Voices From The Past
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(Play) From Miami Dad went to Champaign, IL where he was stationed. Mom left Miami on a train and went back to Masontown. Dad was only in Champaign a couple of weeks when he was scheduled to have surgery on his nose to straighten it. When they took him into the operating room and injected his face, he had a reaction to the medication and they were not able to do the surgery. So they gave Dad the weekend off. He and Mom meet in Cincinnati, OH for the weekend. It was about a month before Dad was able to find a place for them to live in Champaign. With all of the guys that were coming back from the war at that time, all of the housing around the base was full. It was difficult finding a place to live. Dad finally found a place on Clark St. It was a small place but at least it would be their new home. He called Mom and she got on the train for Champaign. She arrived there in mid afternoon on a stormy day. She got off the train and caught a taxi and instructed the driver to take her to Park St. thinking that was the address Dad had told her. When the driver pulled up in front a rundown shack of a house, Mom couldn't believe her eyes. Yet, if this was what he found, it would be home. At least they would be together. She paid the driver and he carried her suitcase up and set it on the porch leaving her to herself. There wasn't anyone there and the door was locked. Mom had no idea what to do. About that time she heard a voice coming from across the street saying, "I don't believe there is anyone home over there." Mom looked and saw a young mother across the street taking cloths down off the clothes line. Mom though that would be dangerous with all the lightning that was going on. The woman invited Mom to come over to get out of the rain. This lady's husband was in the Air Force too and had recently been sent overseas leaving her and their baby daughter there until he could get back. The lady offered the use of the phone to call out to the base to get word to Dad that she had arrived. When Mom called she was told that Dad was out working on a plane and couldn't come to the phone right then. They assured her that they would give him the message that his wife had arrived and to call her at this ladies number. Time went on and Dad did not call. When it got to be around 5:30 - 6:00, Mom once again called the base. They said that Harold was not there, he had gone into town to meet his wife. She said, "I am his wife." They had forgot to give him the message before he left. Not knowing what to do, Mom decided to stay put where she could see the house across the street and be close to the phone in case he called back to the base and they gave him the ladies number. The young mother fixed supper for Mom and together they watched and waited for Dad to arrive or call. The hours passed slowly and eventually it was getting late and time for bed. Still no word from Dad. The lady suggested that Mom sleep on the couch where she would be close to the phone. If it rang, Mom was to be the one to answer it. Mom didn't sleep much that night waiting for the phone to ring but it never did. Meanwhile, Dad had left the base early looking forward to the reunion with his new bride. When he arrived at the house at Clark St. and she was not there, he was concerned. He waited for a little while and then walked to the train station thinking that perhaps she was out there walking to the house. When he arrived at the train station he was not able to find her there either so he walked back home. She still wasn't there. Where could she be? How could he have missed her? So he decided to walk back to the train station. Again, she was not to be found. The rain was pouring down and he had to once again make the trip back to the house. We are not sure just how many trips Dad made back and forth that night. Concern and worry turned into fear thinking of all of the possibilities for her to be missing. The next morning Dad showed up at the base and told the rest of the guys about his fretful night. It was at that time they told him that Mom had called the day before and left a phone number where she could be reached. Needless to say, they were embarrassed and apologized for forgetting to tell him. They felt so bad that they gave Dad the day off. Dad immediately called the phone number that he should have had the afternoon before. Mom grabbed the phone on the first ring and rejoiced when she heard his voice. At last they had found each other. Dad told her to go back to the train station and he would meet her there. After all, he knew exactly where that was by now. They both hurried as fast as they could to get to the train station for their long awaited reunion. Mom was relieved to find out that the house she had keep her eye on for so many hours the night before was NOT the house they would be living in. Dad was relieved to know that his wife was safe and sound. Little did the man walking the streets back and forth to the bus station that stormy night know that there was only one street separating him and the one he was searching for. Clark and Park run parallel with each other with only University separating them. The house numbers were the same so they were on the same block just a street apart.
They were only in Champaign 2 or 3 months before they were transferred to Langlie Field, VA. They went to Masontown on their way to VA. 
