He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.

[ArtKramr]

He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.


When Paul, Bob and I arrived at the 344th we were assigned to the 494th
squadron and given separate quarters along the squadron street. I entered mine
and dumped my stuff on the one empty bunk there. I unpacked my B-4 bag, hung up
my uniforms and put stuff on the shelf including personal photographs and
shaving stuff. Then I went to the officers mess where I was supposed to meet
Bob and Paul for evening chow. Bob showed up. We waited for Paul then decided
to go ahead knowing he would be along soon, It took quite a while. When he
showed up he was white as a ghost and obviously shaken. Bob and I looked at
each other and finally asked Paul what happened. Paul just shook his head,
obviously quite sad and unhappy. He then told us the story of what had happened
when he entered his quarters. When he went in there were 4 bunks, but all were
neatly made up with clothes, foot lockers and personal effects such as
photographs of family. Paul thought he was in the wrong place since there were
no empty bunks. Just as he was leaving one of the guys in there said, "C'mon
back Lieutenant, you are in right place." Paul said that there were no empty
bunks. The guy said "That one over there is yours. The guy who was sleeping
there went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. The Padre and the
Officer of the guard will be here soon to collect his stuff. You can have his
bunk as soon as it is cleared out." We understood Paul's sadness. We were sad
too. We flew our first mission the next morning, but never, to this day ever
forgot that bunk with family snapshots and personal efects that wasn't cleared
out. And there would be more as the war went on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------

Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Ed Rasimus]

On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>
>Arthur Kramer

Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear
were still in the closet.

Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and
has published several aviation photo books since then.

The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending.
Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
>From: Ed Rasimus
>Date: 2/2/04 7:46 AM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>
>>He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>>
>>Arthur Kramer
>
>Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
>I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
>tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
>tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear
>were still in the closet.
>
>Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and
>has published several aviation photo books since then.
>
>The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending.
>Ed Rasimus
>Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
>"When Thunder Rolled"
>Smithsonian Institution Press
>ISBN #1-58834-103-8


These are things that stay with us all our lives. Paul and I still talk about
it even after 60 years. He sees that bunk in his dreams to this day. But there
was a lot more to come. I posted it because I thought it was time we got back
to military aviation which is what this NG is supposed to be all about.But I
guess we should be thankful that there are still some of us who remember and
care. (sigh)


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[M. H. Greaves]

Hi, Art, i like the idea of posting a story at a time in the n/g, it'll get
them read, all the more poignant knowing that you were there!
regards, Mark.
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>
>
> When Paul, Bob and I arrived at the 344th we were assigned to the 494th
> squadron and given separate quarters along the squadron street. I entered
mine
> and dumped my stuff on the one empty bunk there. I unpacked my B-4 bag,
hung up
> my uniforms and put stuff on the shelf including personal photographs and
> shaving stuff. Then I went to the officers mess where I was supposed to
meet
> Bob and Paul for evening chow. Bob showed up. We waited for Paul then
decided
> to go ahead knowing he would be along soon, It took quite a while. When he
> showed up he was white as a ghost and obviously shaken. Bob and I looked
at
> each other and finally asked Paul what happened. Paul just shook his head,
> obviously quite sad and unhappy. He then told us the story of what had
happened
> when he entered his quarters. When he went in there were 4 bunks, but all
were
> neatly made up with clothes, foot lockers and personal effects such as
> photographs of family. Paul thought he was in the wrong place since there
were
> no empty bunks. Just as he was leaving one of the guys in there said,
"C'mon
> back Lieutenant, you are in right place." Paul said that there were no
empty
> bunks. The guy said "That one over there is yours. The guy who was
sleeping
> there went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. The Padre and
the
> Officer of the guard will be here soon to collect his stuff. You can have
his
> bunk as soon as it is cleared out." We understood Paul's sadness. We were
sad
> too. We flew our first mission the next morning, but never, to this day
ever
> forgot that bunk with family snapshots and personal efects that wasn't
cleared
> out. And there would be more as the war went on.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------
>
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>

