Dad would never discuss the war, Mom said it brought up terrible memories. He regretted the death of his one crew member, and never discussed POW with anyone. When he returned home I was about 2 or 3. A friend related that he thought of becoming a commercial pilot but the first two small planes he chartered had engine problems and he made forced landings. Immediately decided to change careers. Never got in a plane again until a vacation to the Caribbean about 20 years later, white knuckles and all.



He was a traveling salesman for a time with Brown and Bigelow, eventually went into the Moving & Storage business with a friend and did well. Lived in Trenton, NJ, then Levittown, PA circa 1950-57, then Cinnaminson, NJ until he sold the moving business and retired at age 50 when he bought a houseboat and moved to Florida with Mom. He put both myself and my sister Donna through college and lived to see 2 grandchildren. Died in his sleep on his boat in Isle Verde, FL while my wife and I were visiting with the grandkids.



Dad had fun, enjoyed friends including Ernie Kovacs (TV comedian), who was a childhood friend and Ziggy (from the flight crew). Never would eat potato soup or cabbage, apparently a POW thing. Was an avid boater, always played piano well and would have everyone singing at a party.