Because Dan Ingersoll was a friend of my brother Dick, who is now deceased, Dan, an ex-Marine who fought in Vietnam, became my friend and we have made journeys out west in the summer to fish, camp and see marvelous sights. Dan’s father, Robert (Bob) Ingersoll, was a fighter pilot in the 529th Fighter Squadron, 311th GRP, 14th USAAF, who flew the new P-51, which replaced the original P-40s that achieved early fame shooting down Japanese planes in Burma and China.
By being Dan’s friend, I was privileged to go on two reunions, one in Washington, DC., and one in Atlanta, Georgia. After seeing the WW II Memorial in Washington, Dan and I strolled to see the Korean and Vietnam Memorials that are close together. I was in both wars, the 3rd Bomb Group in Korea, and was attached to the II Corps Army Hqs near Pleiku in Vietnam. Meeting these heroes and their wives and families blessed my life.
Recently I visited Dan and was able to chat a while with Bob in his nearby home. Barbara, now deceased, Bob’s wife and Dan’s mother, had also become a good friend of mine. She was also on the trip to Washington and most helpful in sharing information on the folks involved and the events we attended. Just to sit and talk with Bob is always a blessing. His view from his home of the mountain of my youth, Big Face, is magnificent. On my last visit, we watched a wild turkey gobbler and hen across the field near the creek where I once caught both brook and rainbow trout on this upper part of the creek.
I felt like remembering these dear friends as the number of living Flying Tigers are so few now. Bill Silzer (a former Flying Tiger and friend of Bob’s and Sandy, Bill’s wife), send me copies of emails giving news on the dwindling members and notifications of deaths. For instance, Don Yockey, crew chief of Bill’s dad, had just died peacefully, he said. As an old veteran, I feel strong attachments although these old warriors were in a war I was too young to join. I recall a phrase, “We were young once and brave!”
