★ ★ National ★ ★

WWII MemorialVolume 6, Number 2 • A Newsletter of the World War II Memorial Society • Fall 2003

Message From theNationalChairman

Senator Bob Dole

Six months and counting — that’sall the time remaining before we

dedicate the long-awaited NationalWorld War II Memorial.

As you can see from the photobelow, the memorial is coming alongnicely. The pavilions and pillars arein place and inscriptions are beingcarved into the granite walls. Soon,the bronze sculpture artwork will bein place. Construction should becompleted on schedule in March.

We expect the memorial toopen to the public in April, a coupleof months before our formal dedi-cation celebration over MemorialDay weekend next year.

With four days of activitiesplanned for the official May 27-30celebration, and a summer of spe-cial programs and exhibits plannedin Washington, there will be muchfor members of the World War IIgeneration and their families toenjoy and reminisce over.

I encourage you to read theinformation in this newsletter care-fully. We have included details onthe main events, and instructionson how to obtain tickets for thededication ceremony and entertain-ment salute to WWII veterans.

Members of the WWII generationwill have priority, but seating inthese two event venues is limited sothe sooner you get your orders inthe better chance you have of get-ting a seat.

For those of you who can’t cometo the National Mall next May, weare working to make the ceremoniesavailable for viewing in your homesand communities. We want this tobe a national celebration of thememorial and the sacrifice andachievement it commemorates.

We cannot thank you enoughfor all that you have done to get us tothis point. To my WWII comrades Isay, hang in there, it’s almost here.

God bless you, and God blessAmerica.

The completedsouth pavilionand pillarssweep towardthe WashingtonMonument.Photo byRichard Latoff.

2 • World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003

From May 1942 to July 1945, theEighth Air Force planned and execut-ed America’s daylight strategic bomb-ing campaign, and in doing so com-piled an impressive record that car-ried a high price. The Eighth suffered40 percent of the Army Air Force’scasualties (47,483 out of 115,332),including more than 26,000 dead.The following article, excerpted herecourtesy of TechCentralStation,describes the remarkable experience ofone B-17 pilot and his crew.

T hey laid the remains of GlennRojohn to rest in the Peace

Lutheran Cemetery in the littletown of Greenock, Pa., just south-east of Pittsburgh. He was 81, andhad been in the air conditioning andplumbing business in nearby McK-eesport. If you had seen him on thestreet he would probably havelooked to you like so many othergraying, bespectacled old WorldWar II veterans whose names appearso often now on obituary pages.

But like so many of them,though he seldom talked about it,he could have told you one hell of astory. He won the DistinguishedFlying Cross and the Purple Heartall in one fell swoop in the skies overGermany on Dec. 31, 1944.

Fell swoop indeed.Capt. Glenn Rojohn, of the 8th

Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group, wasflying his B-17G Flying Fortressbomber on a raid over Hamburg.His formation had braved heavyflak to drop their bombs, thenturned 180 degrees to head out overthe North Sea.

They had finally turned north-west, headed back to England,

when they were jumped by Germanfighters at 22,000 feet. The Messer-schmitt Me-109s pressed theirattack so closely that Capt. Rojohncould see the faces of the Germanpilots.

He and other pilots fought toremain in formation so they coulduse each other’s guns to defend thegroup. Rojohn saw a B-17 ahead ofhim burst into flames and slide sick-eningly toward the earth. Hegunned his ship forward to fill inthe gap.

He felt a huge impact. Thebig bomber shuddered, felt sudden-ly very heavy and began losing alti-tude. A B-17 below him, piloted byLt. William G. McNab, hadslammed the top of its fuselage into

the bottom of Rojohn’s. The topturret gun of McNab’s plane wasnow locked in the belly of Rojohn’splane and the ball turret in the bellyof Rojohn’s had smashed throughthe top of McNab’s.

The two bombers were almostperfectly aligned—the tail of thelower plane was slightly to the leftof Rojohn’s tailpiece. They werestuck together, as a crewman laterrecalled, “like mating dragon flies.”

No one will ever know exactlyhow it happened. Perhaps bothpilots had moved instinctively to fillthe same gap in formation. PerhapsMcNab’s plane had hit an air pocket.

Three of the engines on the bot-tom plane were still running, as wereall four of Rojohn’s. The fourthengine on the lower bomber was onfire and the flames were spreading tothe rest of the aircraft. The two werelosing altitude quickly. Rojohn triedseveral times to gun his engines andbreak free of the other plane. Thetwo were inextricably locked togeth-er. Fearing a fire, Rojohn cut hisengines and rang the bailout bell. Ifhis crew had any chance of para-chuting, he had to keep the planeunder control somehow.

Capt. Rojohn and his co-pilot,2nd Lt. William G. Leek, Jr.,propped their feet against theinstrument panel so they could pullback on their controls with all theirstrength, trying to prevent theirplane from going into a spinningdive that would prevent the crewfrom jumping out.

Capt. Rojohn motioned left andthe two managed to wheel the

See Piggyback Hero, p.9

Chronicles of War

PIGGYBACK HERO by Ralph Kinney Bennett

Capt. Glenn Rojohn (left) and Lt.William Leek in 1943. Photo courtesyof the Rojohn family.

World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003 • 3

Event Planning Continues

The four-day Tribute to a Gener-ation dedication celebration

planned by the American BattleMonuments Commission continuesto take shape. The calendar ofevents, highlighted by the memori-al’s formal dedication ceremony onSaturday, May 29, will run overMemorial Day weekend 2004 fromMay 27 through May 30.

Events will celebrate the memo-rial and its placement on theNational Mall. They will also paytribute to the service and sacrifice ofAmerica’s World War II generation,many of whom are now makingplans to be in Washington to seetheir memorial dedicated.

The Tribute to a Generation willappeal to a wide variety of interests,with the WWII generation beingthe central focus for each. Activitiesinclude wartime reminiscences,reunions, big band and swing music,WWII memorabilia and equipmentdisplays, a religious service, militaryceremonial units, and educationalopportunities for all ages.

Dedication

The memorial will be dedicatedon Saturday afternoon, May 29, at2 p.m. Gates will open at 11 a.m.

Two hours of lively pre-ceremo-ny entertainment beginning atnoon will take attendees back to thewartime era through music, videoimages, newsreel clips, and reminis-cences of the time. Big band andswing music will be highlightedalong with a patriotic finale. Musi-cal groups from the armed forceswill entertain.

The dignified dedication thatfollows will recognize the importantaddition of the memorial to theNational Mall and pay tribute tothe service and sacrifice of theWWII generation. President Bushhas been invited to receive thememorial on behalf of the nation.Other dignitaries, including ourmemorial campaign national chair-man, former Senator Bob Dole, willparticipate in the ceremony.

There is strong, nationwideinterest in attending the dedicationceremony, particularly by membersof the WWII generation. We expecttens of thousands of those who livedand served during the war to attendwith their family members. A tick-eting system will be used to givepriority to members of the WWIIgeneration and to provide as muchseating as possible for those whomthe memorial honors (see page 4).

An order form for tickets isenclosed.

WWII Reunion

A National World War IIReunion will be produced by theSmithsonian Institution in partner-ship with ABMC. This open-air,tented activity will be open daily,Thursday through Sunday, May 27-30, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A central area where all mem-bers of the WWII generation cangather and reunite is planned. Visi-tors will be able to listen to oral his-tories and learn how they are devel-oped. There will be historical andcultural activities for children, andWWII equipment will be on dis-play. Throughout the four days,there will be performances of 1940’smusic and entertainment.

The reunion will be staged on

The memorial as it will be seen from the west with the Washington Monument andCapitol in the background. Rendering by Joe McKendry.

TRIBUTE TO A GENERATIONDEDICATION CELEBRATION ★ MAY 27-30, 2004

See Reunion, p.5

4 • World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003

A s the countdown continues to the much-anticipat-ed and long-overdue dedication of the World War

II Memorial, Washington, D.C. and the Capital Region’shospitality and cultural communities are preparing toroll out the red carpet to honor the Greatest Generation.

A cultural celebration entitled “America Celebratesthe Greatest Generation” will take place throughout thesummer of 2004, launching over Memorial Day week-end and continuing through Labor Day.

Produced by The American Experience Foundationand organized by the Washington, D.C. Convention &Tourism Corporation (WCTC), Cultural Tourism D.C.,and regional cultural institutions and destination market-ing organizations, the celebration is designed to honor themilitary and home front contributions of the generation.

“America Celebrates the Greatest Generation” willinclude dozens of themed exhibits, walking tours, per-formances, programs, restaurant experiences and hotelpackages. Some institutions planning exciting program-ming include the National Museum of American History,the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the National Museum of

Health and Medicine, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. For more information about the regional celebration

plans, visit the WCTC web site at www.washington.orgor call toll free to 1-800-422-8644, ext. 1945.

Washington, D.C. and Capital Region To Honor the Greatest Generation

Norman Rockwell’s The Four Freedoms will be on view at theCorcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. © NormanRockwell Family Agency. Photo courtesy of the NormanRockwell Museum at Stockbridge.

T ickets for the “Tribute to aGeneration” dedication cele-

brations may be ordered now usingthe enclosed order form.

