Van White, of Albuquerque, N.M., will always remember the men who lost their lives on B-17s in World War II.
White enlisted in the service long before the Pearl Harbor attack took place. In October 1940, he was visiting a high school classmate in Indiana. He was told everyone of age had to register for the conscription (draft).
kAm“x 925 962C5 23@FE E96 H2C :? tFC@A6[ 3FE x 5:5?’E <?@H E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H2D 8@:?8 E@ 86E :?G@=G65[” 96 D2:5] w6 C68:DE6C65 :? x?5:2?2] p H66< =2E6C[ 96 H2D 324< :? |:DD@FC:] w6 H6?E E@ E96 32C36CD9@A @?6 >@C?:?8 H:E9 2 4=2DD>2E6] %96J 564:565 E@ 6?=:DE :? $652=:2[ D@ E96J 4@F=5 A:4< E96:C 3C2?49 @7 D6CG:46] w6 49@D6 E96 pC>J p:C r@CAD[ 3642FD6 96 =@G65 2:CA=2?6D 2?5 925 H@C<65 2E E96 z2?D2D r:EJ 2:CA@CE 27E6C 96 7:?:D965 9:89 D49@@= :? $>:E9E@?]k^Am
kAm%6? 52JD =2E6C[ 96 E@@< 2 EC2:? E@ y6776CD@? q2CC24<D :? $E] {@F:D]k^Am
kAm“|J 4=2DD p F?:7@C> 42>6 @FE @7 >@E9 32==D 7C@> (@C=5 (2C x — E96 DFA6C 3=@FD6[ =:<6 E96 5@F893@JD H@C6 :? ((x[ H:E9 E96 HC2AA65 =688:?8D] %96J E@@< >J D9@6D @FE @7 DE@C286 2?5 E96J 925 8C66? >@=5 @? E96>] %96J’5 366? :? DE@C286 E96C6 `_ J62CD[ 3FE E92E’D H92E E96J 82G6 >6 E@ H62C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D AFE @? 2 EC@@A EC2:? 2?5 D6?E E@ {2?8=6J u:6=5[ '2] (96? 2 J@F?8 =:6FE6?2?E D2H H92E 96 H2D H62C:?8[ 96 :>>65:2E6=J 2AAC@24965 9:>] “(96C6 5:5 J@F 86E E9:D @FE7:E D@=5:6Cn[” 96 D2:5] (9:E6 E@=5 9:> :E H2D 9:D 4=2DD p F?:7@C>] %96 =:6FE6?2?E E@=5 9:> E@ C6A@CE 324< 2E h 2]>] E96 ?6IE >@C?:?8 2?5 E96J AC6D6?E65 9:> H:E9 2 3C2?5 ?6H @?6]k^Am
kAm%9@F89 96 C62==J H2?E65 E@ 7=J[ 6G6CJ E:>6 E96J AFE 9:> :? E96 EC2:?6C[ 96 4@F=5?’E E@=6C2E6 E96 EFC3F=6?46]k^Am
kAm“p7E6C E9C66 E:>6D @7 4=62?:?8 FA 27E6C >6[ x 6?565 FA 2D 2 492:C\3@C?6 EC@@A6C :? E96 A2C28C2A9 4@CAD[” 96 D2:5] q642FD6 96 E@@< EJA:?8 :? 9:89 D49@@= 2?5 4@F=5 EJA6 c_ H@C5D A6C >:?FE6[ 96 H2D 49@D6? 7@C 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] x? E96 DF>>6C @7 `hc`[ 96 H2D D6?E E@ (6DE@G6C u:6=5 :? |2DD]k^Am
kAm“x? E9@D6 52JD[ 6G6? E9@F89 H6 H6C6 :? 2 962GJ 3@>3 8C@FA[ H6 @?=J 925 @?6 2:CA=2?6] p== E96 7=:89E @77:46CD 2?5 7=:89E A6CD@??6=[ E96J 925 E@ 86E 7=J:?8 E:>6 :? D@ E96J H@F=5 E2<6 EFC?D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 9:D C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D H2D E@ D4965F=6 2?5 <66A EC24< @7 E96 7=J:?8 E:>6 7@C E96 5:776C6?E 4C6HD]k^Am
kAm%96 2EE24< @7 !62C= w2C3@C E@@< A=246 @? s64] f[ `hc`] }@ @?6 <?6H H92E H2D 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? ?6IE] (9:E6 H2D 8:G6? >@C6 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D 2?5 :? y2?F2CJ `hca[ 96 H2D AC@>@E65 E@ D6C862?E] w6 6G6?EF2==J H2D D6?E E@ v@H2? u:6=5 :? q@:D6[ x529@] %92E’D H96C6 96 >6E y24< $?6==[ @7 $652=:2]k^Am