Masontown, WV - May 2, 1945 May 13, 1945
Masontown - July 9, 1945 
Hampton, VA
July 17, 1945 Dad went on to Hampton, VA by himself and found them a place to live. Mom took a train to VA. They were there until the war was over and Dad received his discharge Aug. 24, 1945. The day the war was over there was excitement in the streets everywhere. Dad put Mom in the shower with her clothes on and turned the water on. The war was over and they were going home. They went back to WV.
Oct. 45 They went to Davy, WV where my Dad's Grandfather lived. They took Arnim (my Dad's Dad) with them.
Out of the Air Force Dad got out of Air Force on (Date?) Dad knew that he had to get work as soon as possible. He started working down in the coal mines in Delslow, WV just outside of Morgantown. He shoveled coal into the coal cars. This is the same mine that his dad and father-in-law, Otto McKinney worked in. Otto had been in charge of keeping the pumps running that kept the water out of the mines. A motor jumped the track and he helped lift it back on. The strain burst something on the inside of the eyeballs and he went blind. So he was not able to work at the time Dad was there. Dad realized the dangers of working in a mine so he was only there for 3 or 4 mouths. H Dad found a job working in a furniture factory in Arthurdale where they were living at the time. He was working there when their first son David Nelson was born on December 9, 1946. David died the next day. On August 22, 1948, I was born. The furniture company was not doing good and it finally got to the point that the pay checks would not clear the bank They eventually do go bankrupt. Dad asked Mom what she thought about him going back into the Air Force. She said, "Well, at least we would have a pay check and we wouldn't have to worry about the checks clearing." So Dad made the decision to reinlist in ?? 1949. In May of 1950 Dad called Mom to tell her that they were going to Rapid City, SD. She said, "Where in the world is that?" Sheldon was 19 months old. Once again, Dad went on ahead to find a place for us to live.
"And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good." Romans 8:28
Taken in Rapid City, SD in the Spring of 1962 shortly before leaving for Morocco. Dad was gone several times over the years for two weeks to a month at a time for schooling and training. It wasn't until 1963 that we were separated for an extended period of time. Dad received orders for Morocco. We were going to be going there as a family for a three year tour of duty. All of us had received our shots, sold our house in Rapid City and were ready to go. Knowing that we would not be able to take our household goods, they were placed in storage in Rapid City awaiting our return to the States. We all loved Rapid and did not really want to leave. Little did we know the day we pulled out of Rapid City that this was part of an awesome plan to keep Dad alive. The truth of that would come in the days ahead. We went to Baltimore, MD to be close to Bertha McKinney, Mom's mother with the thought that Dad would go on to Morocco., find us a place to live and then we would make the trip there. The Lord was good to us and had the trailer right next door to Grandma unoccupied and up for sale. We really didn't need to "buy" a place to live, we only needed it long enough for Dad to find us a place over there. Well, that is what we thought. The owners of the trailer understood our situation and agreed to rent it to us on a month to month basis. It was only a few days after we moved into the trailer that the main news was about a plane from Ellsworth, AFB in Rapid City, SD that had crashed. In the hours that followed, the details of the crash and the names of those onboard were announced. All of the men on that plane were guys Dad had been working with just a few days before. There was no doubt in his mind that had we not left when we did, he would have been a part of the crew that day. The truth of Romans 8:28 was very clear at that point. The realization that Dad was alive because of the move made being in Baltimore more enjoyable.
Dad in Morocco Dad left for Morocco intending to find a place for us as soon as he got there. However he was only there a short time when there was a sudden change in plans. The Air Force announced that they were going to close the base Sity Sudean, Morocco. He was told that as soon as the base was closed, he would be sent to Spain to complete the three year tour. There would not be any need for him to have his family there in Morocco. We were excited about the possibility of living in Spain and waited for the day to arrive when we could go and be with Dad once again. Those plans would soon be changed too.