Tickets are required for the offi-cial Dedication Ceremony on Satur-day, May 29th, 2004, and for per-formances of the Salute to WWII Vet-erans at the MCI Center on Fridayand Saturday, May 28th and 29th.

Tickets are free of charge, butwill be distributed on a first come -first served basis. We expect ticketdemand to exceed available seating.

If you and your family want toattend these historic events, it isimportant that you request ticketsimmediately.

Please carefully review theenclosed order form and order yourtickets by: • Mailing the enclosed order form

to the address on the form; or• Registering online at www.wwii-

Order Your Event Tickets Now!memorial.com.

We hope to accommodate allwho want to attend the ceremonyand salute, but WWII generationmembers will be given priority sothat as many of them as possible mayattend these events held in theirhonor. We will have designated seat-ing for individuals using wheelchairs.

Dedication Ceremony Three primary seating areas on

the National Mall will be ticketed,only one of which has a view of themain stage. Attendees in the othertwo seating areas will view the cere-mony on large outdoor screens.

Up to three tickets for seating inthe area of the main stage may beordered for each WWII generationmember: one for the WWII honoreeand two guests. Additional guest tick-ets may be requested, but these guestswill be seated where space is available.

We recognize the inconvenience

of splitting families. Our priority,however, is to honor the WWII gen-eration by placing as many of themas possible in the area of the mainstage. Families of four or more maychoose to be seated together, but wecannot guarantee the seats will be inthe area of the main stage.

Ticket orders that do notinclude a WWII honoree will befulfilled where space is available.

Salute to WWII VeteransPlease indicate on the order form

which guests want to attend theSalute to WWII Veterans. There arethree performances. Be sure to specifywhich performance you wish to see.

Remember, all ticket assign-ments will be made on a first come– first served basis. A confirmationof your ticket allocation will be sentby mail or e-mail.

Please review the enclosed orderform carefully, discuss your planswith your family, and place yourorders now!

World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003 • 5

the National Mall from 3rd to 7thStreet, NW, between the Smithson-ian’s Air & Space Museum and theNational Gallery of Art.

Salute to WWII Veterans

The armed forces ceremonialand musical units stationed in Wash-ington, D.C. will stage an entertain-ment salute to all WWII veterans.This narrative and musical tributewill be performed by talented mem-bers of the Army, Navy, MarineCorps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Be prepared to experience againscenes of service and sacrifice of themen and women who preserved free-dom during the war, along with stir-ring music and military precision.

The two-hour performanceswill be held at the MCI Center, a

large indoor arena in downtownWashington, D.C. Tickets are avail-able for three shows: Friday, May28, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sat-urday, May 29, at 7 p.m. The MCICenter is accessible via Metro, andis surrounded by a variety of diningestablishments.

Tickets to the performancesmay be requested on the enclosedorder form.

Memorial Service

An interfaith service is sched-uled for Saturday, May 29, at 10a.m. at the Washington NationalCathedral. This service will celebratethe dedication of the memorial andremember those who made the ulti-mate sacrifice in World War II.

Military and civilian clergy, aswell as WWII dignitaries, areexpected to participate in the serv-

ice at the cathedral known as ANational House of Prayer for all People.

Seating space in the cathedral isextremely limited, so attendancewill be controlled. We are workingto establish alternate sites in theWashington area at which the manywho want to experience the memo-rial service can view a simulcast ofthe program.

Information Updates

As we get closer to the dedica-tion date, the latest information onthe Tribute to a Generation dedica-tion events will be posted on thememorial web site at www.wwi-imemorial.com and available fromour toll free number at 1-800-639-4992.

We continue to hear frommemorial supporters who are mak-ing plans to attend the dedicationevents, particularly members of theWWII generation. Large crowds areexpected, so all attending should beready for long lines, unpredictableweather, and inconveniences thatcould arise. The ABMC staff isworking to meet the special needs ofour WWII generation guests.

Many members of the WWIIgeneration will not be able to makethe trip to Washington for the ded-ication. ABMC encourages organi-zations and communities to sched-ule local events and activities thatpay tribute to the generation dur-ing the dedication celebration peri-od, and include a simulcast viewingof the National Mall ceremonies.

Washington National Cathedral

Washington, D.C. is one ofthe most accessible cities in

the world for persons with disabili-ties. When booking a hotel room,be specific when communicating

your special needs. The more infor-mation you provide, the better thehotel staff will be able to serve you.

ABMC has received guidanceon special needs from Access Infor-

mation, Inc., an excellent source ofdisability-related information. Theycan be contacted by calling (301)528-8664 or visiting their websiteat www.disabilityguide.org.

