Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired 442nd Regimental Combat Team US Army Veteran Arthur Iwasaki. Mr. Iwasaki was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his life during WWII, fighting in Europe, and his role as one of the soldiers who helped to rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France during WWII.
The 442nd famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from October 26 to October 30, 1944, the 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead — while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24.
If you missed PART ONE, You’ll will not want to miss any more of Mr. Iwasaki’s interview!
PART TWO: Arthur Iwasaki Interview
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Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you. Please contact our Living History Project with your rememberances. History should NEVER be forgotten. Your memories are important and should be retained and shared.
Still visiting our Tigard, Oregon facility 1st Lt. Apollo Airborne became familiar with winter Car Chains and our little aviator Connor. Apollo was not ready to be a snack and decided to brave the snow & Ice for more adventures. The snow was so deep, it came up almost to the top of the tire, but Apollo braved the mountain and got the shot!
When asked about his time with Connor, 1st Lt. Airborne replied “It was a mouth full, I had to get out!”
Look for 1st Lt. Apollo Airborne in future sightings from Flightline Fabrications.
It is never my intent to offend any of my readers. We have all been gifted with free will, the right to choose and make decisions for ourselves. This is what seperates us as humans from all other beings. With this in mind I wish to use this medium to share with you my beliefs. You’ll note I said “share”, not “force upon”. If your beliefs are contrary to mine we may have to respectfully disagree – I respect your right and thank you for respecting mine.
While Christmas has become a commercial holiday spanning the globe with people spending countless millions of Dollars, Pounds, Euros and Yen (to name but a few), I would like to take a moment to climb atop my blog soapbox and share the true meaning of Christmas. While the date of December 25th is unimportant, the significance of the event being celebrated can not be overstated.
Slightly more than two thousand years ago, God, the creator of all that is, was and ever will be sent his son, born of a virgin, Mary, to live among us. He was born in the lowliest of manners to the simplest of people and yet, he was the Son of God. His birth was foretold by prophets, heralded by angels and whitnessed by shepards and their beasts. Wise men travelled great distances to present gifts to the child messiah, Jesus.
He lived a life totally devoid of sin and eventually died, presenting himself as a pure sacrifice for the sins of a world that had rejected him.
On this day when we gather with family around trees to open gifts and to feast on turkey and ham, gingerbread and fruitcake (yes, I said fruitcake), let us all remember the gift our Heavenly Father gave to us; his only son – Jesus.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.
Flightline Fabrications was recently visited by 1st Lt. Apollo Airborne. With the largest winter storm in over 40 years 1st Lt. Airborne was stuck at our Tigard, Oregon Facility for over a week. With over seven days of Snow Combat Experience, Airborne is now a hardend snow & ice veteran!
When asked about his visit, 1st Lt. Airborne replied “Lots of Snow, Lots of Ice, a troopers white Christmas dream!!” Airborne also added “Why are there no pink camouflage soldiers in Oregon?”
1st Lt. Apollo Airborne asked us to share these photos from his 2nd day of our visit.
Look for 1st Lt. Apollo Airborne in future sightings from Flightline Fabrications.
On December 23, 1776, patriot Thomas Paine penned Common Sense, a series of tracts concerning the American Revolution. His writings stirred the colonists to strengthen their resolve, resulting in the first successful anticolonial action in modern history.
This is but a portion of paragraph one, The Crisis Part 1.
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
Common Sense is powerfully written, full of depth, meaning and patriotic sentiment. While we are certainly not fighting a war of revolution today, the words are just as pertinent as they were 232 years ago.
I think the video says it all. This Christmas let’s all take a moment to remember those fathers and sons, mothers and daughter, husbands, wives, cousins, brothers and sisters who aren’t home with us and instead are abroad keeping the wolves at bay. A very Merry Christmas to all of our servicemen and women and to all those loved ones left at home.
Flightline Fabrications recently welcomed 1st Lt. Apollo Airborne to our team. With two days of Snow Combat Experience, one day of Jump Training, three months in a cardboard box, and a can do attitude 1st Lt. Airborne dropped in on our Tigard, Oregon Facility during the largest winter storm in the states last 10 years. With all roads covered in 4 inches of snow and ice, a paratrooper cannot be stopped!
When asked how the jump was, 1st Lt. Airborne replied “Cold, just plain Cold!”
1st Lt. Airborne even had time for a snow angel!
Look for 1st Lt. Apollo Airborne in future sightings from Flightline Fabrications.
The Shark Mouthed P-40 Warhawk fighters of the Flying Tigers remain among the most recognizable of any individual combat aircraft of World War II. The Flying Tigers demonstrated innovative tactical strategies designed and perfected by General Clair Chennault.
The group first saw combat on 20 December 1941, 12 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor (local time). The Flying Tigers achieved notable success during the lowest period of the war for U.S. and Allied Forces, giving hope to Americans that they would eventually succeed against the Japanese. The Tigers were credited with destroying almost 300 aircraft while losing only 14 pilots on combat missions. In July 1942, the AVG was replaced by the U.S. Army 23rd Fighter Group, which was later absorbed into the U.S. 14th Air Force with General Chennault as the commander. The 23rd Group went on to achieve similar combat success, while retaining the nose art and nickname of the volunteer unit.
December 17, 1903 – On a windy day on the dunes of Kittyhawk, North Carolina, the Wright Brothers make the first successful heavier than air powered flight. Piloted by Orville Wright, the flight covered 120 feet and lasted for 12 seconds ushering in the age of flight.
December 17, 1939 – German Naval Captain Hans Langsdorff scuttles the heavy cruiser (pocket battleship) Admiral Graf Spee outside the port of Montevideo, Uruguay to prevent his ship from falling into Allied hands after receiving damage in the Battle of the River Plate.
December 17, 1944 – Battle of the Bulge – Approximately 90 American soldiers, primarily members of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion are captured then executed by KampfgruppePeiper, part of the 1st SS Panzer Division (Waffen SS) in what would come to be known as the Malmedy Massacre.
