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Christmas Party Christmas Party a Huge Success! The Christmas party was attended by 33 members and their guests. Following the opening remarks, Pledge of Allegiance, and invocation, President Garcia turned the festivities over to our master of Ceremonies, John Romine. After several jokes to increase the levity of the attendees, John began the unenviable task of supervising the annual gift exchange. Unenviable in that each participant could exchange their gift with anyone else who had previously received a gift. And that even though the rules for this gift exchanged had been published in the previous newsletter, there were several heated discussions as to those rules. John was, however, unflappable and was able to successfully arbitrate the rules and distribute all of the gifts. There were many hilarious moments as the most coveted gifts were appropriated and redistributed. The party was a great way to end the old millennium and usher in the new one. The membership owes John a debt of gratitude for making the Christmas Party a memorable and enjoyable evening. Hip, Hip, Hooray!
33 Toys Given to Salvation Army for Needy Children This year, the chapter collected 33 toys during the annual Christmas party. President All Garcia and other members presented them on December 18 to the Salvation Army to be used in their “Operation Merry Christmas” activity. Lydia Bright, assistant manager, said that "the toys would be used to fill the desires of children whose names are posted on Christmas trees in several businesses throughout the city.” She expressed thanks and appreciation to all members of the chapter for their generosity on behalf of recipients.
Jan 1—Membership Dues due. Jan 5—Meeting of the Board of Directors, 7 P.M.. Jan 21—General Membership meeting at the SJCC, 6:30 P.M. Feb 7—Deadline for February Newsletter articles and information to be submitted to the Editor. Mar 1—Board of Directors meeting at Steve White’s house at 7:30 P.M. Happy New Year! My
Part in Doolittle’s Raid To be a part of one of the major events of the 20th century was the farthest thing from the mind of a 24 year old 2nd Lieutenant in the 95th Squadron of the U.S Army Air Corps in December 1941 Reflecting back almost 60 years after the fact, I am amazed, honored, and humbled to have first hand knowledge of the people and events surrounding Doolittle’s Tokyo Raid of 1942. The 95th was part of the 17th Bomb Group (B-25s) which was assigned to anti-sub patrol first on the West and then the East Coast after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 While on maneuvers out of Lexington County Airport in Columbia, South Carolina, our lives would become inextricably linked with events leading up to April 18, 1942 As operations officer for the 95th, my tent was near the 17th headquarters hangar One day a new B-25 parked on the ramp in front of my operations tent. I didn’t appreciate the prop blast sent my way by this pilot and headed out to speak with him about it. Looking up, I recognized Jimmy Doolittle, holder of many flying records of the 20s and 30s, and the idol of every pilot. The sharp words I had ready transformed themselves into a smart salute, and I tightened the ropes on my tent, as if that were my intention. Jimmy Doolittle had been recalled to active duty and had arrived for a meeting with Colonel Mills of the 17th. A training base was set up at an auxiliary air field near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and Captain Edward J. (Ski) York, my squadron commander, was loaned to Doolittle as director of training for a special mission This training involved carrier take offs, a first for Army bombers, and retrofitting of the 22 planes with auxiliary rubber tanks for increased fuel capacity, and new thrifty carburetors. Before leaving Sacramento for the mission, each plane was also given new propellers. Each of the four squadrons making up the 17th group were to supply five planes and crews for the mission, plus there would be two spare planes and crews. York and I sat in his tent one rainy night and made up crew lists for the 95th’s five airplanes Since York and Captain Davie Jones would be going on the mission, I would be in charge of the squadron in their absence One of the spare planes crashed before the mission departed Florida, so 21 planes and crews flew to Oakland to be loaded onto a carrier, but only 16 would fit. During the bright daylight, the carrier took off under the Golden Gate Bridge. On April 18, 1942, our suspicion of the mission’s target was confirmed when Doolittle led the Tokyo raid Chase Nielsen, a navigator, was also assigned to the mission. In September 1999, Chase and his wife Phyllis came to visit June and me. I had seen him only once since early 1942, and that was at the Doolittle Raiders Reunion in Albuquerque in April, 1985. He was one of only four from two captive crews who survived the raid which is chronicled in the book “Four Came Home” We have been invited to the Reunion in April 2000 in Utah and plan to attend.