[M. H. Greaves]

hey, you know i care !!
"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
> >From: Ed Rasimus
> >Date: 2/2/04 7:46 AM Pacific Standard Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
> >
> >>He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
> >>
> >>Arthur Kramer
> >
> >Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
> >I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
> >tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
> >tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear
> >were still in the closet.
> >
> >Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and
> >has published several aviation photo books since then.
> >
> >The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending.
> >Ed Rasimus
> >Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> >"When Thunder Rolled"
> >Smithsonian Institution Press
> >ISBN #1-58834-103-8
>
>
> These are things that stay with us all our lives. Paul and I still talk
about
> it even after 60 years. He sees that bunk in his dreams to this day. But
there
> was a lot more to come. I posted it because I thought it was time we got
back
> to military aviation which is what this NG is supposed to be all about.But
I
> guess we should be thankful that there are still some of us who remember
and
> care. (sigh)
>
>
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>

[B2431]

>From: (ArtKramr)
>Date: 2/2/2004 9:57 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>>Subject: Re: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
>>From: Ed Rasimus
>>Date: 2/2/04 7:46 AM Pacific Standard Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>>
>>>He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>>>
>>>Arthur Kramer
>>
>>Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
>>I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
>>tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
>>tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear
>>were still in the closet.
>>
>>Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and
>>has published several aviation photo books since then.
>>
>>The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending.
>>Ed Rasimus
>>Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
>>"When Thunder Rolled"
>>Smithsonian Institution Press
>>ISBN #1-58834-103-8
>
>
>These are things that stay with us all our lives. Paul and I still talk about
>it even after 60 years. He sees that bunk in his dreams to this day. But
>there
>was a lot more to come. I posted it because I thought it was time we got back
>to military aviation which is what this NG is supposed to be all about.But I
>guess we should be thankful that there are still some of us who remember and
>care. (sigh)
>
>
>Arthur Kramer
>344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>
Without comment. It speaks for itself.

http://members.accessus.net/~tmcdonld/lighthse/Texas.htm

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Howard Austin]

> >>He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
> >>
> >>Arthur Kramer
> >
> >Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
> >I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
> >tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
> >tour. Don Logan had occupied the room and his clothes and camera gear
> >were still in the closet.
> >
> >Don was repatriated in March of '73 when the POWs were released and
> >has published several aviation photo books since then.
> >
> >The duties of the Summary Court Officer are heart-rending.
> >Ed Rasimus
> >Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> >"When Thunder Rolled"
> >Smithsonian Institution Press
> >ISBN #1-58834-103-8
>
I got a warm bunk in 1952 in Korea along with ten champagne bottles on
a shelf above the bunk, nine empty, one full. The previous occupant,
as a ritual, had consumed one after each tenth mission. Needless to
say, my tentmates and I drank the final one, thinking he would want us
to. Never have I tasted such bitter wine.

Howard Austin

[S. Sampson]

"Ed Rasimus" > wrote
> (ArtKramr) wrote:
>
> >He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>
> Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
> I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
> tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
> tour.

I heard about bunks, but being an enlisted man I got to use my sleeping bag
and an air mattress :-)

[Tarver Engineering]

"S. Sampson" > wrote in message
news:XYATb.15799$Q_4.4790@okepread03...
> "Ed Rasimus" > wrote
> > (ArtKramr) wrote:
> >
> > >He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
> >
> > Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
> > I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
> > tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
> > tour.
>
> I heard about bunks, but being an enlisted man I got to use my sleeping
bag
> and an air mattress :-)

God bless America.

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
>From: "S. Sampson"
>Date: 2/2/04 3:22 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: <XYATb.15799$Q_4.4790@okepread03>
>
>"Ed Rasimus" > wrote
>> (ArtKramr) wrote:
>>
>> >He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>>
>> Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
>> I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
>> tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
>> tour.
>
>I heard about bunks, but being an enlisted man I got to use my sleeping bag
>and an air mattress :-)
>
>
We lived in tents heated by a little pot bellied stoves, slept in cots on a
sleeping bag. Damn near froze to death.And that was both officers and enlsited
as well.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
>From: "Tarver Engineering"
>Date: 2/2/04 4:08 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"S. Sampson" > wrote in message
>news:XYATb.15799$Q_4.4790@okepread03...
>> "Ed Rasimus" > wrote
>> > (ArtKramr) wrote:
>> >
>> > >He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>> >
>> > Poignant story and it happens in combat more than most people imagine.
>> > I got a "warm bunk" when I arrived at Korat in May of '66 for my F-105
>> > tour and got a "warm bunk" again at Korat in June of '72 for the F-4
>> > tour.
>>
>> I heard about bunks, but being an enlisted man I got to use my sleeping
>bag
>> and an air mattress :-)
>
>God bless America.
>
>

DAMN RIGHT !


