Issue 11.14
Time is a very difficult thing to define. Time means something totally different to lovers, politicians, athletes or astronomers. Everything the Air Corp does is in relation to time. When I was told to report for active duty after graduating from High School I was told where and when to be at Kerns, the basic training center, I was not late. Later after training when my crew and I were ready for our first bombing mission over Germany they woke us up at two AM and said breakfast at 3 AM and briefing at 4 AM. You could be late for breakfast but you had better not be late for briefing. The C. O. came in at exactly 4 AM and if you were not there already, you would wish that you were there. During the latter part of briefing, we, all 380 men, held our watches while the leader said “ Coming to 04:25 hours, 57, 58, 59, Hack”. Now all of us were on the same time. The navigators were given a timetable of the times to be at each check point. Seconds could make the difference in the success or failure of a mission.
After the mission and each crew in turn came to the interrogators table, the events of the day were talked about. If we saw enemy fighters, we did not give a location but we said the exact time and that should give the location. If we were the last group in a bomber train we could give the times where we saw the black fires indicating where a bomber had been shot down and was on the ground burning with black smoke. Also if we saw new building going on below, it could mean a military installation. And coming home and flying over the channel or the North Sea. Any downed aircraft or life rafts were reported and a time.
Once our co-pilot, John Kihm took the bus to the twelve mile distant city of Peterborough for an evening of fun. John let time get away from him and he missed the last bus. To miss a mission was a very serious offense and could result in a firing squad (which never happened) so John started out and in order to get to briefing, John ran almost all of the way back to the air base. John got back in time for the mission but that was a great lesson for all of us about time.
Time in the year 2013 and 2014.
My sweet wife and I no longer live in our lovely home in Hurricane. We are both getting quite elderly and I am her care giver. Our children brought us to live closer to them so we came screaming and kicking and now live in an independent living place in Sandy, Utah. I no longer have to cook and the cooking here is ten times better than I could do. There would be no problem but about six years ago, we were swindled out of $200,000 so at this time we need some help from the VA to be able to stay here. I applied for some help that is advertised available to help veterans. I did not expect the Veterans Administration to be on a military time table but this is ridiculous. I applied for this help about eight months ago and I still do not know if I am eligible for this help and so far I have not received an answer of either yes or no. I really do not care if I am accepted or rejected for aid but I feel that the Veterans Administration owes me a yes or no answer. I have talked to some people who have been waiting for a year and a half for an answer.
Sam Wyrouck can be contacted at 801-707-2666.