elephant
09-15-16, 14:13
Veterans Day is coming up in November and we dedicate that day to remembering and paying tribute to those who served this great nation. I assume that most of us are old enough to have a father or grandfather who has served this country in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and perhaps the GWOT. I thought it would be special to pay tribute to our fathers and our grandfathers by sharing with each other who these great men are and to keep their legacy alive.
I wanted to share my mothers father, Col. William S. Harbour USAAF/ARMY.
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My grandfather joined the USAAF in 1937 after graduating from University of Miami School of Meteorology. He completed flight school in Georgia and got his wings in 1938 and then was stationed in Louisiana, Texas and Georgia. He was qualified to fly the Martin B-10, Curtis B-18, and later qualified in the Boeing B-17, North American B-25 and Consolidated B-24. In 1939, my grandfather, a Captain at the time was promoted to Major when assigned to the 588th Ferry Squadron where he was to be an inspector on new aircraft, test flight and evaluation and then deliver those aircraft to their destination. At that time the 588th was a small unit but made up of men who were qualified as pilots, navigators and bombardiers.
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Photo after completing Flight School
In early 1942, my grandfather was assigned to fly a B-24 in the 8th Airforce 93rd Bombardment Group stationed in Benina Libya where he bombed Crete and Sicily. Later that year he was reassigned to the 9th Airforce 98th Bombardment Group stationed in Ramat David Palestine and then later Fayid Egypt, where he flew bomb runs on ships and harbours along the Axis coastline in Libya and Tunisia to Greece and Italy. After Tripoli fell, he bombed the ports of Naples, Messina and Palermo, in an attempt to cut off the remaining Axis forces in Tunisia. He took part of the attack on the oil refineries at Ploesti. In 1943, he was reassigned to the 12th Airforce and then 15th Airforce stationed in Brindisi Italy where he bombed Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Balkans. It was in late 1943 when he was promoted to Lt Colonel. In 1944, he took part of the first 1000 ton bombing campaign on rail targets in northern Italy and the ports of Piombino, San Stefano and Porto Ferraio. My grandfather also participated in the invasion of France. At the end of WW2 from 1945 to early 1946 my granddad was promoted to Colonel and assigned to 338th Ferry Squadron and his job was to bring as many as 400 airplanes back the the US, some of those had damage and others had no crew. His B-24 was named "Fore Caddy" for his love of golf.
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Dated early 1950s
After the war, my grandfather joined the National Guard and was attached to the 49th Armored Division stationed in Dallas Texas but he served as the US Army's athletic director and Athletic development director. From 1953 to 1965, my grandfather spent his time building golf courses for the US Army. He went back to school and got a degree in golf coarse design and management. He designed and built 17 golf coarse in total for the US Army including Ft Polk, Ft Bragg, Ft Sill, Ft Bliss, Ft Hood and many others.
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First round of Golf, Ft. Benning 1952
My Grandfather went on to join the USGA and PGA and toured from 1953 to 1957 winning 14 Tournaments, 1 USGA championship, 3 PGA invitational. He was sponsored by the US ARMY and was a member of the Ryder Cup in 1953
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This is my grandfather accepting a trophy from Major General West in 1955 after winning the USGA Championship.
If you look closely, the photo shows the players who attended the 1953 PGA Invitational in Mexico City, you will see Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Art Wall Jr, Ed Oliver, Frank Stranahan, Johnny Palmer and others. My grandfather won this tournament as well as the $2500 1st place purse which he had to give back to the US Army.
He retired from the US Army in 1973 after serving 35 years.
I wanted to share my mothers father, Col. William S. Harbour USAAF/ARMY.
41493
My grandfather joined the USAAF in 1937 after graduating from University of Miami School of Meteorology. He completed flight school in Georgia and got his wings in 1938 and then was stationed in Louisiana, Texas and Georgia. He was qualified to fly the Martin B-10, Curtis B-18, and later qualified in the Boeing B-17, North American B-25 and Consolidated B-24. In 1939, my grandfather, a Captain at the time was promoted to Major when assigned to the 588th Ferry Squadron where he was to be an inspector on new aircraft, test flight and evaluation and then deliver those aircraft to their destination. At that time the 588th was a small unit but made up of men who were qualified as pilots, navigators and bombardiers.
41494
Photo after completing Flight School
In early 1942, my grandfather was assigned to fly a B-24 in the 8th Airforce 93rd Bombardment Group stationed in Benina Libya where he bombed Crete and Sicily. Later that year he was reassigned to the 9th Airforce 98th Bombardment Group stationed in Ramat David Palestine and then later Fayid Egypt, where he flew bomb runs on ships and harbours along the Axis coastline in Libya and Tunisia to Greece and Italy. After Tripoli fell, he bombed the ports of Naples, Messina and Palermo, in an attempt to cut off the remaining Axis forces in Tunisia. He took part of the attack on the oil refineries at Ploesti. In 1943, he was reassigned to the 12th Airforce and then 15th Airforce stationed in Brindisi Italy where he bombed Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Balkans. It was in late 1943 when he was promoted to Lt Colonel. In 1944, he took part of the first 1000 ton bombing campaign on rail targets in northern Italy and the ports of Piombino, San Stefano and Porto Ferraio. My grandfather also participated in the invasion of France. At the end of WW2 from 1945 to early 1946 my granddad was promoted to Colonel and assigned to 338th Ferry Squadron and his job was to bring as many as 400 airplanes back the the US, some of those had damage and others had no crew. His B-24 was named "Fore Caddy" for his love of golf.
41495
Dated early 1950s
After the war, my grandfather joined the National Guard and was attached to the 49th Armored Division stationed in Dallas Texas but he served as the US Army's athletic director and Athletic development director. From 1953 to 1965, my grandfather spent his time building golf courses for the US Army. He went back to school and got a degree in golf coarse design and management. He designed and built 17 golf coarse in total for the US Army including Ft Polk, Ft Bragg, Ft Sill, Ft Bliss, Ft Hood and many others.
41496
First round of Golf, Ft. Benning 1952
My Grandfather went on to join the USGA and PGA and toured from 1953 to 1957 winning 14 Tournaments, 1 USGA championship, 3 PGA invitational. He was sponsored by the US ARMY and was a member of the Ryder Cup in 1953
41498
This is my grandfather accepting a trophy from Major General West in 1955 after winning the USGA Championship.
If you look closely, the photo shows the players who attended the 1953 PGA Invitational in Mexico City, you will see Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Art Wall Jr, Ed Oliver, Frank Stranahan, Johnny Palmer and others. My grandfather won this tournament as well as the $2500 1st place purse which he had to give back to the US Army.
He retired from the US Army in 1973 after serving 35 years.