News-Info-Alerts

Re: Memories Draw Vets, Ex-POWs

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: October 07, 2002

"World War II memories draw veterans to AirSho
by Nora FrostMidland Reporter Telegram Staff Writer

They came for the memories and stayed for the air show. World War II veterans from all over the United States gravitated to the FINA-CAF AirSho 2002 this weekend to reminisce and continue a patriotic camaraderie.

One of the groups that chose to hold a reunion at AirSho 2002 was the 49th Fire Squadron, commissioned in 1941 and decommissioned in 1987. As a pilot of a P-38, retired Capt. Frank Mullinax of Chattanooga, Tenn., was taken a prisoner of war on Dec. 28, 1942 during World War II.

"I was taken prisoner in North Africa near Tunis. I was shot down. I was taken prisoner in a transient camp for three months in Italy and six months in a permanent camp on the Adriatic side," said Mullinax.

After Italy surrendered to Germany, Mullinax said the POWs, mainly British captives, were going to be sent to a camp in Germany via railroad box cars.

"I took the grill off from the side of a box car and we (two American infantry officers he met at POW camp) baled out of there one night in a rain storm and stayed in that general area for 10 months," Mullinax said.

The kindness of strangers went a long way for the three escapees.

"We lived in caves and stables and had a little help from two Italian families," said Mullinax. "When (the Axis powers and allies) started fighting again, we were able to sift through and contact a British control and get back with the allies."

Members of the USS Cepheus AKA-18 also gathered to see Saturday's air show. The USS Cepheus was commissioned in December of 1943 and decommissioned in May 1946, said Jack Rhodes of Monahans.

"We traveled through the Mediterranean and also through Europe," said Rhodes who served as an oceanmate first class for the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.

The USS Cepheus was involved in the southern France and Okinawa invasions, Rhodes said.

"In the Pacific we traveled island to island unloading cargo and troops," said Robert Hughey, of Vernon, Conn., who served as a petty officer third class in the Coast Guard.

Some of the supplies they would unload included gasoline, ammunition, jeeps and steel pads for airstrips, Hughey said.

"Our ship was credited with shooting down three kamikazes," Rhodes said.

Out of the 550 shipmates they had on board, Rhodes said he considers them all brothers. Of the veterans present at the reunion, the youngest was 74 and the oldest was 84.

Forrest Fox of Snyder operated a machine gun on a B-17 during WWII. Fox and his pilot were the only two to return home after a fatal mission.

"He missed a mission and everybody was killed on that mission," said his son Ellis Fox.

Ellis said occasionally he will read his father's journal in which he has choronologized each mission he went on.

"They tested the machine guns over the English Channel," said Ellis about what he has read in the diaries. "Pulling and releasing the button would release four rounds (of ammunition)."

Though he had attended the air shows five times in Harlingen, this was his first time to the Midland one, said Herbert Miller of Pueblo West, Colo.

"I started out with the paratroopers until I got hurt, then I was in the anti-aircraft division," said Miller.

Miller said he was 17 years old when he enlisted to join the Air Force during World War II.

"I lied about my age. That's what all of us did," said Miller. Miller said young boys were eager to enlist in the war to show patriotism after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Sixty years have passed since they were active in the military, but Rhodes and Hughey said they would enlist again given the health and the opportunity.

"These wars that are fought now are more about technology," said Rhodes. "It's precise. Even the bombs they have are smart. Back in World War II, they had to get down and dirty. (Now weapons) are so sophisticated. When we were in (war), it was a hands-on experience."

As a veteran of war, Hughey offered these words of advice:

"Continue to be patriotic," he said. "Show the flag. Wave the flag and support our president in these uncertain times."

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