On this Memorial Day I would like to share something my father wrote from a hospital bed in Northern Africa. William La Barge was shot down over the Mediterranean Sea during WWII. He wrote the following on American Red Cross stationary and his story was later cleaned up a little and published in The Catholic Digest.
THANKS, GOD!
It was just a routine "recco" over enemy territory looking for possible targets for the day. There were four of us and we were Black flight. I was in number four position. These are my thoughts as they occurred to me.
Got in formation pretty fast this time, kind of misty out. Gosh, but these first thirty minutes are boring. Nice time to fly though, the air's always smooth this early in the morning. Hope it's clear over the coast and we can spot something - - would like to be busy today. Hope we don't have any trouble on this flight though - oh well, we probably won't, never have yet.
There's the coast - there's that funny feeling in my stomach too. Keep looking around now. Can't be surprised, that's when it's bad, when you don't see them. If you see them they'll never hurt you. Well God, please get me through this once more. Turning up the coast now, keep watching. Fairly clear over here. Let the leader spot the shipping. I'll just keep looking behind. They are bound to jump us one of these days. Have to be ready for them. Wouldn't mind if we see them first - shoot hell out of'em. Keep looking, keep that head on a pivot. Bet my neck has grown three sizes since I came overseas.
Sure is beautiful country here. Hope I can take my wife and visit all these places someday after the war is over. Damn it, quit daydreaming and keep looking or you'll never visit anyplace. OK, OK, FLACK! We always get it here. Damn, but they're getting accurate - heavy stuff too. Holy Mackerel, they're busting in front of us! That's bad, better get the hell out of here quick. Let's get violent on this evasive action - change direction - change altitude - that's better - bursting behind now - damn, but that stuff shakes hell out of me!
"Black flight from black leader, C'mon, let's get back in formation now." Damn, but that guy's cool. After hearing him talk you wonder what in the hell you were scared of anyway. Sure like to fly with him - gives you a lot of confidence. Keep looking around now. Doesn't seem to be much stuff down there today. Sun's up now. That's where they'll come from if they come. I'll be glad when this is over. Pretty easy flight so far anyway - all instruments normal. Guess none of that stuff hit me - was too damn close though. Those boys are getting mighty accurate. Keep looking now, don't relax - that's when they'll get you.
"Black flight - Ninety right." Starting home now, not safe yet for awhile, but I always feel better when we are heading home. Keep looking - now is when they'll come. Wish I had a few more sets of eyes - would sure save my neck a lot of work. Have to watch like hell for another fifteen minutes yet. Be glad to get home. Be damn glad when we can see the airdrome again. Most beautiful sight in the world - your home field. Keep looking now, don't relax yet.
"Black leader from Black three, slow down a bit, my engines running pretty rough." "Black three from Black leader, OK. Are you all right?" "I'm OK Monty. My engine is running pretty rough though. I think I can make it all right." Wonder what's the matter with Tommy's crate. Hope the flack didn't get him Seems to be making out all right though. Keep looking, getting closer to home now. All right to relax a little now, not too much though. Never safe till you're on the ground. "Black three from Black leader, are you OK?" "She's getting pretty rough Black leader, but I think I'll make it OK." Hope he does, I'd sure hate to have to bail out in that water - looks mighty cold. There's the field, guess he'll make it OK now.
He's picking up speed, guess I'd better clear out my engine too. HOLY MACKERAL! This thing's shaking apart. "Black leader from Black four, my engines very rough, the whole damn ship is shaking apart." My glycols normal, oil temperature's OK. Oh, Oh, there it is, the oil pressure has dropped to zero. "The oil pressure has dropped out Monty. I'm bailing out." Slow her down now and gain some altitude. I'm pretty damn low.
"Black four from Black leader, try throttling back. I think you can make it." Hell, I can't make it, the prop is barely moving. "Can't do it Monty, the engine has just about stopped and I have no oil pressure." Get that safety harness off now - Get the door open - All ready. Good Lord! Only four hundred feet! Can't crash land in the water though - not in this job. Roll the stabilizer back, stand on the seat. The last guy that bailed out this low didn't make it. Hand on the rip cord - barely clear the ship and pull it - no time to count - dive over the trailing edge of the wing. That water looks close enough to touch. Here goes nothing. Do your stuff God, please. That's the only way this'll open in time. SNAP! Damn, that opened quick. MY GOD, I must have fouled the ship. No, I didn't, there goes the ship in. Holy Mackerel, I'm barely above the water myself. No time to get my chute off damn it. I'll never get my dinghy out now. Here I go into the water - not as cold as I thought it would be. There's the plane circling - hope the rescue launch gets here in a hurry.
Better get out of this chute in a hurry now. Hell, I can't get it unfastened. Get the legs first - don't panic. Damn, things won't come loose. Better unfasten the chest and get this Mae West inflated. There, that's undone. Well, I'll be damned, it won't inflate. Don't panic now, keep your head. Better get the rest of the chute off. Ah, there's the left leg. Damn it, I can't get the right leg strap undone. Chutes starting to sink. Barely keep my head above the water. Don't panic now - guess I'll have to get my knife and cut my way free. Got the knife out. Will have to go under water and do the cutting. Take a big breath. Just a little more now - there she goes. Sure glad I carried that knife - glad I sharpened it the other day too. Knife, you are beautiful!
Guess I'd better swim down and try and free that dinghy. I'm going to need it. Damn it, I can't get it loose - out of breath - don't give up - have to go up for air - getting tired - swallowing too much water - out of breath - don't give up - the boat should get here soon - water is getting pretty cold - I'm getting damn cold - can't get my breath - relax - try and float - don't panic.
This can't happen to me. I can't drown, got too much to live for. I'm Bill La Barge. This kind of thing happens to other people but not to me. Wonder what's taking that damn boat so long? Hell, I can't drown, I'm married, gotta wonderful wife - gotta get home to her - can't drown.
Thanks for opening that chute in time for me God, but for the love of mike get that damn boat out here - can't last much longer. The only reason I was on this flight was so I could get to church today God, so let's get that boat out here. Sorry God, don't mean to be issuing ultimatums - sorry for all the wrong things I've done in my life too, God. Guess there's been plenty of'em. I don't want to die though God. Please get that boat out here.
Hey, what's that! It's the boat. Damn it, they don't see me. Hey, here I am over here. They see me, they see me! Take it easy, here they come. They're throwing ropes. Hell, I can't reach them - too weak. Damn it, why don't they do something, why don't they get me out of here? There's a pole - they've got hold of me now. I'm safe. I'm on board. OK to pass out now. THANKS, GOD. THANKS A LOT!
Note: My dad said it was not until the boat returned to shore that they were able to finally pry his fingers off the rescue pole.
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