Posted on 09/23/2016 7:59:35 PM PDT by Leaning Right
Frank Losonsky was just another 20-year-old soldier from Detroit, Michigan, but his life took a historic turn when a recruiter offered him the adventure of a lifetime.
Would Losonsky be willing to board a ship headed to Asia and join a group of volunteers helping China fight off Japanese invaders?
Losonsky said yes.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
My Uncle Dan was a vet of the island-hopping battles in the Pacific. He passed two days ago at 95 years.
One Tiger pilot and one Raider pilot left. Living history almost gone.
God bless your Uncle Dan and may he rest in peace now.
My condolences about your uncle. But you are blessed for having had him with your family for so long.
I met General Robert L. Scott in the late 90s in South Georgia. He was at a meeting of the local historical society.
The old guy was incredibly charismatic and still mentally sharp. He wrote "God Is My Co-Pilot" along with a dozen other books.General Scott was technically not a member of the AVG tho he did fly with them before he became leader of the successor to the Flying Tigers.
Thank you both! A remarkable man. He was a champion swimmer, and held many records. On his 90th birthday, he swam 90 laps in an Olympic-sized pool! He also swam a relay team across the English Channel in his 90s.
Wow...... remarkable life indeed ....put those memories down on paper to share with future family generations.
Stay Safe !
I had a pair of Robert L. Scott’s pilot’s wings. Sold it a few years back to a guy in China. Boy was I sweating the delivery of that package. LOL.
My Uncle Dan was a vet of the island-hopping battles in the Pacific. He passed two days ago at 95 years.
My grandfather was in a Navy tin can off Iwo, Okinawa and a lot of the rest of the Pacific campaign. They probably passed in the night. They don’t call them the greatest gen for nothing.
Scott was a triple ace, maybe more. I think the official record says something like 16 but others say it was 26.
Whatever he flew a lot of combat under Claire Chennault. A lot of his missions involved strafing which was considered dangerous. In one of his books he mentions that he was not allowed to destroy certain bridges which the Japanese were using because the Communists wanted them left.
He really wasn’t willing to talk about his experiences, except for a few things. He gave me a beautiful Arisaka Rifle that he relieved some Japanese soldier of. It still has the engraved flower, which few of them that got back here have. Took it out today and cleaned it.
Sorry for your family’s loss.
You are truly fortunate to have had him for so long - my family’s GG is gone 20-35 years now. G-d, I miss them all.
Both of them helped insure that my grandfather and thousands of others captured like him earlier in the war didn’t suffer their degrading slavery only to end up in a mass grave. Blessings to them!
My Great Uncle Petty Officer First Class Claire Clark Craig ,was KIA in the , battle of Cape Esperance on 12 Oct 1942
I need ammo for my Arisaka!
One view of history is that it begins when the last living witness to it passes away. World War 1 is pretty much there now by that definition. World War 2 is getting close now. We are 71 years down the road since it ended.
I wrote Gen. Robert Lee Scott when I was 12 or so. My congressman at the time Sonny Montgomery, sent it to the General and I got a reply ,this back in 1966 or so, I must have read God is My Copilot 4 times, Scott was a great man, and forthatmatter so was Mongomery
My father was also in the Pacific in the 4th Marine Div. 4 islands he was in landings on. I was also priveledged to know many WW2 vets growing up.One was a 2nd marine div. Vet who was on others as well as Iwo Jima who also brought back a Arisaki rifle. Men I miss now days.
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