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Ben Chiu Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: "A Hero passes..." 09-09-01, 01:41z  ____________________ I'm saddened to report that Carl E. Hellerich, recently passed away. You may recall that Carl was the WWII B-17 AAF Captain that I interviewed in my Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: Inside Moves book a couple of years ago. Although I only spoke to Carl a few times and exchanged letters (real snail mail letters mind you) over the course of our interview, if I had to describe him, without hesitation, I would say Carl was a gentleman in every sense of the word. While talking to him about his accomplishments during the war I was always amazed about how humble he was about it all. I've had the privilege to speak to many WWII war veterans during my career and most are eager (some very eager!) to tell you their stories. Not Carl--it wasn't that he didn't want to talk about them (and he was very pleasant about all of my deep probing questions), it was just that he didn't see what all the fuss was about. His attitude was he did his job (he was Captain of the Lead Crew for a squadron of B-17's based in England), he was proud of that, but his other accomplishments such as raising a family over his 70+ years were more important in his eyes. The picture above is Carl getting Distinguished Flying Cross pinned to his chest by General Curtis LeMay. To give you an idea of how nonchalant he was about his heroism, he never told his family about it or even me during our talks. (We only found out about this and other accomplishments when his family was going through his personal belongings.) I can only believe he didn't tell me this because, like an idiot, I never asked if he had ever been decorated. Carl Hellerich was a great man, a father, a grandfather, an American hero. He'll be missed. God bless you, Carl. Top

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Subject      Author      Message Date     ID      RE: A Hero passes... andor 09-09-01 1   RE: A Hero passes... Ben Chiu 09-09-01 2

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andor Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 1. "RE: A Hero passes..." 09-09-01, 18:38z  Amen! Andyc Top

Ben Chiu Certificates/Ratings/Crew Stations: 2. "RE: A Hero passes..." 09-09-01, 19:51z  ____________________ IFRfun sent me this one today. I thought it was fitting. =================================snip======================= Gentlemen, I just found out that I am an "old geezer". Are you one yet? Enjoy Milton Shupe / IFRfun "Geezers" are easy to spot; this is slang for an old man. But at sporting events, during the playing of the National Anthem, they hold their caps over their hearts and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them. They remember World War I, the Depression, World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing, not to mention Vietnam. If you bump into a "Geezer" on the sidewalk, he'll apologize; pass one on a street and he'll nod, or tip his hat to a lady. "Geezers" trust strangers and are courtly to women. They hold the door for the next person and always when walking, make sure the lady is on the inside for protection. "Geezers" get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don't like violence and filth on TV and in movies. Geezers have moral courage. Geezers seldom brag unless its about the grandchildren in Little League or music recitals. This country needs "Geezers" with their decent values and common sense. We need them now more than ever. It's the "Geezers" who know our great country is protected, not by politicians or police, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country in foreign lands, just as they did, without a thought except to do a good job, the best you can and to get home to loved ones. THANK GOD for "OLD GEEZERS" Top

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