In Memoriam

On this Memorial Day I cannot help but think of two of my uncles.  Each of my parents lost a sibling in World War II.

This is my father's brother, William George Haller.  He entered the army in 1942 and after nearly two years of training, left for overseas in April of 1944.  Lieutenant Haller was a pilot.   He had completed 33 missions over Germany.  He had lost more than one airplane.  His last mission began November 5, 1944.  There were nine persons aboard his B-17 plane, The Characters.  It was part of a B-17 Flying Fortress unit stationed at RAF Bury St. Edmonds in England.

The visibility was good that day.  He was in the 94th Bomb Group, 410th Squadron.  Their intended target was an oil plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany.  After the mission was completed, they were headed back to England when the plane was hit.  One report I read said 99% of the plane was blown up.  Some of the men survived and were POW's.  But Uncle Bill was not one of them.  He was initially buried in the town cemetery at Kirrlach, Germany.  He was later reinterred in the Lorraine American Cemetery and memorial in St. Avold, France.  He was the recipient of three Oak Leaf Clusters on the Air Medal; the Distinguished Flying Cross; the Presidential Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster; ribbons for European Theatre Operations in two major battles, Normandy and D-Day.

Dale Bechtol Porr is my mother's oldest brother.  He enlisted in the Army in 1928.  In 1943 he went overseas to serve in the war.  He was a Technical Sergeant and was killed in action in Germany February 24, 1945.  At that time he was a tank commander in the 8th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division of General Patton's Army. 

A month prior to his death, Dale's division was cited by General Patton after four days and nights of incessant battling in the relief of Bastogne. (http://www.historynet.com/firsthand-account-4th-armored-division-spearhead-at-bastogne-november-99-world-war-ii-feature.htm)  He received a citation the previous year for repairing tanks under enemy fire.  He was awarded a purple heart.  He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Luxembourg City where General Patton is also buried.

Dale's Battalion Commander said this of Dale:  "Dale was a dedicated, courageous warrior.  He was older than most of the tankers, and was an especially fine influence on the younger ones".

I wish I could have known these brave men.  Each time I sing America the Beautiful my mind turns to them as I sing, "O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life".  This Memorial Day and always, I will never forget.