This scooter was Dad's transportation in Morocco. He shipped it back so that Sheldon could have it to take to school. As it ended up, Dad was in Morocco almost a year as they closed the base. As it got closer and closer to the time for him to be sent to Spain the decision was made to send him back to the States. The asked Dad where he would like to be stationed and he requested Rapid City. Have you ever heard of anyone actually getting stationed at the base of their choice? Well, sure enough, orders came through and we were all going back "home". May 6, 1963 Dad sent Mom a letter from Morocco telling her they were going back to Rapid City. When Mom got the letter she sat there and cried tears of joy. Lila went running next door to tell Grandma McKinney. When she got there Grandma asked her what her mother was doing. "Setting over there crying," said Lila. "Then tell her to come over here and cry," replied Grandma. We also realized another reason for being in Baltimore during that time. One rainy day Mom noticed that Grandma's curtains were not yet opened. When she went over to check on her, she found her in bed too sick to get up. Mom took her to the doctor and she was immediately admitted into the hospital. They did surgery on her and found a blocked bowel. The doctor told Mom that it was a good thing that she got her in as soon as she did. Otherwise, she would have died. Praise the Lord. He always has us where we need to be at the time.
The years after Dad retired from the Air Force.
In August of 1971 Dad, Mom and Lila went to Anchorage, AK to visit Sheldon who was stationed there in the Air Force. It was a wonderful time together as a family. Harold and Sheldon went salmon fishing together and had the time of their lives. Dad was the guest speaker for group of teens at an Anchorage church. Little did we realize that this would be our last time together as a family.
September 1971 We believe this is the last picture taken of Dad. On November 6, 1971 a cerebral hemorrhage suddenly took Dad's life. There is no doubt that Dad is now with the Lord that he loved so dearly. He is buried Portage, MI where he was living at the time. On August 18, 1973 Sheldon married Victoria Carr in Lansing, MI. They now have four children; Karon, Kedron, Kurt and Kenneth. On January 3, 1981 Lila married Dennis Ragland. They now have two children; Paula and Dusty.
Kurt, Victoria, Kedron, Karon, Ken, Sheldon Lila, Paula, Dennis, Dusty
Lila Ragland (Rhodes) has a book of dads that says "389th". Inside it says "389th Bombardment Group". In the back it lists: Lt. John C. Forsyth 2282 Delaware Dr. Cleveland Heights, Colorado Dad later visited John while he was living in Shaker (Cleveland), OH. I don't know the exact time of that visit. According to my Mother, it must have been shortly before their first baby was born (December 9, 1946). She was not able to go with Dad because she was so far along with the pregnancy. John flew in the reserves for about 5 or 6 years and ferried planes out of Detroit for several years. Then his eyes went bad and he had to quit. He and Norma had two kids. Co-Pilot George Burroughs kept on flying. He reentered as a Capt. He flew C-24 cargo planes and later helicopters in Viet Nam. Then while stationed in Nevada, he was flying helicopter one day with the base commander onboard and they went into the side of a mountain. Both were killed. Brenard Prueher was from Janesville, WI so he went back there. He arrived home September 1, 1944 after 3 months as an instructor in navigation. He was married October 24th. He left Janesville in 1952 when the company he was working as a traveling salesman at the time they sent him to New York. He covered everything East of the Mississippi. He later went to NJ and from there to Norwich, CT in 1970. They have one daughter who is married to a New Hampshire Dr. They have a son who lives with them. They also have two grandchildren. Joe Mulqueeny's first wife died of a cerebral hemorrhage and he remarried five years later. His second wife became a paraplegic. In 1945 he got into an apprenticeship as a tool and die maker in Philadelphia, PA. He worked in that trade for 37 years and retired at 55.