ACCESSIBILITY

Reunion, continued from p.3

6 • World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003

Reunions and Tour Groups Growing

Since our last newsletter, we havebeen contacted by many

reunion and tour groups planningtrips to Washington, D.C. for thededication celebrations.

If you haven’t contacted us yetand you are a tour director planninga trip for members of the WWIIgeneration; a WWII reunion groupholding an annual conference dur-ing the dedication period; or con-sidering contacting a company toorganize a tour, there is importantinformation you need to know tofacilitate your planning.

Tour buses will not be allowednear the memorial site on Saturday,May 29, 2004. Because of limitedspace, traffic congestion, and the

volume of buses and large crowdsexpected, we will direct tour busesto one of several staging areas. Shut-tle buses will run from the stagingareas and downtown metro stationsto the memorial site.

All tour and reunion organizersof groups of 25 or more should con-tact Betty Hemby as soon as possiblevia email to hembyb@wwiimemori-al.com or fax to 703-588-1560. Shewill provide a tour packet that con-tains information on Metro, trafficwebsites, brochures, motor coachparking, frequently asked questions,and other information to plan yourgroup travel to Washington.

Once you review the packetmaterials, please complete the regis-

tration form and return it so busstaging assignments can be madeand your group’s ticket request canbe processed. Tickets will be mailedto the group’s main point of contactonce we confirm the registrationinformation.

Our objective is to help yourgroup plan a smooth and memorablevisit to Washington and the Nation-al WWII Memorial dedication.

We look forward to hearingfrom you.

The WWII Registry is nowaccessible on the memorial web

site at www.wwiimemorial.com.At a time when fewer than one

in ten adults recognize that 16 mil-lion Americans served in uniformduring the Second World War, theAmerican Battle Monuments Com-mission encourages all members ofthe WWII generation to enroll inthe Registry. Any American thatserved in the armed forces or con-tributed to the war effort on thehome front, whether in factoriesand shipyards or farms and neigh-borhoods, is eligible.

There is no charge to place aname in the Registry. Individualscan be enrolled through the web siteor by calling the memorial’s toll freenumber at 1-800-639-4992. TheRegistry contains more than 1.3million records, most submitted bythe public. ABMC has been com-piling names for several years, but

WWII Registry Up and Runninghas only scratched the surface of thedatabase potential.

The database also includesNational Archives and RecordsAdministration lists of those killedin service during the war, andnames of those buried in ABMCWWII overseas cemeteries or listedon its Tablets of the Missing.

Of 1,002 U.S. adults respond-ing to a phone survey last May, 22percent believed that only 100,000served in uniform during the war,34 percent thought one millionserved, 14 percent thought 8 mil-lion served, just 8 percent correctlystated 16 million, and 22 percentdidn’t know.

If you haven’t yet enrolledyourself or an eligible family mem-ber in the Registry, do so now. TheRegistry will be accessible from thememorial site on the NationalMall when the memorial opens tothe public.

Questions? Contact Customer Service at 1-800-639-4992

WWII MemorialMerchandise Online!www.wwiimemorial.com

Go to the WWII Memorial Web site www.wwiimemorial.com and click

the link to the Memorial E-Store!

• Great for giftideas for activeor retiredmilitary.

THE NATIONALWORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

2004 Calendar

TRIBUTE TO A GENERATION

THE NATIONALWORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

2004 Calendar

World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003 • 7

Booking Hotels for the Dedication Weekend

Washington, D.C.www.washington.orgWashington D.C. Convention & TourismCorporation1212 New York Avenue, NW, Suite #600Washington, DC 20005

Toll Free: 800-422-8644, ext. 1945Phone: 202-789-7000

Alexandria, Va.www.funside.comAlexandria Convention & VisitorsAssociation421 King Street, Suite 300Alexandria, VA 22314

Toll Free: 800-388-9119 • Phone: 703-838-4200

Arlington County, Va.www.stayarlington.comArlington Convention & Visitors Service1100 North Glebe Road, Suite 500Arlington, VA 22201

Toll free: 800-677-6267 • Phone: 703-228-5720

Fairfax County, Va.

www.visitfairfax.orgFairfax County Convention & Visitors Bureau8300 Boone Blvd., Suite 450Vienna, VA 22182Toll Free: 800-732-4732 • Phone: 703-790-3329

Frederick County, Md.

www.fredericktourism.orgTourism Council of Frederick County 19 East Church StreetFrederick, MD 21701Toll Free: 800-999-3613 • Phone: 301-644-4045

Loudoun County, Va.www.visitloudoun.orgLoudoun Convention & VisitorsAssociation222 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Suite 100Leesburg, VA 20175

