Safe areas

[dented146]

My patient, Earl, "The Captain", died six years ago. 73 years ago in October he flew his eighth and final mission during World War 2. Earl was the pilot of a B-17. He was 24 years old and the oldest member of his crew of 10.

It was about a seven to eight hour flight from England to Germany. Once you crossed the channel, you flew above 24000 feet in a plane open to the outside air. The temperature inside the bomber was about 50 degrees below zero. You didn't freeze to death because you wore a light blue terrycloth garment with electric wires under your flight suit. You had to sit in one place plugged into the plane's electrical system. Once you were under attack, all bets were off on the heating. Of course, you had to breath oxygen. You had about a 15% chance you would die.

On Earl's last mission, his B-17 came under attack from German fighters soon after they entered German airspace. The plane became riddled with bullets. Two of the three gunners were killed. His copilot was shot and killed. The blood from his copilot froze on his face and made it difficult to see. One of the four engines was destroyed. They were forced to turn back before reaching their target. The bomber was in terrible shape and Earl didn't believe they could make it over the channel.  Earl tried to convince the remaining crewmembers to use their parachutes over France. They would be captured but the alternative was certain death to crash in the water. The crew chose to go for it.

They did make it across but the crash landing in England killed the last gunner who had all ready been shot. Earl lost the hearing in one ear so the war was over for him.

I asked Earl what he remembered most from the war. He said that all he could remember was the terrible cold and being terrified every minute.

In the last ten years, pretty much, all of the people I knew who lived through WW2 have passed away.

I read and hear that many young people today are having trouble coping with the election results. Parents are having trouble explaining things to their children; colleges are setting up safe areas and support groups. We have so many veterans who have given so much. My opinion is that only character creates safe areas. And we won't be safe until character counts again.

[javero]

Thanks for sharing, dented146.  The account of Earl's exploits certainly provides a healthy dose of "perspective".  I'm happy you were able to become acquainted with such a brave soul.  I suppose each of us  should have an Earl "The Captain" in our lives to keep us grounded in reality and resilient in the face of First World problems.