The Early Years
(12 Jul 1921 -
27 Jan 1942)
Army Air Forces
(28 Jan 1942 -
1 Aug 1943)
Post Ploesti
(2 Aug 1943 -
31 Jul 2006)
Most Recently
(1 Aug 2006 -
Present)
Official MOH Citations:
2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert "Pete" Hughes,
Jr.
(12 Jul 1921 - 1 Aug 1943)
Source: Transcript of 2nd Lt. Ronald Lee Helder’s letter to his parents dated 31 Jul 1943.
Ronald
Lee Helder's Letter Home
July 31st, 1943
──────
564th Sqdn - 389th Group,
A.P.O 634 - NY - NY
Dear Folks:
A few more fairly uneventful days have passed
by. We have a few improvements in living conditions since my
last letter - having finally finished the Officers Mess
building and finished the floor in our tent.
Tomorrow (Sunday) will be a full day for us.
The big shots around here say they are going to make us work
on the Sabbath and really do humanity a good turn. Turn back
your calendar and take a look at August 1st.
We finally named our plane "Ole Kickapoo"
becuase [sic] we couldn't agree on a name for it. We have four bombs
painted on it to designate raids and 4
to designate fighters
shot down. Our crew is classified in the best three of our
squadron - pretty nifty.
We bought a chicken today and plan on having
a chicken dinner tomorrow night.
We really have fun swimming in the Mediterrean [sic].
This sea is like a crystal clear like - even flying over it you
can practically see the bottom at all times. No subs would hide
for long in it.
I'm getting a deep enough tan to pass as an
Indian, but have my hair cut like a "Heinie," so I think I can fool
anyone anyplace; all I have to do now is grow an English.
Till next time
Love
Ronald
Note: My thanks to Brad Helder for permission to publish this letter.
First published: December 10, 2007
Last updated: January 02, 2013