Toll Free: 800-752-6118 • Phone: 703-771-2617

Montgomery County, Md.www.visitmontgomery.comMontgomery County Conference &Visitors Bureau11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 380Rockville, MD 20852

Toll Free Groups: 877-789-6904, ext. 3Toll Free Individuals: 800-925-0880/301-916-0698Phone: 301-428-9702, ext.3

Prince George’s County, Md.www.visitprincegeorges.comPrince George’s County Conference &Visitors Bureau9200 Basil Court, Suite 101Largo, MD 20774

Toll Free: 888-925-8300 • Phone: 301-925-8300

The National Capital Region iscomprised of the District of

Columbia and several counties, orjurisdictions, outside the District.Each jurisdiction offers a wide vari-ety of cultural, historical and recre-ational attractions—as well as finehotels and restaurants.

Washington, D.C. is easilyaccessible from most jurisdictionsvia public transportation. To obtaina Visitors Guide with detailed infor-mation, contact any or all of theVisitors Bureaus listed below.

Hotels in the National CapitalRegion are rapidly filling for Dedi-

cation Weekend. To reserve a room:• Contact your local travel agent.• Phone the toll-free number of

your favorite hotel chain.• Check an on-line travel service.• Check with organizations and

associations of which you are amember to see if you are eligiblefor special hotel (and airline)rates.

• Identify an area and hotel youwish to stay in and phone thehotel directly. Be sure to tell thereservations operator that you areattending the memorial dedica-tion and ask to receive any special

rate the hotel is offering. If youare a WWII generation member,senior discounts also may beavailable.

Depending on how you bookyour reservation, rates for the samehotel room may vary significantly.It is always best to check a fewsources to secure the best rate. Besure to get a confirmation numberor ask that a written confirmationbe mailed to you.

The following jurisdictions arelooking forward to welcomingmembers of the World War II gen-eration, their families and friends:

At the heart of our Nation's Capital

8 • World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003

Mass Transit Recommended

The use of mass transit providedby the Washington Area Met-

ropolitan Transit Authority (Metro)will be the key to successfully mov-ing between event venues duringthe dedication celebrations.

Metro

The American Battle Monu-ments Commission realizes thatmany seniors have not ridden a sub-way with walkers and wheelchairs.Metro officials also are sensitive tothe needs of senior citizens withlimited mobility and persons withdisabilities.

The audience attending thememorial dedication events couldbe similar in volume experienced byMetro over a 4th of July holiday,but the audience profile will be dif-ferent. A large contingent of thoseattending the dedication will be 75years of age or older. For many, thiswill be the first experience riding asubway in a major metropolitanarea.

Metro personnel will scheduleadditional transit supervisors towork alongside WWII Memorialvolunteers. All will be trained andsensitive to the needs of senior citi-zens and those with disabilities.Assistance will be provided on thesubway platforms, at fare cardmachines, and at elevator and esca-lator entrances and exits.

A brochure titled “Metro Wel-comes People with Disabilities” isavailable by calling Metro at (202)962-1100. Please address any Metroconcerns or questions through thisnumber.

Metro also offers free guides toits bus and rail system. For copies,call (202) 637-7000 or visit theirweb sites at www.wmata.com orwww.metroopensdoors.com.

We strongly recommend usingthe Metro system and shuttles forall of your transportation needswhile in Washington, D.C.

Auto

Many people will travel to thededication events by automobile.Parking will not be available nearthe dedication site. Public parkingat Metro stations is free on week-ends. If metro parking becomes full,additional satellite parking lots nearMetro stations are available.

Parking in the District ofColumbia is extremely limited and

restricted during rush hours andsome weekend hours. Special eventssuch as dedication often requireroad closures and increased trafficgridlock. If your vehicle is towedFriday after 7 p.m. or anytime onweekends, you won’t be able toretrieve it until Tuesday after 9 a.m.

If you plan to stay with relativesor friends in the Washington area,you may need them to obtain a vis-itor parking permit for their neigh-borhood. Permits must be requestedby residents in Washington, D.C.,Silver Spring, Md., Arlington, Va.,and Alexandria, Va.

Red Line • Glenmont/Shady Grove

Orange Line • New Carrollton/Vienna

Blue Line • Addison Road/Franconia-Springfield

Green Line • Branch Avenue/Greenbelt

Yellow Line • Huntington/Mt Vernon Sq-UDC

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Map of the Washington, D.C. Metrorail system. The Smithsonian station, circled inred, is located on the National Mall.

World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003 • 9

grotesque, collision-born hybrid of aplane back toward the German coast.

Rojohn, immediately graspingthat the crew could not exit fromthe bottom of his plane, ordered histop turret gunner and his radiooperator, Tech. Sgts. Orville Elkinand Edward G. Neuhaus, to maketheir way to the back of the fuselageand out the waist door behind theleft wing.

