowadays. Granddad didn't talk much about the war but up til the day he passed you could still see shrapnel under his eye and by his ankle. His nerves were shot but I never heard him complain. Yes, those guys were cut from a different cloth.

As a side note, LSTs were built here in my hometown of Evansville, IN.

Thank you for the post.
Rest In Peace Mr. Luke.
We thank you!

Very good. Coincidentally, I knew another Mr. Luke, who was also a ball turret gunner on a B-17. His name was Royce Luke, and he was a member of our church here in Alabama. He passed away about 12 years ago. I spoke with him about his experiences, and his biggest fear was when they encountered the German jets. He said he couldn't get his turret to turn fast enough to track them and fire.

Thank you for the post.

We should never forget the young men who gave so much for our freedom.

Rest in peace John Luke.

Thanks Bama for sharing Mr. Luke with us. We do owe these men and women everything.

Wow, my screen just got blurry... what a great man and many more like him. God Speed my friend.