kAm“y24< H2D @? 2 7=J:?8 4C6H 2D 2 E2:= 8F??6C] (6 2=H2JD >2?2865 E@ 8@ E@ 49@H E@86E96C 2?5 H6 3642>6 AC6EEJ 8@@5 7C:6?5D] x 5:5?’E <?@H 9:> AC:@C E@ E96 D6CG:46[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm#@DD r] q2=6D H2D E96 42AE2:? @7 E96 `_\>2? 4C6H $?6== H2D 2 A2CE @7] q642FD6 q2=6D H2D 7C@> x529@[ 96 ?2>65 E96:C q\`f us#’D !@E2E@ !66=6CD z:5D]k^Am
kAm(9:E6 2?5 $?6== H6C6 :? x529@ E@86E96C 7C@> y2?F2CJ E@ yF?6] %96? E96J H6C6 D6?E E@ p=2>@8@C5@[ }]|][ H96C6 E96J EC2:?65 :? E96 (9:E6 $2?5D 2C62] x? $6AE6>36C `hca[ E96 8C@F?5 4C6HD =67E @? E96 "F66? |2CJ 2?5 H6?E E@ t?8=2?5] (9:E6 H2D 2DD:8?65 E@ E96 2:C 4C6HD E@ <66A EC24< @7 E96 C64@C5D]k^Am
kAm~? ~4E] `e[ `hca[ 96 3@2C565 @?6 @7 E96 ?6H q\`fD] %96J 925 E@ =2?5 :? v2?56C {2<6[ }6H7@F?5=2?5[ 3642FD6 @7 325 H62E96C] $:I H66<D =2E6C[ E96J H6C6 C6F?:E65 H:E9 E96 8C@F?5 4C6HD]k^Am
kAm“(6 2CC:G65 :? !C6DEH:4<[ $4@E=2?5[ 27E6C 2 `_\9@FC 7=:89E 7C@> }6H7@F?5=2?5] %92E H2D H96? x 8@E E96 E2DE6 @7 qC:E:D9 7@@5 — >FEE@? 2?5 qCFDD6=D DAC@FED] x 42?’E DE2?5 6:E96C @?6 @7 E96> E@52J[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 v6C>2? DF3>2C:?6D H6C6 D:?<:?8 2== @7 E96 3@2ED H:E9 7@@5 7@C E96 EC@@AD]k^Am
kAm“}665=6DD E@ D2J[ E92E H2D @?6 @7 @FC 7:CDE E2C86ED @? E96 uC6?49 4@2DE[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 DA6?E E96 6?E:C6 H2C 2E E96 #@J2= p:C u@C46 32D6 :? |@=6DH@CE9 ?62C r2>3C:586 :? t?8=2?5] %96J C646:G65 E96:C 7:6=5 @C56CD 7C@> E96 t:89E9 p:C u@C46 :? {@?5@? @? E96 E6=6EJA6] %96 @C56CD :?4=F565 E96 E2C86E 2?5 9@H >2?J A=2?6D H6C6 ?66565 E@ 4@>A=6E6 E96 >:DD:@?] (9:E6 H2D @?6 @7 E96 >6? H9@ 3C:6765 E96 4C6HD 367@C6 2?5 27E6C 6249 >:DD:@?]k^Am
kAm “p7E6C E96 3C:67:?8 @7 H92E E96 E2C86E H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2?5 H92E 2=E:EF56[ x’5 D66 E96 8FJD 8@ 369:?5 E96 A=2?6 2?5 G@>:E 3642FD6 6G6CJ3@5J H2D D42C65 E@ 562E9] %96J H6C6 D@ 2AAC696?D:G6] xE 5:5?’E >2EE6C :7 J@F H6C6 6?=:DE65 @C 4@>>:DD:@?65 @77:46C[ J@F 925 E96 D2>6 766=:?8[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 >6? 3642>6 2 4=@D6 <?:E 72>:=J] t249 2:C4C27E 925 2 4C6H @7 `_\>6? H:E9 7@FC DBF25C@?D :? 6249 3@>3 8C@FA]k^Am
kAm“x C6>6>36C @?6 >:DD:@? :? A2CE:4F=2C =2E6C :? E96 H2C H96? H6 H6?E 566A :?E@ v6C>2?J] (6 D6?E cc A=2?6D 2?5 =@DE ``] %92E’D ``_ >6?] xE E2<6D 2 =@?8 E:>6 E@ C6A=246 E9@D6 4C6HD 2?5 EC2:? E96>] xE H2D ?@E 62DJ[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? t?8=2?5[ 96 C6>2:?65 8@@5 7C:6?5D H:E9 $?6==] %96J 3@E9 H6C6 52E:?8 8:C=D 7C@> $652=:2]k^Am
