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Omaha Steve

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33. My great uncle's plane was one of the B-17's that tried to land during the Pearl Harbor attack

Wed Dec 7, 2016, 08:47 PM

Dec 2016

Navigator 1st Lt. Leo M. Eminger

"Leo Eminger was part of the 38th Recon Sq. from Albuquerque, NM. Eminger was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. Eminger were both with the 88th Recon Squadron from Albuquerque Army Air Field. Eminger was with Crew No. 4 aboard B-17C 40-2063 one of the the B-17 flying from Hamilton Field bound for Hickam Field and arrived during the attack on December 7, 1941. Charles Norton was with Crew No. 6 which had to return to Hamilton Army Air Field due to engine trouble. I have also discovered, through many publications and personal contacts with crew families, photos of the pilot (Charles E. Norton), the co-pilot (Bruce B. S. Barker), and the bottom turret gunner (Fred S. Croyle). I am working on a photo of Bruce W. Osborne who is the only crew member listed as KIA because they found his bones."

The story of his mission and death on the plane: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2420.html

My dad was a PFC in the 25th Div 35th Infantry Battalion anti tank company. In action on Guadalcanal, Luzon, and Northern Solomons. Dad had the Combat Infantryman Badge and several ribbons. We found out in 2000 he was screwed out of a ribbon his unit got after he went home on points. Honorable discharge Aug 7, 1945.

I know Uncle Bobby was in the Pacific not far from my dad. Dementia has stolen all his memories.

I know an uncle was KIA in the Battle of the Bulge.

Uncle Eddie (mom's brother) was Navy in the pacific. Gunners mate. His best friend right next to him was killed when a Kamikaze struck their pom pom turret.

Mom worked on the Enola Gay at the Martin Bomber right down the street from here. We saw President Clinton's ONLY trip to Nebraska in freezing weather Dec 2000 in front of that building at the Offutt air base. I toured the building recently: http://www.democraticunderground.com/11796440

In Oct. 2000 I met A.D. Flowers. He won the Oscar for Best Effects, Special Visual Effects Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
At that time I didn't know my great uncle Leo was involved in the attack.

OS

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My uncle enlisted in the Navy, right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. I found this picture of him [View all] Siwsan Dec 2016 OP

i was 2 months old. my dad enlisted in the navy. DesertFlower Dec 2016 #1

My Dad's brother was in the Battle of the Bulge. Siwsan Dec 2016 #3

Ditto here bucolic_frolic Dec 2016 #8

My dad was in the battle of the Bulge too. Made it out fine, except with sad memories. JudyM Dec 2016 #13

My Uncle Ray was in that battle also. Rarely ever spoke of it except for the great guys..n/t monmouth4 Dec 2016 #38

My father was also a Bulge veteran. DinahMoeHum Dec 2016 #59

My Uncle was with Pattons 3rd Army when they went to relieve Bastone. oneshooter Dec 2016 #18

My gramps was on the Kalinin Bay CVE-68 denbot Dec 2016 #2

That's what they said about Uncle John Siwsan Dec 2016 #4

My uncle was a tank gunner on the push to Berlin, Dad was Navy Aimee in OKC Dec 2016 #51

My uncle was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. He said one of the first bombs hit the air raid Lint Head Dec 2016 #5

I think it is so important that the families make sure these stories are never forgotten. Siwsan Dec 2016 #6

my dad was on the USS California. barbtries Dec 2016 #7

I just found a box of my uncle's letters. Siwsan Dec 2016 #9

those are treasures. barbtries Dec 2016 #10

My Uncle Ray, who was in the Battle of the Bulge, shared some stories with my Dad Siwsan Dec 2016 #12

this is history. barbtries Dec 2016 #14

Absolutely. We have to make sure that NOBODY romanticizes War. Siwsan Dec 2016 #16

Wow-- did he die on the Lexington then? Fast Walker 52 Dec 2016 #67

My uncle served on the USS Alabama - prior to enlisting he was considered a scrappy fighter . . . Liberal In Red State Dec 2016 #11

Bill Nye's grandmother kept this paper.. Cha Dec 2016 #15

When I opened Uncle John's foot locker, I found a calendar taped to the inside lid: December, 1941 Siwsan Dec 2016 #17

Wow.. thank you. Cha Dec 2016 #19

I second that Wow! blue-wave Dec 2016 #56

My Dad was sunk in the North Atlantic. He complained for the rest of his life that his... NNadir Dec 2016 #20