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Jim Walker]

Thanks for the story Art, my father-in-law was an engineer/gunner in
the 397thBG and it is impossible to get him to talk about his
experiences God Bless all that have given so much.

Jim Walker MSgt ret USAF
On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:

>He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>
>
>When Paul, Bob and I arrived at the 344th we were assigned to the 494th
>squadron and given separate quarters along the squadron street. I entered mine
>and dumped my stuff on the one empty bunk there. I unpacked my B-4 bag, hung up
>my uniforms and put stuff on the shelf including personal photographs and
>shaving stuff. Then I went to the officers mess where I was supposed to meet
>Bob and Paul for evening chow. Bob showed up. We waited for Paul then decided
>to go ahead knowing he would be along soon, It took quite a while. When he
>showed up he was white as a ghost and obviously shaken. Bob and I looked at
>each other and finally asked Paul what happened. Paul just shook his head,
>obviously quite sad and unhappy. He then told us the story of what had happened
>when he entered his quarters. When he went in there were 4 bunks, but all were
>neatly made up with clothes, foot lockers and personal effects such as
>photographs of family. Paul thought he was in the wrong place since there were
>no empty bunks. Just as he was leaving one of the guys in there said, "C'mon
>back Lieutenant, you are in right place." Paul said that there were no empty
>bunks. The guy said "That one over there is yours. The guy who was sleeping
>there went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. The Padre and the
>Officer of the guard will be here soon to collect his stuff. You can have his
>bunk as soon as it is cleared out." We understood Paul's sadness. We were sad
>too. We flew our first mission the next morning, but never, to this day ever
>forgot that bunk with family snapshots and personal efects that wasn't cleared
>out. And there would be more as the war went on.
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>------
>
>Arthur Kramer
>344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: He went down on this mornings mission he won't be back.
>From: Jim Walker
>Date: 3/31/04 10:56 AM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>Thanks for the story Art, my father-in-law was an engineer/gunner in
>the 397thBG and it is impossible to get him to talk about his
>experiences God Bless all that have given so much.
>
>Jim Walker MSgt ret USAF
>On 02 Feb 2004 01:33:56 GMT, (ArtKramr) wrote:
>
>>He went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back.
>>
>>
>>When Paul, Bob and I arrived at the 344th we were assigned to the 494th
>>squadron and given separate quarters along the squadron street. I entered
>mine
>>and dumped my stuff on the one empty bunk there. I unpacked my B-4 bag, hung
>up
>>my uniforms and put stuff on the shelf including personal photographs and
>>shaving stuff. Then I went to the officers mess where I was supposed to meet
>>Bob and Paul for evening chow. Bob showed up. We waited for Paul then
>decided
>>to go ahead knowing he would be along soon, It took quite a while. When he
>>showed up he was white as a ghost and obviously shaken. Bob and I looked at
>>each other and finally asked Paul what happened. Paul just shook his head,
>>obviously quite sad and unhappy. He then told us the story of what had
>happened
>>when he entered his quarters. When he went in there were 4 bunks, but all
>were
>>neatly made up with clothes, foot lockers and personal effects such as
>>photographs of family. Paul thought he was in the wrong place since there
>were
>>no empty bunks. Just as he was leaving one of the guys in there said, "C'mon
>>back Lieutenant, you are in right place." Paul said that there were no empty
>>bunks. The guy said "That one over there is yours. The guy who was sleeping
>>there went down on this mornings mission. He won't be back. The Padre and
>the
>>Officer of the guard will be here soon to collect his stuff. You can have
>his
>>bunk as soon as it is cleared out." We understood Paul's sadness. We were
>sad
>>too. We flew our first mission the next morning, but never, to this day ever
>>forgot that bunk with family snapshots and personal efects that wasn't
>cleared
>>out. And there would be more as the war went on.
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>------
>>
>>Arthur Kramer
>>344th BG 494th BS
>> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>>Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>>http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>


The men who can't talk about it have never resolved their trauma in combat.
Talking about it helps to resolve it. But it takes years. Sometimes decades.
Those who have written books about their experiences have resolved it all quite
well.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer