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Letters From Others
My original Guest Book had many many very interesting entries from "old timers" who were also in WWII to children trying to find information about their fathers. I am so sorry that most of those entries were lost when the guestbook failed. Below are some of those entires letters I received by e-mail and wanted to preserve.


My mother signed the guest book on page 29 on Christmas Day, 2001. I decided to copy and paste her entry here, so that I could preserve it, in case something happens to the guest book.

Tuesday 12/25/2001 8:36:41am
Name:      Evea Jane Sigle
Homepage:      
E-Mail:      ejsigle@alltel.net
Referred By:      Family Member
Family member? How are you related?      I am the War Bride
Age:      79
City/County:      Luray, KS
Comments      This is Richard's story--in his own words. I am grateful for Donna's efforts.


August 23, 2004

Hi Donna - thankyou for the great site! My father, James Cooper of Connecticut, was the ball turret gunner in your father's plane! Your father's interview about WWII was very informative. My father passed away in May 1997, and never talked about his experiences in WWII. Your website answered so many questions that I had about where he was stationed in Italy and some of the flights. Thankyou so much for posting it on the web!

Was the plane that your father actually flew in Italy named the Agony Wagon or was that just the one that he flew home to the states?

I just finished reading "The Wild Blue - the men and boys who flew B 24's over Germany" by Stephen E. Ambrose." I was really surprised to see the name of Eugene Koscinski mentioned in the book as a contributor. Gene was the bombadier on your father's plane. Gene and his wife, Goldie live in California and send my mother a Christmas card every year. I was familiar with Gene's name, that of his co-pilot Serpico, and your father's name. I have the same photo that you have posted on your website with your father and his group standing/kneeling in front of their plane. My dad is the one kneeling in the lower left. I also have all the bombing flights that our dad's went on together. Do you have a copy of those missions?

Donna - thanks again for posting on the web. My dad would never talk about his experience in WWII. I suspect he was the youngest in the group - age 18 when he enlisted in 1943. He was ill for ten years and lost his memory when he was only 62 before passing in 1997. How I wished I had asked more questions about his service years, but somehow, I don't think he would have talked about it.

Debbie Camejo in Connecticut

PS - dad did well in life after the war. He had many early jobs, but became a President, Secretary-Treasurer for a Union Local. He got to travel to many beautiful places associated with his job (along with my mother) and they both enjoyed traveling on their own. My dad had two sons and one daughter after the war.

December 24, 2002
I began watching the video we made on December 25, 1989, of my dad talking about his memories of WWII. In the video, he mentioned that he flew the Agony Wagon home from the war. After doing an internet search for that name, I received this response from an inquiry I made to the 392nd Bomb Group web page.  Donna

Donna I have a record book showing that there were (9) Agony Wagons listed and our plane number was 44-50542 and attached to the 392nd Bomb Group, 578th Bomb Squadron.  There also was one attached to the 465th Bomb Group, 780th Bomb Squadron whose plane number was 42-52376.  The other planes listed did not have the number that the 456th BG  780th BS had,  it also stated that they had no picture of either ours or the one you are interested in.  Hoping this will be of some help to you and as for returning date, we all began returning what planes we had serviceable back to the states in that time period.

May you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Ernie Barber,Archivist 392nd Bomb Group Memorial Assn.


Donna,
I read your fathers story, and it was so real. Although I was in England and North Africa, it was the same war, and so much of the story brought me back to that time many years ago. How nice of you to write it. It is history, and will forever be recorded. I say that it takes me back to those years, because just reading his story puts one in a time warp, and one is right back then. You really have to have been one of us to get the feeling.
You are to be commended for such a perfect page.
I have a web page that you might like to see. It is at: http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~jaf/caf.html
Sincerely,


Donna,
Just read your father's story.
Wonderful.
My wife's brother was a B-24 pilot, but was KIA.
I've been writing his story, from letters and squadron histories, but, unfortunately, no facts from him.
You might like to check out a website that another man has put up:
Regards,
Bill Allen

William E. Allen


My dad was in the 780th BG also and although he died in 1987, he got me thru flight training and I am doing the same for my 17 year old son. I am currently in contact with Bob Blier who sends me the monthly newsletter. I will forward you some info.

