Posted by Victor F Bunze on April 13, 2023:

You could say that I was a "War Baby". Born 6 months before Pearl Harbor. I was born in Albuquerque , NM where Harry had his aviation training in the classic Stearman Biplane. He was assigned to Bombers (B17). His squadron was scheduled to receive a new batch of B17 from Boeing and conduct them to Hickam field , Hawaii. The bombers were not arriving fast enough, so the squadron commanders flipped a coin to see who would get the next batch. Harry's squadron lost the toss. The "winning " squadron flew directly into the Japanese attack on Pearl. Consequently, there was much uncertainty regarding how to deliver more B17's into the Pacific theater. It was decided that his squadron would take the southern route,via Brazil into Africa and then further east from there.These were the first B17's to arrive in the Eastern theater. Much was to be learned regarding use of air filtration to protect engines from the sand storms and numerous other unforeseen African issues. Dad stirred my first awareness of West Point when I was listening to the album of West Point songs and marches at age 4. I knew from my respect for dad, that I wanted to follow his footsteps as a cadet. Such was the case and I entered in 1959 graduating 1963 along with Steve Silvasey as the first sons of 1940 to graduate. Dad met my mom, near the plain and it was an immediate match in heaven.they married in the Cadet Chapel upon graduation.

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