Then he got his navigator, 2ndLt. Robert Washington, and hisbombardier, Sgt. James Shirley tofollow them. As Rojohn and Leeksomehow held the plane steady,these four men, as well as waist gun-ner Sgt. Roy Little and tail gunnerStaff Sgt. Francis Chase, were ableto bail out.

Now the plane locked belowthem was aflame. Fire poured overRojohn’s left wing. He could feelthe heat from the plane below andhear the sound of .50 calibermachinegun ammunition “cookingoff” in the flames.

Capt. Rojohn ordered Lt. Leekto bail out. Leek knew that withouthim helping keep the controls back,the plane would drop in a flamingspiral and the centrifugal forcewould prevent Rojohn from bailing.He refused that order.

Suspended in his parachute inthe cold December sky, Bob Wash-ington watched with deadly fascina-tion as the mated bombers, trailingblack smoke fell to earth aboutthree miles away, their downwardtrip ending in an ugly boiling blos-som of fire.

In the cockpit, Rojohn andLeek held grimly to the controls try-ing to ride a falling rock. Leek terse-ly recalled, “The ground came upfaster and faster. Praying wasallowed. We gave it one last effort

and slammed in the ground.”The McNab plane on the bot-

tom exploded, vaulting the other B-17 upward and forward. It hit theground and slid along until its leftwing slammed through a woodenbuilding and the smoldering massof aluminum came to a stop.

Rojohn and Leek were still seat-ed in their cockpit. The nose of theplane was relatively intact, buteverything from the B-17’s massivewings back was destroyed. Theylooked at each other incredulously.Neither was badly injured.

Movies have nothing on reality.Still perhaps in shock, Leek crawledout through a huge hole behind thecockpit, felt for the familiar pack inhis uniform pocket and pulled out acigarette. He placed it in his mouthand was about to light it. Then henoticed a young German soldierpointing a rifle at him. The soldierlooked scared and annoyed. Hegrabbed the cigarette out of Leek’smouth and pointed down to thegasoline pouring out over the wing

Piggyback Hero, continued from p.2 from a ruptured fuel tank.Two of the six men who para-

chuted from Rojohn’s plane did notsurvive the jump. But the other fourand, amazingly, four men from theother bomber survived. All weretaken prisoner.

Rojohn, typically, didn’t talkmuch about his Distinguished Fly-ing Cross. Of Leek, he said, “In allfairness to my co-pilot, he’s the rea-son I’m alive today.”

Like so many veterans, Rojohngot back to life unsentimentallyafter the war, marrying and raising ason and daughter. For many years,though, he tried to link back upwith Leek, going through govern-ment records to try to track himdown. It took him 40 years, but in1986, he found the number ofLeek’s mother, in Washington State.

Yes, her son Bill was visitingfrom California. Would Rojohn liketo speak with him? Two old men ona phone line, trying to pick up some

Rojohn’s original crew. Standing (l-r) George Hogue, Bernard Jurist, William Leek,Glenn Rojohn. Kneeling (l-r) Herman Horencamp, Orville Elkin, Edward Neuhaus,Joseph Russo, Roy Little. Photo courtesy of the Rojohn family.

See Rojohn, p.11

10 • World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003

MAIL CALLPURPLE HEART

I enjoyed the article “A PurpleHeart” by Dwayne Wilder. I alsoam named after my uncle whoreceived a Purple Heart. I am proudthat it has been entrusted to me. Ithas a special place in my home, andeach time I look at it I am remind-ed of all the sacrifices that havemade this country free.

My uncle, 2nd Lt. HowardQuentin Daniel was the bom-bardier on a B-24D named theDirty Gertie. He was assigned tothe 319th Bomb Sqd, 90th Group,5th Division flying missions in theSouth Pacific. Their plane explodedin flight on a mission on March 16,1943. The entire crew was killed inaction. People often ask why I wasnamed Quentin, and I am proud totell them why.

God bless all veterans and thankyou for your sacrifices.

Quentin GalbraithSpringdale, Ark.

THANKS

It is truly amazing in this dayand age to receive mail that does notcontain a donation form. It is grati-fying to know that this monumenthas generated support to such adegree that contributions are nolonger needed.

It is high time America stood upand recognized the sacrifices of“The Greatest Generation.”Although I was a young boy duringWWII, I was old enough to knowthat the young men in my neigh-borhood were going off to fight awar in order to keep me free. As aresult, when I became 18 in 1951, Isaw fit to enlist in the U.S. Armyduring the Korean War.

May our country never forget thecourage and sacrifice of the men andwomen of WWII, and may it be aninspiration for generations to come.