Clyde Collins
Friendswood, Tx. (south of Houston)


I have my Father's "The Gig Sheet" book from Pampa AAF 44-D. I see that Richard Sigel actually signed his picture from Squadron III, Flight 7, which was the same flight my father Donald E. Tischer was in. We have been trying to research the "Bail-out" he had as an instructor. Of course my dad would not talk about any of this and he passed away in 2001. So, I am glad to see other info. Thanks.

Richard Tischer


07/29/2009
Great to read Richard's history. Those were great days at Wauhesha. Please let me know if Richard is still with us.

Tom Smith, age 86
Cody, Wyoming
Classmate of Richard at Carroll College


01/18/2009

My father was in the 780th. I have a
memoirs book of the 780th. I am looking
at pictures of Richard & his crew,base
photos,statistics,etc.

Jerry McMann, age 62
Eufaula, OK

Tuesday 02/08/2011 9:06:08pm
Name:
Joshua Hummel
E-Mail:
summersun83@gmail.com
Referred By:
Friend
Family member? How are you related?
Age:
27
City/State/Country:
burbank CA
Comments
Hello. Gene is one of my dear friends... My Grandfather was in the 780th as well in italy. He was a nose gunner. I go to a meeting every monday titled Wings over Wendys... some 80 vets from all branches show up. I would love to talk to you further..... Joshua Hummel grandson of Robert F Davenport! summersun83@gmail.com
Monday 12/27/2010 5:05:31pm Name: Teri Frank E-Mail: Teri.Frank@gbg.com Referred By: Just Surfed In Family member? How are you related? John Serpicos ( co-pilot) daughter Age: City/State/Country: Orange County, CA Comments Hi Donna
I just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it was to read your website and the story that Richard told.

Most exciting - because he mentions my father John Serpico who was the co-pilot.

My Father John died young in 1975 from Cancer. At 10 years old of course I knew nothing about his war time or at least was not as intrigued by it as I am now in my adult years. And of course we did not have internet then! :)

But as technology has it these days my 20 year old daughter on Christmas began saying how she wishes she knew her papa John..and then before we knew it she was searching the internet and found your site.

I have always wondered if there is anyone out there that knew my dad.
I have an old suitcase full of Flight records, handbooks and a ton of pictures from their time in Italy. I only wish I knew what they were all about.

I will have to go back now and see if I recognize your Dad. :)

If you have any more links or places to find information out - let us know.

Happy Holidays
Teri Frank
Orange County, CA

Friday 11/26/2010 5:56:34pm Name: Joe Crum E-Mail: JoeCrum@earthlink.net Referred By: Just Surfed In Family member? How are you related? Friend of Eloise Age: 57 City/State/Country: Greenwood, SC Comments Your site turned up in a search, and I recognized Helen Gossett's name. She lived next door to us, with her daughter Eloise, and husband Dave and their sons Todd and Tim, for several years. I loved reading her story after all these years. We loved Mrs. Gossett, and the Keeler family, who have since moved to Maryland.

Wednesday 07/29/2009 9:43:17pm Name: Tom Smith E-Mail: 100akerwoods@bresnan.net Referred By: Just Surfed In Family member? How are you related? Classmate of Richard at Carroll College Age: 86 City/State/Country: Cody, Wyoming Comments Great to read Richard's history. Those were great days at Wauhesha. Please let me know if Richard is still with us.