C. Rodney and Martha Jane Kellis Because Rod Kellis was only on his 21st mission when they were shot down, he thought he would have to continue until he had his 30 in. He later found out that they were classified as POW's and could not participate in that theater again. The war was soon ended and he was able to go home. He now lives with his wife Martha Jane of 55 years (2001) in Hillsboro, OH where he has lived all the time. He was a surveyor for the state highway department. Dad had stopped in to see him when Dad was on his way to the Korean War in 1951 or 1952. That was the last time they saw each other. Sometime around 1998 Charles' daughter was going to Morgantown, WV. Charles asked her to try to find Dad. She made some phone calls but didn't find anyone that knew Dad. Apparently every time flak would hit the under side of the plane, splinters would come up and hit Kellis in the butt. They would then have to pick out little splinters but all in all considered themselves very fortunate. Charles has been instrumental in the raising of funds and the erection of a monument to three of his classmates (Hillsboro High School 1940) who were all airmen and killed over Europe in W.W.II. The monument was set July 12, 2001 in memory of; 2nd Lt. John W. Bowen Jr. July 14, 1922 Killed in action April 14, 1944 Bombardier 15th AAF B-24, Flight Officer George D. Collins Nov. 11, 1922 Killed in action July 10, 1943 Pilot 12th AAF B-25, 2nd Lt. Spencer L. Shaw Sept. 8, 1921 Killed in action Feb. 20, 1945 8th AAF B-17. "Picture""Picture" "Picture" Charles helping Harsha Monument Co. The man in the green shirt is Charles' son in law and the Mayor of Hillsboro. The young man standing by him is Charles' grandson, Jostin Harsha. "Picture" Martha Jane Fling Kellis - Frank Burns Charles Rodney Kellis - Bonnie Burns Jack Hayden had the opportunity to go for another two years in the Army and become a pilot but he didn't. He has about 30 solo flights. He has been married 55 years (as of May 2001). He retired in 1980. At the age of 77 he fell out of a tree while trimming it so he could cut it down. He had a broken pelvis and was beat up pretty bad. They have two sons and one daughter. They have 7 grand children and one great grand child.
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 13:51:41 -0400 Hey, I did a search for my name on google.com and it came up with myname in a forume that I forgot that I had signed up with. Pastedbelow are the comments that people have posted! Let me know what youthink!! : : Does any one know anything about the B 24 Naughty Norma? Mygrandpa was on that plane. His name was Harold Rhodes. If anyone could give me any information on that plane that would be great!!! Thanks: : : There were at least two B-24s named NAUGHTY NORMA in the 8th AF: B-24D-10 CO 41-23934 in 93rd BG, 329th BS: B-24J-85 CO 42-100281 in 389th BG, 566th BS: Both were painted olive drab/neutral grey. : Kedron, A T/Sgt Harold N. Rhodes of Arthurville, WV is listed in the Directory of the 389th BG Pictorial book which was published around 1946. If this is your Dad, then the 389th BG plane listed by Tom Brittan for the 566th BS would be the plane your Dad was affiliated with. George I love the internet! luv ya bunch! dek
As for Naughty Norma, she was on a mission to bomb industrial targets in SW Germany when she was shot down by flak 19 July 1944, 11:30 AM. A wing damaged and the tail section knocked loose. All of the crew bailed out at +/- 4500 ft. She then crashed at Menzenschwand on the Kaiserberg, 15 km NW of St. Blasien, Schwarzwald, or 25 km NNW of Waldshut, Germany. She was part of the 389th BG (H) 566 BS Hethel, Norfolk. However, according to another report, while on this mission the plane ahead of them had just dropped their bombs but one bomb did not release. The bomb doors were closed and about that time the bomb dislodged and fell through to corrugated aluminum doors tearing them off. One of the doors came back and took off one of the wings of Naughty Norma. The crew managed to parachute out and the plane crashed in a forest and burned. Her final crew was:
The two evaders returned to duty on 29 Sept. 1944. S/Sgt. Garrett was captured at Tiengen/Upper Rhine on 25 July 1944 and apparently attempted to escape to Switzerland. Tiengen is only 5 km from the Rhine (Swiss border). MACR 7554 To go to the stay in Sweden. Home To the find out what happened to the plane Dad went down on.
What ever happened to 42-94973?
I wish I could say for sure that my Dad was greatly responsible for getting her back in the air. Although she needed a lot of work she did fly again. It seems as though they took parts and pieces off of 4 planes and built one. Here are pictures of the tail before and after.
Notice that in there hurry, the numbers on the tail got transposed. Along with a new tail, new engines and a lot of other things, for the first time, she also gets a name.
Salvaged Sally Salvaged Sally actually flew back to England on July 7th, 1945. Well, I guess she made it back. All I really know is that she left Sweden for England that day. I don't have any other word as to what happened to her. To go to the stay in Sweden. Home To go to the last days of the war.Download 355 Kb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham:
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