http://www.sj-r.com/bakke/x1520844855/Dave-Bakke-Saga-of-World-War-II-B-17-crew-will-end-in-England
Doctors give a California man, Tom Parker, weeks to live. Tom has cancer. Upon his death, events will be set in motion that will fulfill a long-standing vow – a vow that involves the late Frank (better known as Chris) McCue of Springfield.
McCue was part of a nine-man crew that flew a B-17 bomber in World War II. Tom Parker, 89 years old, is the last man standing from that crew.
Their plane, Lady Luck, saw its luck run out on March 28, 1945. It was on a bombing run over Germany when it was hit by enemy fire. The plane crashed in France. The crew bailed out, and all nine were rescued by the American Advance Signal Corps and taken to Nance, France.
*
The seven who were there that day (one had died, one was not in attendance) promised to drink from their mugs on only two occasions – with another Lady Luck crew member or on March 28, the day their B-17 had been shot down.
“We had that date circled on our calendar,” Fran says. “Every year we would get a call from Tom on that day.” Not that Chris needed to be reminded, but it was a good excuse for old friends to talk.
Upon each crew member’s death, his mug was to be sent to a fellow crew member, who would take a final drink from it, then break the glass bottom so that no one could ever use it again.
All eight men stayed true to their vow. Two years ago, when Chris died at the age of 88, Fran sent her husband’s mug to Tom at his home in California.
Now, only Tom remains. He has all eight of the mugs, seven of them with the bottoms broken out. The last mug will be broken soon.
*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdUmmi4NsRA
Doctors give a California man, Tom Parker, weeks to live. Tom has cancer. Upon his death, events will be set in motion that will fulfill a long-standing vow – a vow that involves the late Frank (better known as Chris) McCue of Springfield.
McCue was part of a nine-man crew that flew a B-17 bomber in World War II. Tom Parker, 89 years old, is the last man standing from that crew.
Their plane, Lady Luck, saw its luck run out on March 28, 1945. It was on a bombing run over Germany when it was hit by enemy fire. The plane crashed in France. The crew bailed out, and all nine were rescued by the American Advance Signal Corps and taken to Nance, France.
*
The seven who were there that day (one had died, one was not in attendance) promised to drink from their mugs on only two occasions – with another Lady Luck crew member or on March 28, the day their B-17 had been shot down.
“We had that date circled on our calendar,” Fran says. “Every year we would get a call from Tom on that day.” Not that Chris needed to be reminded, but it was a good excuse for old friends to talk.
Upon each crew member’s death, his mug was to be sent to a fellow crew member, who would take a final drink from it, then break the glass bottom so that no one could ever use it again.
All eight men stayed true to their vow. Two years ago, when Chris died at the age of 88, Fran sent her husband’s mug to Tom at his home in California.
Now, only Tom remains. He has all eight of the mugs, seven of them with the bottoms broken out. The last mug will be broken soon.
*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdUmmi4NsRA
