Descendants Corner Marcia Balmut Ward Preface …..As Marie Galetti Mitchell and I corresponded regarding her story in the Sq. J, I found myself reflecting on how I enjoy talking with and writing to our descendants. They are special people…people who realize the importance of what our 390th did during WWII. Allow me to quote from [...]
Descendants Corner Marcia Balmut Ward Spring is beginning to “spring out of this good earth” here in Ohio. Daffodils, crocus, and forsythia are beginning to bloom and the robins have finally determined that this is indeed Ohio…and winter is leaving the state. It is customary to include words written by descendants of 390th veterans in [...]
Winter, 2005-2006 Descendants Corner As another year begins and we look to a world situation that is anything but peaceful…I am reminded of my father’s efforts and all of yours to crush the “evil” that began World War II. Ever mindful of the heroes and heroines who have protected our country and our way of [...]
Descendants Corner by Marcia Balmut Ward Paul J. Caruso was a ball turret gunner and toggelier with the 571st Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group. He trained and flew with the Earl M Armstrong crew on the Mairzy Doats. On June 5, 1944, the day before D-Day, Caruso was ill and did not fly with [...]
Descendants Corner by Marcia Balmut Ward My Dad Was an Ordinary Man by Kristine Kozik My dad was ordinary. He enlisted, like so many other young men, on December 8, 1941. He proudly served overseas, returned to the States, got a job, got married, had a family, and retired. This may describe myriad other “ordinary” [...]
Spring, 2005 Descendants Corner The final entries from one of your own 390th soldier’s reflections…The first installation was in your last Square J….This soldier requested to remain anonymous…. England, August 31, 1943…..”This rhyme which I found in a London paper comes very near to explaining our loneliness away from home. ….’The night is calm and [...]
Winter, 2004-2005 Descendants Corner Many of you have stories you could share in the Descendant’s Corner if only you would take just a few moments and place pen to paper. One such person has done so and we are thankful! We will honor their wish to remain anonymous. When Tom Brokaw chose the title “The [...]
Descendants Corner by Marcia Balmut Ward Please permit me to share an article presented in my high school class last week……. “WHAT IS AN AMERICAN?….. You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a [...]
Descendants Corner by Marcia Balmut Ward Summer, 2004 Here in Ohio we are anticipating a long, hot summer…the 17 year cicadas have come and gone, Midsummer Night is behind us, and the lazy, hazy days of summer in rural Ohio are a welcome respite for many! Several of you have written to share how you [...]
Descendants Corner Spring, 2004 Stepping Back in Time Standing up here on the old control tower, the landscape changes, as time flows backwards. To a bygone era, where farmland becomes an airbase overflowing with servicemen. It is dawn’s early light, with a light wind blowing and clear skies. There is a flurry of activity on [...]
Descendants Corner Winter, 2003-2004 Blessed New Year 2004……what an exciting time as we see NASA’s Mars rover land on our neighboring planet!! We can actually view the terrain! It makes you wonder what this new space exploration will reveal. This is indeed a major “shot in the arm” for NASA!! The capture of Hussein and [...]
Descendants Corner Fall, 2003 How very thoughtful of Mrs. Catherine D. Bishop (daughter of Tsgt. Francis G. O’Connell – 390th Bomb Group, 570th Bomb Squadron) to continue to provide such wonderful articles for the Descendant’s Corner. We are indebted to her for her constancy but most importantly….. what respect and love exudes from her emails [...]
Descendants Corner Summer, 2003 Catherine D. Bishop’s father, TSgt Francis G. O’Connell flew with the 390th – 570th Bomb Squadron. Mrs. Bishop, MSgt USAF (retired), widow of Major Hal Bishop (fighter pilot), has certainly shared many, many interesting stories about her father and the 390th! You will reap this golden treasure as the months go [...]
Descendants Corner Spring, 2003 Spring is right around the corner here in Ohio! My father, Henry Balmut, was quite an accomplished gardener. This was the time of year he would be eagerly planning his garden…the potato rows, the onions, the carrots and radishes, strawberries, black raspberries. The fragrant smell of the earth is an incredible [...]
Descendants Corner Winter, 2002-2003 Cori Tennyson shared a wonderful message in her letter to the 390th Bomb Group Veteran’s Descendants in the Spring issue, 2002, of the Square J. I saved it and read it several times. It has prompted me to send this short but sincere message to all of you out there who [...]
Descendants Corner Fall, 2002 WITH THE VETERANS AT HARRISBURG I had the great privilege of attending the reunion in Harrisburg recently with my parents, Will and Sherrill Richarz. I had been to one in 1988, but this was my first reunion as a 390th Bomb Group Descendant. It is a truly amazing experience to just [...]
Descendants Corner Summer, 2002 Ever since I can remember my family would make the long journey to my Grandmother’s in Rhode Island for our annual Christmas reunion. We were often there prior to others living nearby. Slowly the place would fill up with adults and children of all ages. When Uncle John arrived he always [...]
Descendants Corner Spring, 2002 Dear Descendants of 390th Bomb Group Veterans: The Descendants Corner of the Square J Bulletin was designed to set aside space each quarter to hear from and about the descendants of our Veterans. When our editor, Andy Anzanos, received word from Leah Delaney that there was not going to be an [...]