| SCadaddle |
02-09-2020 10:18 PM |
My Uncle Pope had a long time career in the Marines as an aviator, from World War II to Korea to Vietnam and after. He lived to be 101. When he was in his early 90's, I once asked him "Who was the most important person that you carried aboard one of your flights?" He thought for a minute, rubbed his lip and then like it happened yesterday went right into his reply:
"I was in Guadalcanal. I and the crew were told we would be flying a secret mission, didn't know who or where until it was going to happen. So we've got the plane ready to go and we are hanging out around it when a jeep pulls up. I see the stars on this fellows uniform and tell my guys to salute. It's Pacific Fleet Admiral Bull Halsey. We board the plane and I ask him where we are going, he says he'll tell me once we are in the air. He then tells me to steer towards New Georgia Island. New Georgia Island was the former Japanese air base known as Munda. I'd never been there. So we get there, and they are repairing the runway as we are landing. Bulldozers pushing the Japanese dead into mass graves. Horrible stuff. We taxi up, get out and Halsey meets with a bunch of really grungy looking guys and their leader, Pappy Boyington."
I just about fell out of my chair. Not only did my Uncle fly Bull Halsey, he also met Pappy Boyington on the same day! I later found an online article from an interview done with Boyington where they asked him about his relationship with those above him. Boyington stated that he had met Halsey at New Georgia Island and thought he was an ok fellow.
Short article on my Uncle:
https://www.forresthealth.org/our-locations/forrest-general-hospital/media-news/press-releases/2018/forrest-generals-livewell-center-hosts-100th-birthday-party/ |
