[ken5050]

As a former Marine, it's a staggering statistic to realize that 8th USAAF KIA exceeded the total number of USMC KIA in the Pacific.

[snowtigger]

The "Memphis Belle" was supposed to be the first B-17 to finish 25 missions and get a trip home. I've read that the first crews over there averaged 10% casualties. When a B-17 went down, you lost ten men. Not all were killed but they were lost to the war effort. On their worst day, they lost something like 89 planes, that is 890 men.

I used to know another ball-turret gunner. He was more talkative than Augie. He said "all I wanted to do was get the pilot by the throat and explain to him that those people shooting at us WERE really trying to kill us and it would be better to just turn around and go home". But, they didn't, they flew on into the inferno. I have always wondered where they got the cajone's. The same can be said for those who stormed the beaches.

I try to thank God often for such men. We can not ever let this country ever slip away, it cost them too much. PS I'm 65 years old and missed Viet Nam because of asthma and a heart murmur. I've spent my life regretting it while being thankful at the same time.