Know
your Members—
Charles Keller was born in Buena Ventura, California and attended junior high and high school there. He also attended the University of California before joining the Army Air Corp in 1939. Colonel Keller enlisted in the military before there was a draft. He wanted to serve his country before there was a WW II. He joined the service because he wanted to fly airplanes and the military was growing rapidly in the aviation field. He began his training in December 1939 and graduated from flight school on 30 August 1940. He received his commission and wings at the same time. His class graduated about 200 men, bringing the total military pilots to 2000 at this time. “Too few when you are facing WW II,” he said. He went through a series of training schools in the months before the “Big War.” On 7 December 1941 he was on maneuvers in South Carolina and the morning of 8 December his organization was ordered to San Francisco where they were assigned anti-sub patrol duties along the Oregon and Washington coasts. He has some stories to tell about Japanese subs working in these waters. He later served in the European theater as a commander of the 557th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF. Although he is somewhat reserved about his role while serving with the squadron, here is what some of his fellow aviators said about him and the role he played.
As our first Squadron Commander, who directed our destinies through the training days and through our first six months of combat, Lt. Col Keller established the character and traditions of this organization. The superior quality of his leadership was reflected in the crack squadron which arrived in England in the summer of 1943, and which distinguished itself repeatedly in combat during the succeeding months~ Lt Col Keller came into the air force in 1939, long before the mass production of wartime pilots began, and he assimilated together with his thorough training a full awareness of the important role of air power. As our commanding officer, he never lost sight of this importance; with a sober consciousness of his great responsibilities, he devoted every ounce of his energies and abilities to the organization and development of his squadron. He was a perfectionist, and a strict disciplinarian and required unremitting labors from his men; but he disciplined no one more strictly than himself, and no one labored longer or harder than he did to put the planes in the air and the bombs on the target. At the same time, Lt Col Keller’s interest in his men was far from impersonal and restricted to the line of duty. He exerted himself unceasingly to obtain for them the best possible living conditions, and the finest recreational facilities that could be secured. He had a amazing fund of great personal knowledge about every man in his squadron, and this enabled him to temper justice with understanding, and to select both his combat and his ground leaders with an acumen which resulted in an outstandingly efficient and progressive organization. As a leader in combat, he achieved distinction both for himself and for his Squadron and his Group by the resolution and skill with which he pressed home the attack on vital enemy targets. His pride and faith in his organization evoked an equally loyal and confident spirit among his men which contributed to their success in combat.
The foundations of training and organization which Lt Col Keller wrought with such care are still bearing fruit, although he has been gone for many months. This may be seen particularly in the ground personnel, most of whom have been with the squadron since its earliest days; and through them, as well as through the succession of combat personnel, the fine traditions of the organization are kept alive, to be continually renewed by the outstanding part which this Squadron is playing, and has yet to play, in prosecuting the air offensive against our enemies. COL Keller served with honor and distinction in both the European and Pacific theaters of operation. After the War ended, he remained in military service, transferring from the Army Air Corps to the US Air Force. He served 22 years on active duty and retired in 1961. He and his wife June and family came to the Farmington area where he taught math in the Farmington and Aztec High Schools. They live in the Hammond Ditch area.
Fellow Totah TROA Chapter members: what a marvelous time to be alive, to experience the turn of a century and to be entering into a new millennium. Think of that, especially those of us who looked forward to this time since before WW II. Do you remember wondering if you would live to see the day? I did and I asked the Almighty to allow me the opportunity. And here we are at the dawn of Y2K. On behalf of the Board of Directors and your officers, I wish each of you and yours a Happy and Prosperous New Year. The Y2K Bug did not take its toll as many folks believed. The doomsayers were very active trying to convince us to prepare for DOOMS day. I feel certain that the majority of us, having experienced life in the military, knew that we live in the greatest country in the world and our people have the ability to conquer the worst of obstacles we have to face. It is a good feeling to know all continues to go well with our society. From a group of retired folks associated with the Albuquerque Chapter for many years (18), we've matured into a full grown chapter. As an organization, we have entered into Y2K ready to take our place in the scheme of things under the TROA banner. We have goals to set for ourselves, a budget to prepare, and we have to plan for activities that will display our support for those things that emulate our love for our country and show true patriotism. We have the opportunity to unite as a close knit chapter pulling together in the same direction. I encourage each of you to speak of our organization and help us recruit our eligible friends and neighbors. We can grow and expand our influence in our communities as time passes on. I personally predict we will have 50 members by the summer picnic. With your help we will get there. Think about it and give Bruce Black and the Membership Committee names for them to contact. We are beginning to do well as a great TROA Chapter! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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