For about a year, Dad had anticipated this week in September. The 305th Bomb Group Reunion organizational committee had chosen Tulsa, Oklahoma, to host the 2001 reunion. This would be the first time I could attend. Mother, Angie, and Ben had accompanied Dad in 1994, when Kansas City hosted the World War II bomb group yearly get-together. He had attended an earlier reunion in St. Louis with his brother and his wife, Jess and Vesta.
We all looked forward to seeing Fred and Dorothy Rabo from Chico, California. Fred and Dad were the only two who were still living who began training in Muroc, California, in their original ten-man crew and finished as a Pathfinder crew over German-occupied Europe. Fred piloted the B-17F Flying Fortress, with Fred Gilbert, as co-pilot, that transported Dad and the original crew across the Atlantic Ocean in 1942. In combat, Dad always manned the upper turret position. He usually stood between Fred and the co-pilot until they flew into enemy territory. (To learn more about Fred Rabo and Dad's friendship and combat missions, go to: https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2017/02/neither-of-them-got-over-march-6-1944.html ).
Two
days before we planned to arrive in Tulsa, everything turned
upside down with the two attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, the
attack on the Pentagon, and the fourth attack thwarted by brave passengers on
Flight 93. It was a tumultuous time unlike any I had seen as an American.
With almost all air travel stopped, we feared Fred and Dorothy could not fly in from California. Probably neither could Fred Gilbert, Dad’s original co-pilot, make it from Washington.
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| Standing - Fred Rabo, pilot, Fred Gilbert, co-pilot; Kneeling; Dad (Edmund Gates, Jr.), upper turret gunner, Charles Petterson, ball turret gunner. Less than three months later, Charles Petterson flew with another crew that went down in the North Sea and the entire crew was lost. Dad told in his military memoirs, Okie Over Europe,, of the impact of Petterson's death. In the background was Target for Tonight, the B-17F that Fred flew Dad and their crew over the Atlantic Ocean. |
Despite
all the turmoil, sadness, uncertainty, the 305th Bomb Group Reunion
wasn’t cancelled. Angie, Ben, and I had requested time away from work on
Thursday afternoon and Friday.
We
arrived, checked in, and upon arriving at the Welcome Reception learned Fred
and Dorothy nor Fred Gilbert would be able to attend. Dad met with Ian, a
writer from Chelveston, England, and showed his photos that Angie had put into an
album as a Christmas gift during one of her “lean” college years. Dad had been based in Ian's hometown at Chelveston Air Base near Bedford, England, from January through April of 1943, until Fred Rabo, Tom Kon, and Dad became members of a Pathfinder crew.
Ian had formed a fast friendship with Stan, a ground crew member of the 305th Bomb Group. Stan had been able to fly into Chicago just before all flights in the United States were grounded. He was stranded there, until finally he hopped a Greyhound bus that took the long way ‘round to get him to Tulsa. With Stan’s health issues, his delayed arrival had Ian, his younger English friend, quite worried.
We were disappointed because we so anticipated spending time with
Fred and Dorothy. Yet the four of us being together with Dad as he recalled one of
the most dangerous times in his life seemed so appropriate for that week twenty
years ago. Dad would say, “We fought the battles over there so they would never
come here.”
Spending time with my family during one of the most turbulent weeks in the history of our country brought perspective. In my journal entry for September 13, 2001, I had written a quote from Bobby Simma, our principal at Woodland Elementary School at that time. After leading us in singing our National Anthem and “God Bless America,” he reminded the students, “Be grateful for each day we have because nothing is guaranteed.” (For a photo of the students I taught during the difficult days of September 2001, access this blog at: https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2016/09/911-15-years-ago.html ).
In light of Mr. Simma's admonition, I recalled a phrase from the prophet, Amos, who had been sent by God to the ancient nation of Israel. My father would characterize these people of old as fooling themselves. In no way were they mindful that they had no guarantee of another day. They were spiritually indifferent to God and to His truth. They had no interest in living by His principles in their daily lives. In response to their apathy toward God's message, Amos gives the warning from the Creator of all, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"
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| Geraldine Rice Forbes and Charles Welch, former pastor, visit during the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Ralston Baptist Church (1997) |
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