[303rd-Talk] Anita Nardine-Fredericks crew

[Bill Hoyt]

Sorry I haven't answered you Anita but  for some reason I don't  get the forum any longer. It just dawned on me to go to the archives and dig out old correspondence so Im about 15 days behind.
Bill Hoyt


Dad talked a bit about the war from time to time, but never a very long 
>conversation. As a child, it always seemed so exciting, and the newspaper 
>clippings that my Mom kept (anytime anyone got a medal or cluster there was 
>a photo and article) always referred to 'heroes.' He didn't feel that way - 
>he did what he had to do to protect his country, but always felt terrible 
>about having killed others. He kept a piece of parachute that one of his 
>friends used. He saw his friend's plane get shot, saw some 'chutes come 
>out, and saw the plane go down. It wasn't until some time later that he 
>found out who had survived. The parachute was divided into souvenirs for 
>the fellow's buddies.
>
>I know Dad went to the Boise reunion; I think that was the first one. The 
>names I recognize are your Dad, Jacob Fredericks, Michael Hlastala, and 
>Lewis Lyle. I'm pretty sure that Hlastala was in Boise, and they 
>corresponded for a while.
>
>I have Dad's service record, which includes the missions and the official 
>write-ups of some of them - esp. the ones which resulted in a citation 
>being awarded. I also have some photos, mostly crew shots. Hopefully, at 
>some point in the near future I will finish scanning them and can send you 
>copies if you like; perhaps you will recognize your Dad in some of them.
>
>Are you planning to go to the last reunion? I'm going to try an attend.
>
>How interesting that you work with the band. What do you do?
>
>Have a wonderful Christmas.
>
>Anita