Ronald J. DakinSpring Hill, Fla.

My father served in the Aleu-tians and in Europe; my father-in-law served in Europe; and my uncleserved in the South Pacific. Thanksto them and to all who served in thecause of freedom. God bless you.

Rachel A. LowersWyoming, Mich.

RECORDS SEARCH

I am writing regarding a letterthat appeared in the summer 2003issue. It is not unusual for a responsefrom the National PersonnelRecords Center to take a year ormore. In my case it took 13 months.

Chances are that records thereexist only partially, if at all, becauseon July 12, 1973, a fire at the Cen-ter destroyed a major portion of theArmy records from 1912 through1959. In any event, a reply toinquiries should be received. UseStandard Form 180, “Request Per-taining to Military Records,” whichcan be obtained from local or coun-ty veterans’ affairs offices.

Many divisions and regimentsthat served in WWII have historiansoverseeing their own archives, includ-ing copies of Morning Reports. If anindividual’s company, regiment ordivision is known, try contactingthem. Some even maintain web sitesthat facilitate communications.

I hope this information is helpful.

Dick ClairMorris Township, N.J.

SEEKING INFO

In WWII, my brother, VernonHass, was killed on July 26, 1944,in the battle of St. Lo in France. Iwould like to locate men he mayhave fought beside. He fought inthe 117th Infantry, 30th Division.Please contact me. (11800 WestBluff Road, Malcolm, NE 68402)

Oris HassMalcolm, Neb.

I want to get in contact with any-one who served in the 8th Air Force,392nd Bomb Gp, 577th Sq. Weserved from 1942 through 1945 atthe Wendly Air Base, Wendly, Eng-land, east of Norich. I wonder if anyare alive. Our crew chief, Carmen(nose) Nora and wife are deceased. Ihope my friend Mike Cushnir (Russ-ian), my friend and confidant, will beat the memorial dedication.

I also would like to hear from adear Blackpool friend, Carol Ashley,and her friend Penny. I think Carol,my almost wife, immigrated to NewJersey after the war and married aG.I. of Armenian descent.

Thank you for your efforts.(2601 Falcon Court, Union City,CA 94587)

Regge MinnitteUnion City, Calif.

My father, Damon P. Heyer, Jr.,served in WWII. He was a Tech.4th Grade, 88th Cavalry Recon-naissance Sq. His nickname was“Sad Sack.” He was inducted intothe army at Ft. Dix, N.J. and thenwent to Fort Knox and Camp Polkbefore being shipped out to Ger-many. Some of the friends he spokeabout were Slocum, Hansen,

See Letters, p.11

World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003 • 11

Letters, continued from p.10

Rojohn, continued from p.9

Gould, Hood, Bill Haley, Capt.Gales, Capt. Kelly, Sgt. Futtrell; hiscommanding officer at one pointwas Joe Medwicks, who he saidplayed ball for Brooklyn.

My dad, now deceased, wasextremely proud of his service yearsand served well, earning many rib-bons and medals. I am in theprocess of composing a book fromthe love letters that he wrote to mymom from 1942-45. Anyone whohas any remembrance of him, pleasewrite to me. Thank you. (99 VillageGreen Way, Hazlet, NJ 07730, orkheyer1448@aol.com).

Karen HeyerHazlet, N.J.

I am hoping to find anyonewho might have served in WWIIwith my dad, Leland J. Kammerud,from Darlington, Wis. He was inCo. F, 274th Regiment, 70thInfantry Division. I know he was inthe Battle of the Bulge. Other thanthat I know nothing else. He neverspoke to us about any of it, andbecause he is gone we’ve lost all pos-sibility of finding out.

Thank you. (937 Arthur St.,Darlington, WI 53530, ordmarhee@mhtc.net)

Donna MarheeDarlington, Wis.

My brother, Master T-Sgt Tru-man A. Grandy, USMC, wasaboard the carrier USS Franklin

when it was bombed on Mar. 19,1945, near Okinawa. He was miss-ing in action for a year and thendeclared dead. If any of your readerswere on the Franklin or wereacquainted with him, I would likevery much to hear from them.(2035 Starlight Drive, Salina, KS67401, or LADDSDLS@aol.com)

Dorothy L. ShottenkirkSalina, Kan.

Any members of LST 693,which served in the South Pacificand Philippines, who are planningto attend the dedication of theWWII Memorial, please contactme. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to

See Letters, p.12

Hooray for the WWII Memorial Newsletter.It has rekindled hope that my quest for informa-tion concerning my dear husband, Robert E.Ramsey, RDM 2/C, deceased, may yet be realized.

