A Very Memorable Day!
by Wrdo
Well here goes guys.....I'm going to try and share a VERY MOVING
EXPERIENCE. Monday night I got a call and he said.."Is this wrdo?"....I
said ye..ye..yes......"Hey!!! This is Bob(Punchy) Powell. I would sure
like to meet you and would love to have you as my guest at a Silver Wings
luncheon this Wed....would you be interested?" After I regained control of
my bladder, I told him I would be honored. He then said that after the
Silver Wings meeting he would like to show me his 352nd collection at his
home. After again regaining my composure I told him I would be thrilled!!!
Arrived at the luncheon and tried to sign in and pay...."You must be Ed
Hurlburt,wrdo...Punchy has already sighed you up and paid..welcome to the
Silver Wings" I asked where Punchy was, and was pointed in the general
direction of a group of guys making hand jesters like two fighters in a dog
fight. There he was...hair combed straight back (yea..he still had hair
YT) and in great shape for his age. I walked up to him and said.."you must
be Punchy"....he said....WRDOOOOOOOO. He made me feel very welcome and
introduced me to his group. B-17 drivers...P47..p51's..AirForce test
pilots. We stood around and told "lies" and enjoyed good fellowship. When
the meeting started I had to get up and tell a little about myself. I hate
speaking in front of a group..but this came easy with these guys. I was
introduced by Punchy telling the group that there is a "virtual" fighter
group that has patterned themselves after the real 352nd. They fly WW2
aircraft on line with others from all over the world. They have different
"handles" they go by like...YT..Do--Da..Dune...and Wrdo..... Well..this
is Wrdo!!
After the meeting Punchy said to follow him to his house. I discovered in
the parking lot that there was a 3 in nail suck in my side wall :(( Punchy
said..no sweat..while the tire is being replace...we go to my house for the
tour. Arriving at his home I was struck by a wall piece frame that
contained a WW1 picture of his Dad..below that his Dad's military insignia
patch..below that his dog tags. The next picture in the frame was that of
Punchy on his 51..his insignia and dog tags...then next to that, the same
of Punchy's Son..his insignia..dog tags. Three generations.... What a work
of art!!
We went down to his basement......I was in total awe..speechless!!!! I
could feel the presence of his comrades. This was a "Holy Place"...a
museum of the 352nd and Punchy's total War experience!! The first thing
that caught my eye was this piece of metal hanging on the wall. You could
read the nose art that said... The West "by Gawd" Virginian. This was a
piece of the P51 Punchy crashed in a field...his mechanics cut the nose art
from the wreckage and presented it to him.....it's the only remaining piece of
the original 352 fighter group!!! I touched it..I was moved to tears!!
Punchy was a great story teller......While showing me his huge collection I
had the honor of hearing the real story behind every
piece....pictures...escape compasses..ammunition..actual mission maps that
he carried with him..his log book that he kept an entry of every
mission...on and on and on. While I was there he also showed me the book
he wrote. We went through it....the stories he told...the pictures...gave
me chills. This book is a must have for all Bastards. Believe me...you
will not see a more informative, complete book on the men of the 352. The
reprint should be out the first of August.
Gentlemen..(you too Reb) there is no way I can put into words the emotional
experience I had. My only low feeling was that my Bastard squad mates were
not with me.
wrdo
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