kAm“(6 FD65 E@ 4@>A2C6 ?@E6D 2?5 E9:?8D E92E H6C6 8@:?8 @? :? @FC 23D6?46] xE ;FDE 3642>6 2 C62==J 4=@D6 7C:6?5D9:A[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$?6== =@G65 9:D 9@>6E@H? @7 $652=:2] p7E6C 96 8C25F2E65 7C@> $>:E9\r@EE@? :? `hbf[ 96 H@C<65 :? E96 4:C4F=2E:@? 56A2CE>6?E 2E E96 $652=:2 s6>@4C2E] w6 925 E96 A2A6C >2:=65 E@ 9:> H9:=6 96 H2D :? E96 D6CG:46] ~7E6? E:>6D[ 96’5 C646:G6 EH@ @C E9C66 2E 2 E:>6 3642FD6 E96J 925 2? p!~ ?F>36C]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 $652=:2 $49@@= s:DEC:4E a__ H63D:E6[ $?6== D6?E 2 A:4EFC6 @7 E96 us# 2?5 :ED 4C6H 9@>6 E@ %96 $652=:2 s6>@4C2E @? |2J `b[ `hcb[ H:E9 :?7@C>2E:@? E92E E96J 925 366? 3@>3:?8 pI:D E6CC:E@CJ :? tFC@A6[ ?2>6=J }2K: 96=5 724E@C:6D[ >F?:E:@? A=2?ED 2?5 @E96C @3;64E:G6D H:E9:? uC2?46]k^Am
kAm“%96 92C56DE A2CE H2D D6?5:?8 E96D6 8FJD @FE E@ 5:77:4F=E E2C86ED H96? H6 <?6H E96:C 492?46D @7 DFCG:G2= H6C6 ?@E E@@ 8C62E[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm~? |2J `c[ `hcb[ $?6== 2?5 E96 us# 4C6H H6C6 D6?E @? 2 3@>32C5>6?E >:DD:@? E@ z:6=[ v6C>2?J] %96 us# H2D =2DE D66? @? :ED C6EFC? EC:A E@ 32D6 8@:?8 5@H? :?E@ E96 }@CE9 $62] }@?6 @7 E96 >6? DFCG:G65]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E9:D E:>6[ E96 $652=:2 s6>@4C2E H2D DE:== 36:?8 56=:G6C65 2E |@=6DH@CE9]k^Am
kAm“(96? y24< H2D >:DD:?8 :? 24E:@?[ E96 ?6HDA2A6C 7C@> E96 $652=:2 s6>@4C2E 82G6 2? 244@F?E @7 E96 >:DD:@? 2?5 y24<’D >2:=:?8 =236= H2D C:89E @G6C E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 A:4EFC6] xE <:?5 @7 >256 J@FC D<:? 4C2H=[” (9:E6 D2:5] “x E9:?< C64@C5D E@52J H@F=5 D9@H E96J AC@323=J 5C@H?65 2E D62]”k^Am
kAm(9:E6 DE2J65 :? t?8=2?5 7@C EH@ >@C6 J62CD] w6 42>6 9@>6 :? yF?6 `hcd @? E96 "F66? t=:K236E9 x]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D ?@E 2 ;@J C:56[ 36=:6G6 >6] %96C6 H6C6 `g[___ vx’D @? "tx 4@>:?8 9@>6 7C@> t?8=2?5] $E2E6 C@@>D[ >256 E@ 244@>>@52E6 a E@ b A6@A=6[ 925 g E@ `_ A6@A=6 :? E96C6] %92E H2D ?@E 2 =FIFCJ EC:A[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$6G6?EJ J62CD =2E6C[ (9:E6 DE:== E9:?<D 23@FE $?6==] (96? 96 C6EFC?65 E@ $652=:2[ 96 EC:65 E@ 86E :? 4@?E24E H:E9 $?6==’D >@E96C 3FE 96 H2D?’E DF446DD7F=]k^Am
kAm“x ;FDE H2?E65 E@ C2A H:E9 96C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:E6 H:== 36 hc :? pAC:= 2?5 H2D C646?E=J E@=5 96 H2D E96 @?=J DFCG:G:?8 4=2DD>2E6 @7 E96 $>:E9E@? 4=2DD @7 `hbf]k^Am
kAm“xE 8:G6D >6 <:?5 @7 2 D:?<:?8 766=:?8] %96C6’D ?@ A=246 E@ 8@[ E96C6’D ?@ A=246 E@ 9:56[” 96 D2:5 2D 96 =2F8965] “x’> ;FDE 8=25 x H2D 2 A2CE @7 :E] x 766= AC:G:=6865 E@ DE:== 36 96C6]”k^Am