Petty Officer Ramsey served aboard the USSWalker, DD517, during her extended tour of dutyin the South Pacific in 1943-44. His militaryrecords are unavailable, and I need documentedproof of his heroism aboard ship.

Hope one of the old Radar Gang or other bud-dies will read this. It would mean so much to me.(Send information to: 14336 Anola Street, Whitti-er, CA 90604-1727)

Charlotte B. RamseyWhittier, Calif.

familiar timbre of youth in eachother’s voice. One can imagine thatfirst conversation between the twomen who had shared that wild ridein the cockpit of a B-17.

A year later, the two were re-united at a reunion of the 100thBomb Group in Long Beach, Calif.Bill Leek died the following year.

Glenn Rojohn was the last sur-vivor of the remarkable piggybackflight. He was like thousands uponthousands of men—soda jerks andlumberjacks, teachers and dentists,students and lawyers and servicestation attendants and store clerksand farm boys—who in the primeof their lives went to war in WorldWar II. They sometimes did incred-ible things, endured awful things,

and for the most part most of thempretty much kept it to themselvesand just faded back into the fabricof civilian life.

Capt. Glenn Rojohn, AAF, diedafter a long siege of illness. But heapparently faced that final battlewith the same grim aplomb he dis-played that remarkable day overGermany so long ago. Let us bethankful for such men.

Four buddies aboard the USS Walker somewhere in the SouthPacific. Petty Officer Robert Ramsey is second from left. Photocourtesy of Charlotte Ramsey.

12 • World War II Memorial Newsletter, Fall 2003

have a reunion? (327 West 5th St.,Beach Haven, NJ 08008)

Joseph L. DunkerlyBeach Haven, N.J.

My father, Sydney Jack Bern-stein, served in the 220th OrdnanceArmored and Combat VehicleRepair Co. and was killed in Franceon Feb. 4, 1945. If any of you haveany information about his unit orhim individually, I would be verygrateful to hear from you. Thankyou. (401 East Pratt Street, Suite800, Baltimore, MD 21202, orsteinchar@yahoo.com)

Charles G. BernsteinBaltimore, Md.

My grandfather, DonaldMcDonald, served in WWII with

the 362nd Infantry, 91st Division.He was killed in action on July 14,1944 in Florence, Italy. Anyonewho served with him and whomight remember anything abouthim, please contact me. It will begreatly appreciated. (P.O. Box 203,Markleeville, CA 96120)

Donald A. Skinner, Jr.Markleeville, Calif.

The USS Spence, DD 512, waslost in the December 1944 typhoonin which the Navy lost three shipsand 790 seamen in one of the Navy’smost disastrous encounters ever.

I am seeking the currentaddresses of former crewmen of theSpence, or the surviving familymembers, so I may send them a freedocument describing the warship’scelebrated war actions in 1943 and

1944. (508A Heritage Village,Southbury, CT 06488, or grac-eras@earthlink.net)

Dick StrandSouthbury, Conn.

I was just three years old whenmy grandfather, George J. Mahlin,passed away. The only thing Iremember about him was playing athis feet while he sat in his favoritechair. I always knew that he hadserved in a war, but never knew muchabout it until I was much older. I’veheard numerous stories about mygrandpa from my mom and uncles,but I want to learn more about him.

My grandfather was in the Navyand stationed on the USS Pocomokeas a cook. He was promoted to 2ndclass in October 1944. He was fromSt. Louis, Mo. If you have any infor-mation or knew my grandpa, pleasecontact me. I would love to hear anykind of story you might have abouthim. Thank you so much. (1899Fox Pointe Dr., Arnold, MO 63010,or KUJHawks413@hotmail.com)

Renee BryanArnold, Mo.

I hope that no one forgets theultimate sacrifice made by so manyof our loved ones during WWII. 1stLt. Royal G. Madden was killed in afighter crash in France on Aug. 18,1944. He was a member of the485th Fighter Sq., 370th FighterGp. He was only 21 years old. Hisparents were devastated, but proudthat their son had served his coun-try so valiantly.

I am sorry that I did not knowhim very well (I am his stepmother’sniece), but I have inherited some ofhis possessions along with picturesand memorabilia. If anyone remem-bers Royal, please contact me.(1125 Miramar Ave., Jacksonville,FL 32207, or BFEjax1@aol.com)

Betty J. EvansJacksonville, Fla.

Letters, continued from p.11

NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MEMORIALAmerican Battle Monuments CommissionP.O. Box 96766 • Washington, D.C. 20090-67661-800-639-4WW2 • www.wwiimemorial.com

The Freedom Wall and Field of Gold Stars honor the 400,000 Americans who losttheir lives during World War II. Rendering by Joe McKendry.