My husband's father, Will Chard, flew at the end of WWII and through Korea. He flew the following planes:
Hellcats
Wildcats
Bearcats
Corsairs
Banshees
I haven't meant to ignore him. It's just that I get so involved in my dad's stuff. Someday I promise to scan in some of his photos, etc. and share them with all of you. He flew from aircraft carriers. That is always impressive to me.
I still have one of his jackets that he so kindly gave to me a few years before his death. He knew I would appreciate it. He got that straight!
Click on the link below to download a copy of the 540th Combat Engineer Interview Questions. I am using the questions as an aid in the writing of a comprehensive history of this great unit.
Please fill out as much info as you can and mail the answers back to me. You will find my mailing address on the Contact Page on this site.
All we haerd was " On to Berlin" Patton Blieved that was what the US Army would do.
Once the army was in Germany the following Happened.
7th Army was ordered to sweep across southern Germany to the Austrian Border.
The Central armies stopped at the Elbe
Eisenhower twxed Stalin that the US Army would not enter Berlin.Stalin would have this honor.
When IKe thought the brits may not stop the Russsian from moving north into Denmark, The 101st and 82nd A/B was sent in to block the northern route into Denmark!
IKe knew at this time. about the division of Germany between the Allies, with the Berlin area going to the Russians.
This is a little known action, that saved many US soldiers lives.
Yearsd later D.D. Eisenhower interviewed Stephen Ambrose and asked him to be his Biographer. Many b ooks were written around this subject but little was told about it.
Without this action by IKe WW2 would have ended differently.
I regret to announce the passing of Francis W. Stephens on March 7, 2005. Francis was raised on a farm where he grew to love his horses, and that love brought him to the Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas before joining the 36th Combat Engineers. He participated in the North Africa, Italy and European Campaigns and was known as "Old Combat" by his fellow soldiers.
Francis retired after 35 years with General Motors. He was a Master Gardener, a life long horse enthusiast and a 48 year member of American Legion Post 108. Francis was a fan of the VI Corps website and expressed his desire to share some of his lighthearted stories and had saved quite a few printouts of this site. Thanks to all for the cards and letters.
03-22-05 Note:Evidently there's some confusion here. This is not from me, but one of the letters I frequently post for folks. As it states, it's from the daughter of Maynard Tanner. Thanks!
My father served in the 45th during World War 2 - he was a pilot - recon - and flew the piper cub-grasshopper. He served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany - he was present when they liberated Dachau and says he can smell the stench. He was the one that flew Patton to the hospital where the slapping incident took place. He lives in kANSAS and is 93 years old and of sound mind - he is a marvel - my son interviewed him for family history on his war experiences and it is an wonderful story - not all happy of course but something I will always cherish. I was in the first grade when he went t Europe and the third when he returned and those years had a profound effect on my life. I am so interested in this part of my fathers life and of course all the American soldiers. My fathers name is Maynard Tanner and I know he is always so glad to get info that I print off for him on the 45th and world war 2. I live in Oklahoma and there is a 45th museum in Oklahoma City. l If you have any info on the recon pilots I would really appreciate it as I can't seem to find anything of them as hard as I have tried. Thank you so very much.
