Elmer Pankratz always wanted to fly, but in depression era America, that wasn’t going to happen for a small town boy of modest means. Then a funny twist happened, Uncle Sam came calling, and armed with a high school diploma, a fierce determination, and a love of flying, eighteen-year-old Elmer became a pilot. He wanted to fly the P-51 Mustang so badly that he took on the most dangerous assignments of flying tactical recon just to pilot his “aluminum sweetheart”……
My name is John Huffman, and I am a Vietnam Veteran. I was just 17 years old when I joined the 101st Airborne. My father served in the Army in WWII, and my uncle in Korea. Both men were purple heart recipients. I spent six years with the 101st, and seven years with the 82nd, both great units. I served in the Army from January 1966 until January 1986 with 120th Aviation, and 1 / 27th Infantry and retired as…..
• Why I was on the steps of City Hall yesterday Three Benefits Counselors Lost. In the first months of Mayor de Blasio’s administration, three veterans benefits counselors who had been working in the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA) were unable to continue their work because the City budget did not include funding to keep them. • A Year of Action Lost. Mayor de Blasio took 9 months to appoint a new Commissioner for MOVA, who then was given…..
My name is Terry Earthward Nichols, and I served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1991. I was on two ships in Norfolk, Virginia as well as a number of shore commands including Puerto Rico, Florida, Oregon, Main and Norfolk, Virginia. My capacity was job placement, marketing and administration as Chief Personnel man. This was a 20 year career for me, and I left as soon as I could. I was passed over for a promotion. But if I…..
My name is Dave Burt, and I am a Vietnam Veteran. I served with the 11th Cav from 1968 to 1970. I was a door gunner until November 1969, when I was transferred to I Troop and still part of the 11th Cav. I then became a Track Commander on a ACAV. On January 19, 1970, we were on patrol in the Quan Loi area. We were ambushed, and I was wounded by a RPG and sent to evacuation hospital…..
My grandson was Cpl. Anthony Robert Peterson who served with the 101st Airborne from 2004 to 2012. His father served in Korea in the Army and his Uncle in Vietnam. His Grandfather was in WW2 and an Aunt was a career Air Force Reserve retiree. His only and youngest brother is now in the Army at Ft Jackson, South Carolina and recently finished Basic Training. Anthony completed 2 tours in Samarra and Kirkuk between 2005 and 2007 and was honorably…..
My name is Robin M. Cathcart, and I am a Vietnam Veteran. Several members of my family served in the military with an uncle serving in a US Army Machine Gun Battalion in France during WW I and another uncle served as a US Army Infantryman in the Pacific Theater in WW II. My eldest half-brother served as WW II US Army Air Forces Technical Sergeant (E-6) and rated Aerial Gunner on a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber. My…..
My father and his brother went to war together in WWII. My father lost his brother in Italy. I’m a veteran also and was with Air Defense. I don’t like to focus on myself, but rather on the ones that never returned from war. My two sons, Blaine and Logan, were with the 101st 2nd/327inf. They deployed together to Afghanistan in the same unit. I lost my oldest son, Blaine in June of 2010. He was 22 only years old……
My name is Delmer Presley, and I am a Vietnam Veteran. I was born in July 1949 in Pilgrims Knob, Virginia. My father, William Hiter Presley, worked with the Virginia Department of Highways. My mother, Mary Lou (Tiney) Presley, was a housewife. I had 4 brothers and 5 sisters. Before entering the service, I was also employed with the Virginia Department of Transportation. My brother Earnest was with the U.S. Army during the Korea conflict and my brother Elden was…..
My dad, Leopold J. Martin, never spoke of his emotions or witnessing combat related casualties or destruction during WWII. He never talked about these subjects and only told us of “humorous” events. Dad’s greatest fear during his wartime experience was that his mother might receive a KIA (killed in action) letter. As far as him having any regrets for service, I don’t think so, as he re-enlisted. He believed in hard work, patriotism and doing things well. He was proud…..