Slaughterhouse 5 Victor_c3 Dec 2016 #42

After Pearl Harbor my father lied about his age to enlist. He was all Navy all the way. n/t TrekLuver Dec 2016 #68

My Mom's brother enlisted in the Navy during WW2. Archae Dec 2016 #21

The picket destroyers were sitting ducks for COLGATE4 Dec 2016 #47

They all look like kids in that picture Victor_c3 Dec 2016 #22

I think my uncle was 21, in that photo Siwsan Dec 2016 #25

My father didn't serve in armed forces sarge43 Dec 2016 #23

During the war, several of my aunts worked in the auto and tank plants, in the Flint area Siwsan Dec 2016 #27

Oh, wow... Blue_Roses Dec 2016 #24

My Dad was aboard the Santee the day she was hit! 11 Bravo Dec 2016 #26

Wow! Small world, indeed! Siwsan Dec 2016 #28

Dad rests at Arlington, so I can't ask him. However, this thread has led me to ... 11 Bravo Dec 2016 #36

I have my uncle's Aviators Flight Log Book Siwsan Dec 2016 #40

That's the same kind of log. 11 Bravo Dec 2016 #49

Wow, that is so cool. Your dad sounds like a great guy to me, helping keep his mates' spirits up JudyM Dec 2016 #41

My grandfather was already in the Navy when Pearl Harbor was attacked. tammywammy Dec 2016 #29

When I was a kid (7th grade) my dad got stationed at Hickam AFB. panader0 Dec 2016 #30

I had another uncle who was in the Army Air Corps in England Siwsan Dec 2016 #32

My dad was in the Army Air Corps in England, somewhere near the Cliffs of Dover. watrwefitinfor Dec 2016 #64

I should dig around to see if I can find any details on my Uncle's assignment, in England Siwsan Dec 2016 #65

The reason for the weight standerd was oneshooter Dec 2016 #69

I knew there would have been a good reason. watrwefitinfor Dec 2016 #72

Nice picture n/t iluvtennis Dec 2016 #31

My great uncle's plane was one of the B-17's that tried to land during the Pearl Harbor attack Omaha Steve Dec 2016 #33

What an amazing family history. Thank you for sharing it Siwsan Dec 2016 #35

Check it again Omaha Steve Dec 2016 #39

I'll do that! Siwsan Dec 2016 #43

All those people DK504 Dec 2016 #34

As a "Cold War" Veteran, I have the deepest respect for those that experienced combat Siwsan Dec 2016 #37

K & R to infinity..... dhill926 Dec 2016 #44

They all look so young in that photo. Laffy Kat Dec 2016 #45

My uncle.was captured at Bataan. Cary Dec 2016 #46

My Father's best friend in high school was killed at Pearl Harbor. truckin Dec 2016 #48

Read all of the above. leanforward Dec 2016 #50

My dad enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor dflprincess Dec 2016 #52

K&R Dem2 Dec 2016 #53

Nice picture. Mine had been in England for 2 years Warpy Dec 2016 #54

"I could be reading too much into the photo, but I am haunted by the look on his face." pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #55

Here's the same image flipped... tenderfoot Dec 2016 #57

My Dad enlisted in the Navy in 1940 gladium et scutum Dec 2016 #58

My father was there during the attack. He was a 19-year-old airman at the time. nt tblue37 Dec 2016 #60

This is a beautiful thread sarge43 Dec 2016 #61

+1 pinboy3niner Dec 2016 #77

my Dad was eligible Elmergantry Dec 2016 #62

My father and his cousin enlisted in the Navy on December 8th, 1941 Loki Dec 2016 #63

Awesome Pic RFKISNEEDED Dec 2016 #66

Yikes! Little escort carriers without the protection of fleet CVs. Eleanors38 Dec 2016 #70

U.S.S. Sangamon (CVE-26) highly decorated, much attacked... Eleanors38 Dec 2016 #71

My partner's uncle was lost at sea on the USS Indianapolis Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2016 #73

It is so interesting to read everyone's family histories Siwsan Dec 2016 #75

My dad was in the army. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2016 #74

My father worked at the Naval Ordinance Lab in DC during the War egold2604 Dec 2016 #76

Thank you for sharing! Siwsan Dec 2016 #78

There is more to the story egold2604 Dec 2016 #79