Grandpa by Eric C. Eikmeier

They offered Grandpa a chance to fly.  He spent his time working on the planes they wanted him to go up in.  He repaired leaking hydraulics.  He patched bullet holes.  He replaced engines destroyed by flak.

                Of all people to ask to fly, why choose someone who looked at the aftermath of aerial combat on a daily basis?

                He chose to remain safely on the ground until after the war.

                Grandpa was goofy looking.  His war photos show a youth with hair that never quite behaved the way he wanted it to.  His height was such that I find it amazing he ever became a pilot at all.  Not broad across the shoulders, but still too large to be a flier.  His brothers were both shorter yet he was the one in the Army Air Corps.

                There is a photograph of him standing next to two Italian workers.  He looms at least a foot and a half over their heads.  My, what they must feed those big Americans!

                Their convoy arrives in Tunisia in September 1943.  Grandpa volunteers for guard duty on the transport.  That first night in North Africa, the Germans conduct an air raid on the docks.

                In a short, typo-plagued untitled essay on his war experiences, Grandpa writes. “That night the Germans dropped bombs on the ships in the harbor our ship was missed. Lucky me, as this was my first day at war.”

Ralph’s own story

            This letter will tell the story of my time in the service of my country.  It all started in March 11, 1943.   Before being drafted I was employed at Smoky Hill Army Air Force base (Salina Kansas). My work was as an aircraft mechanic, getting B24s and B17s fit to fly overseas.  The CO of the base gave me a letter to pass on to the Army that I was to be inducted into the air force for basic training at Patterson field. (nice to have some pull in the army) After basic I was placed into an experimental outfit, which was to repair any rubber (tires, fuel cells and etc). The idea didn’t work to well. So within two weeks, I was given two stripes and a two week leave back to home and Dodge. 

Now I was given a little training and to back up to ship put for overseas.  I must say this outfit had only 21 men in it.  We docked at Bizerte, Tunisia on the afternoon of Sept 29, 1943.  Here is where I made a mistake, I volunteered to remain aboard the ship to guard our equipment and bags, well that night the Germans dropped bombs on the ships in the harbor, our ship was missed. Lucky me, as this was my first day at war.  We bivouacked at Tunis air field.  This was always short of food and water. No PX.  In one month I spent only 4 cents.  (Tell that to your grandchildren)  For something to do, I asked to be an aircraft mechanic to repair a German airplane that the brass wanted to fly.

Since we were a small outfit everyone forgot about us.  We were told to find our own way to Italy.  After a week in the mud and bivouac on some hill, we found a freighter going to Bari.  It was loaded with bombs and ammo.  The first night out another freighter bumped into us because of the fog.  Good thing there was no damage as we didn’t wear any life vests and what was the use. We disembarked at Bari and found an empty warehouse a block from the docks.  That was too close as what happened next.  The second night the Germans [bombers] came over and did the works on us. They sank 17 ships with 38 thousand tons of supplies which were badly needed.  A bomb hit and blew up a ship loaded with ammo.  Now when the shock wave moved me 100 feet farther south. I only had bruises and a few cuts.  The city of Bari was badly damaged.  Over 3000 people killed.  For me there wasn’t time to see a medical group.  Now I’ll say why you may have never heard of this.  There was a ship loaded with mustard gas which caught fire and as you the USA was not to have any mustard gas.  It was kept out of the newspapers. It was released 20 years later.  Maybe you saw it on the History Channel.  I rather never have a night like that again.  I looked like someone who had a gas mask so they made me a guard at a gate.  Very hard to stop anyone who wanted to get out of the gas cloud coming our way.  Lucky the wind changed and the ship was towed out to sea and sank.  Too bad for the fish.

A short time later I asked for a transfer to a bomb group where I could use my training as an aircraft mechanic on B24s. The group was the well-known 376th Bomb group, called the Ploesti Raiders.  The crews flew bombing missions over Europe.  I spent many long hours working to keep the bombers flying.

One day I saw someone I knew, Jimmie Vrba of Howelles. We had a great time.

In April 1945 we were told to get our things together as we were going home. On April 12 President Roosevelt died.  It was a sad and joyful time for us.   On April 18th we embarked on the West Point ship. The first day out Axis Sally on the radio said the 376 group will be sunk tomorrow.  Missed again.  It was over for us.  Thank God. April 29th we docked at Newport News, VA 4:01 PM.  Drank a quart of milk the first day and another the second day.  Took three days by train before I saw dodge and my family and a month’s furlough, a great time to remember.  At the war in Europe ended and as far as I know I was the only GI in Dodge at the time.  Dodge went wild. Never received so many hugs and kisses that evening, or so much beer.  Did anyone get a photo of the beer kegs by the flag pole in the center of town? Thanks dodge.

Well back to the war, the Pacific was calling. I was sent to Sioux City Air Base for training on B29s.  Being close to Dodge I was home every weekend.  The war ended August 15th and two week later I am discharged from the service at Fort Leavenworth.  Sad time and happy time.  Must give credit to all the people who said prayers to God asking for the safe return of all.  There is so many items and stories I could tell. If you want to hear them I can lie when you come and visit.

5/26/2003

Ralph