We Salute You
Without the sacrifices of the brave men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, the liberty of American life—freedom of expression without fear of being arrested and freedom to worship without fear of persecution—would be imperiled. Every day, memories of WWII—its sights, sounds, terror and triumphs—disappear. Here are the stories of three survivors of the war that changed the world. The Golden Rain Foundation salutes all members of the American Armed Forces, past and present.
Jim Kaspar, Mutual 15
WWII Air Corps engineer Jim Kaspar is well known in Leisure World circles. The American Legionnaire has lived here for 29 years. In his heyday, he and his wife, Peggy, could be found twirling around the square dance floor with the Leisure Whirlers and on the golf course. He’s best known for his work collecting and distributing food and clothing for needy veterans.
Life has slowed down a lot for the 96-year-old, but his mind remains lightning fast and razor sharp.
He remembers with clarity working on B-24s attached to the 466th Heavy Bombing Group. More than 18,000 B-24 aircraft—flown by every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and many Allied nations—carried WWII to Axis targets worldwide. Workers built them; pilots were trained to fly them, and the ground crew maintained them, patching them up night after night.
One memorable night, as Jim’s crew was flying back to the U.S., they made contact with a plane that had lost navigational contact and was in danger of ditching in the Atlantic while approaching Goose Bay, Labrador. Jim’s plane, with only an hour’s fuel supply, flew out to find the disabled B-24. Radio operator John Stering made contact with the aircraft, and tail gunner Don D’Lugos spotted it. The pilot followed Jim’s plane and made a downwind landing, much more challenging than taking advantage of a headwind to slow descent. Jim’s crew heard the plane blow a tire as it hit the ground, but the airmen safely arrived at the Canadian Forces base in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The two crews later met at the operations building. One of the rescued airmen asked for the identity of the radio operator, who had located and assisted his plane. The crew pointed to radio operator John
Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.
—U.S. Adm. Chester Nimitz
Stering. The rescued airman grabbed Jack by the arm, shook his head from side to side, and walked off, unable to say a word.
“I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” said Jim, who was awarded several medals in recognition of his WWII service.
He went on to work as a printer for the Press-Telegram for 45 years. He and Peggy had four children and now have five grandchildren and as many greatgrands. Jim was once a columnist for the square dancing and golf clubs for the LW Weekly.
