I was born July 1, 1921 in Roland, Iowa.  I attended Roland High School and Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

 

I talked brother Julius into going to Des Moines on September 21, 1942 to enlist in the U. S. army Air corps as aviation cadets.  We then were sent back home to await the call the active duty.  I was ordered to report on April 18, 1943 and was sent by train from Des Moines to Santa Ana, California.  After nine weeks of ground school it was on to Cal Aero Academy near Ontario for primary flight training in Stearman PT-19 airplanes.

Nine weeks later with 70 hours flying time it was on to Pecos, Texas for basic flying training in the BT-13 trainer.  After 70 training in the BT-13 it was on to advanced training at La Junta, Colorado.  The first 35 hours of flying here was in the so-called "Bamboo Bomber" - the UC-78, a twin-engine plane.  Then we were the first pilot class to advance to the B-25.  After 35 hours in that plane, and 208 hours flying time, graduation day arrived on February 8, 1944 and I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.

A "Hot Shot" Pilot - 1944

 

The next duty station was Sedalia Army Air Base at Knobnoster, Missouri.  This was a troop carrier wing and the airplane was the "Gooney Bird", officially the C-47 (the military version of the DC-3).  Just prior to being sent overseas I was selected to be an Instructor Pilot, first in C-47s and later in C-46s.  I had the opportunity to make several trips to Havana, Cuba and one to Kingston, Jamaica.

	I left active duty on October 18, 1945, and joined the U. S. Air Force Reserve.  I retired from the Reserve in 1974 with the rank of Major.
	From 1946 to 1967 I was self-employed as a livestock and grain farmer in Story County, Iowa.  During the 1955 to 1967 time period I wrote a column (With Tongue in Cheek) for the weekly Roland Record newspaper.  My efforts at journalism won the Iowa Master Columnist Award.
	From 1967 to 1975 I served as Assistant Department Adjutant for the Iowa Department of the American Legion.  from 1975 to 1984 I served as Adjutant of the Idaho Department of the American Legion.  I have continued to be very active in the American Legion.