Boeing B-17
"Hey Moitle!"
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Leonard A. Gallant (front row, far right).
The B-17 was hit by flak and dropped out of formation, with its engine smoking. The crew escaped with chutes deployed and along with the plane disappeared into the clouds over Augsburg, Germany. All, but 2nd Lt. Gallant, were captured and became POWs. The fate of young Gallant is still shrouded in mystery. In all the time I spent with Grampa, his name was never uttered. My aunts, Mom and grandmother spoke of Buster often to me, but my grandfather just couldn't say his name, I guess.
The loss of a son in that Good War was just too much.
I am connected to him; I carry his name.
I'm honored!
*This photo has only recently been declassified.
This story is both terrible and fascinating.terrible in real life, for family around, fascinating for imagination: what did happen?..
ReplyDeleteI love this kind of picture!What a beautiful tribute you made today!
He would be proud how well you carry his name and honor.
ReplyDeleteThat fate must be the worst for families.
I remember the telegram in the scrapbook and my mother's handwritten reaction to "Your husband, 2nd Lt. ..., is missing in action . . ."
But my father, unlike your relative, survived the flak, parachute jump, and POW camp in Romania. He and his co-pilot lost the rest of the crew, however, and he never could talk about it to me.
May Buster's memory always be a blessing and an inspiration.
What a brilliant photo Birdman, my father never talked about the war either, sometimes I think the men who survived felt guilty that they had and their mates didn't..
ReplyDeleteThank you, Buster, Don and Dad for your service.
ReplyDeleteIt chokes me up just to think about what they all went through, even if they came out of it alive. I can understand why some people don't want to talk about it. Less than a year before my dad passed away, I took a little video camera into the nursing home and asked him questions about his time in the service. He told the entire story from being drafted to discharge in great detail. Even though he didn't really witness anything totally devastating and graphic, you could tell he was troubled by some of it. I can't even imagine being pulled out of a normal life and thrown into the midst of a war.
Thank you to all men and women who served our country.
Your personal story today is much appreciated, and I honor your family for their service. My heart aches for that father. . . and the entire family. So many wars, so many similar stories.
ReplyDeleteexcellent post for today. thank you.
ReplyDeleteDad and Grandpa opened the attic room where his uniform lay in storage for many years. In the jacket pocket I remember clearly a package of juicy fruit gum. I never see juicy fruit gum without thinking of Uncle Leonard. Died too young age 24.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photo and memories or our uncle.
What a beautiful and touching post for this Memorial Day.
ReplyDeletehow very touching...
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a nostalgia about World War II. I don't get, the loss of life was horrendous.
A perfect post for the day.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post and photo.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! We were on the wrong end of those bombs, but it happens when you are on the wrong side of a good war... How long it takes to declassify a picture like this?
ReplyDeleteOne of my very good friends who died recently was a bombardier on those bombers - he escaped unscathed, but so many didn't!
ReplyDeleteThank you for remembering and honoring veterans this Memorial Day...
ReplyDeleteHow interesting your story and how proud he would be to have you carry his name. One of many stories that touch our hearts. MB
ReplyDeleteLikely he was a hero -- choosing to be last line while helping the rest of the crew escape.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThose who remember these times are dwindling. Nice memorial day post. :)
ReplyDeleteA touching post for this day, any day. . .
ReplyDeleteThe men and women who fought in that war saw carnage and sacrifice beyond anything they had ever imagined. All who fought and their families all reacted differently to the experiences. Some memories were just too painful and were best buried along with the soldiers. Though I have not had such an experience myself, I can easily understand and appreciate the pain.
ReplyDeleteGreat post for Memorial Day. How nice you bear a hero's name.
ReplyDelete