1916-2005 United States Navy World War II Robert (Bob) Cropper, the son of Harry and Harriet Hickman Cropper, was born and raised in Ocean City, MD. Bob’s father operated the local hardware store. Bob dropped out Princeton University in January, 1941 (his junior year) to join the U.S. Navy. He became a pilot and flew… Read more »
United States Air Force (Retired) What is a “Fighter Pilot”? A fighter pilot is noted for intelligence, independence, integrity, courage, and patriotism. “Fighter Pilot” is a state of mind, not a job title. Therefore, not all people who fly fighters are fighter pilots, nor do all fighter pilots fly fighters, some of them drive trucks…. Read more »
UNITED STATES ARMY NURSE CORPS Willa Cromwell knew all too well that war did not stand still for emergencies. “On our way to England, in the middle of the English Channel, one of the troops on board had appendicitis.” Willa, an Army Corps nurse during World War II, remembered an appendectomy had to be performed… Read more »
United States Marine Corps WWII Philip C. Canfora, 82, a native of New Castle, Pa., near Pittsburgh, and resident of Ocean Pines, remains a proud Marine 62 years after being discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. He enlisted when he was a teenager, wanting to serve his country during World War II. When he left… Read more »
United States Army DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY On December 8, 1942, while on a four year senatorial/athletic scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, I enlisted in the U. S. Army. I was nineteen years old. Ninety-two days later I was ordered to basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. As a private in basic training, I… Read more »
A B-17 War Story A most unusual story. This one should be read around the world. God shows up in the form of a German pilot. Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton, England . His B-17 was called ‘Ye Old Pub’ and was in a terrible… Read more »
United States Marine Corps (1st Battalion, 26th Marines, B Company, 2nd Platoon) We few, we precious few. We who have shed our blood, together, shall forever be……a band of brothers. William Shakespeare “We had a plan. Well, actually, I had a plan. It was a good plan. Bill Bohlen and I were going to join… Read more »
United States Army Died July 7, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom He was 38 years of age, from Cleveland; assigned to the 216th Engineer Battalion, Ohio National Guard, Akron, Ohio; killed July 7 when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near his vehicle in Samarra, Iraq. Maryland native killed in Iraq Associated Press BERLIN, Md. —… Read more »
U.S. NAVY WWII by George Hurley Albert Berger is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. While working at the Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard as a welder, he thought he should join the military. At that time the company was building Liberty ships and LST’s, landing craft designed to carry men and equipment. Albert was told he could… Read more »
United States Army (As related by his wife, Annette Berry) We mortals are all prisoners of the time into which we are born and the time in which we live, but there are a few who can step out of that captivity, and, in so doing, move us all forward as a people. Perhaps this… Read more »
1949-1971 U.S.ARMY-AIRBORNE RANGER VIETNAM WAR KIA “Dear Mom & Dad; Sorry this has been so long …[but] we were preparing for a combat mission. The “chopper” pilots over here are really good. They fly very low; about 10 feet over the top of the trees. It’s really great because [the sides] are open and we… Read more »
VIC BEARD UNITED STATES NAVY MY WWII STORY On March 17, 1944, at age seventeen, I enlisted in the United States Navy. After boot camp and electrician mates’ school, I was shipped out to the western Pacific, where I was assigned to the USS Yarnall. The Yarnall (DD-541) was a Fletcher-class destroyer. The ship was… Read more »
U.S. Navy World War II Memoirs I joined the Navy on November 7, 1942 at the age of eighteen and was shipped to Boot Camp at the Naval Training Station located in Norfolk, Virginia. My next assignment was the Naval Air Station located in Anacostia, DC. After serving a few months at the Anacostia facility,… Read more »
United States Army (Retired) and his wife, Mary C. Adair “You belong to something in support of the country.” That is how Bob Adair summed up his nearly 31 year Army career. But as he readily admits during that career, he was supported greatly by his wife, Mary, and their four children. A military family… Read more »
Corporal U. S. Army, WW II Pennsylvania National Guard Henry Abbott was raised in Berlin, MD. Following graduation from Buckingham High School he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and received basic training in Virginia and Mississippi. He was shipped overseas in July of 1944, and as a replacement, was assigned to the… Read more »
Update your browser to view this website correctly.