Tom Smith

Tuesday 06/02/2009 9:49:42am
Name:
Janie (Sigle) Dunstan
E-Mail:
janie_s@yahoo.com
Referred By:
Family Member
Family member? How are you related?
Granddaughter of Richard & Evea J Sigle
Age:
27
City/State/Country:
Randolph, KS, USA
Comments
Donna - I've seen the site before, but I guess I've never read it completely. But I have now and I'm very, very proud to be a part of this family. Gramps was a great man and you've done him right with this site. It's nice to get to hear some of the stories in his words, since I was too little to remember him talking about any of it. Thank you for doing this! Now we just need one for Grandma! Love you!

Sunday 01/18/2009 1:07:47am
Name:
Jerry McMann
E-Mail:
jerry9514@uslogon.com
Referred By:
Veteran's Site
Family member? How are you related?
No
Age:
62
City/State/Country:
Eufaula, OK
Comments
My father was in the 780th. I have a
memoirs book of the 780th. I am looking
at pictures of Richard & his crew,base
photos,statistics,etc.
Monday 03/17/2008 4:38:06pm
Name:
Patricia A. Sigle
E-Mail:
siglep@aol.com
Referred By:
Just Surfed In
Family member? How are you related?
Age:
54
City/State/Country:
Hopewell/Virginia/U.S.
Comments
I am one of 10 children. My father is Edward Frank Sigle Sr. He is from Jamesburg, New Jersey where I was born and raised. My brother Timothy Frank Sigle found your website. My grandfather was Frank Sigle and he and my grandmother, Elizabeth Sigle, had five children. One girl and four boys. I am wondering if we could be related. I served 21 years in the Army achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I ran into a Harold Sigle in the Army who was stationed at Fort Leavenworth in the late 80's. I believe he was from the midwest.


Thursday 09/06/2007 11:44:45pm
Name:
Lynda Janne
E-Mail:
rlj1130@pacbell.net
Referred By:
Just Surfed In
Family member? How are you related?
Donna's cousin
Age:
60ish
City/State/Country:
Dixon, CA
Comments
I have the web page bookmarked, and started browsing the guest book -- then went back to read again portions I'd forgotten, and now I'm up too late! Fun reading about family, and Uncle Richard was ALWAYS a favorite, even if he did make me clean my plate! Wonderful tribute, Donna. Love you.


Sunday 02/04/2007 5:34:01pm
Name:
Dave Runkle
E-Mail:
Dave.Runkle@comcast.net
Referred By:
Just Surfed In
Family member? How are you related?
My cousin was a radio Operator on B24J's
Age:
My age is 58
City/State/Country:
Fair Oaks CA
Comments
My Cousin Richard "Richie" Lee was a Radio Operator/Gunner in the 780th BS. He was lost coming back from a strike on the Fanto Oil Refinery on 24 August 1944. I am trying to piece together his story.
He was a real hero...


Tuesday 06/27/2006 3:21:51pm Name: Thaddeus Alan Sperry E-Mail: thadsperry@sbcglobal.net Referred By: Just Surfed In Family member? How are you related? Father and Grandfather both named Thad. Age: 51 City/State/Country: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA Comments My father was Thaddeus Theodore Sperry, and his father had the same name. I have the same name except for the middle name. Father grew up on a farm around Anthony, Kansas, I believe. Mother's name is Elizabeth Marie Fetsch now, but was remarried when dad died. I have a family tree I started years ago, and I know I am somehow related to the Sigle's and Suttons. Mother's maiden name was Maruska. I was born in Superior, Nebraska and grew up in Liberal, Kansas.

Tuesday 06/07/2005 7:47:59pm
Name:
Frank Sherbon
E-Mail:
fsherbon@computerconnect.net
Referred By:
Family Member
Family member? How are you related?
Son of Velma Sigle Sherbon
Age:
74
City/State/Country:
Roseburg, Oregon
Comments
We lived in Hays, Ks and I saw Richard often when he attended Ft. Hays State. I also knew Uncle Chris. My Fathers name was Max Sherbon

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