thedrifter
09-17-05, 11:32 AM
Veterans, friends remember POWs during recognition day
By BRIAN HAMLIN/The Reporter, Vacaville
Remembering those once imprisoned on foreign soil - and those who never came home - veterans, friends and family gathered Friday at the Solano County Vietnam Veterans Memorial in downtown Vacaville in observance of POW-MIA Recognition Day.
The ceremony commemorated the 25th anniversary of the national event, which salutes the sacrifice of American prisoners of war and the memory of servicemen and women missing in action.
Friday's observance outside Vacaville City Hall drew more than 50 participants along with the Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard, Brotherhood of Vietnam Veterans and the Vanden High School Viking Band.
Friday's keynote speaker was World War II POW Robert Tharratt of Walnut Creek, a B-17 Flying Fortress gunner who was shot down and captured during a bombing mission over Germany on Sept. 10, 1944.
His crew's four-engined bomber disabled by anti-aircraft fire, Tharratt and his fellow crewmembers had to bail out, and Tharratt didn't land in the best of locations.
"I hit the ground and, unfortunately, I was a quarter-mile from a Hitler Youth camp," the former Eighth Air Force gunner said.
"What we endured from then on was a bit of hell," Tharratt said, recalling forced marches between Nazi prison camps as German forces retreated before an Allied advance near the war's end.
He eventually was liberated on April 26, 1945.
"I weighed 155 pounds when I was shot down. After liberation, I weighed 105 pounds," Tharratt said. "I look upon myself as a survivor."
Faith, he said, played a key role in his survival.
"Those of us who did become prisoners had faith in our government and faith in our God. Without faith we would not have survived," Tharratt said.
Friday's observance also included a "Five Hat" ceremony performed by the Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard.
The solemn ceremony centered on a small dining table to which the honor guard slowly carried five military hats representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
"The table is set for those who have yet to return from the field of battle," said Kathleen Heeren, past Fifth District Commander of the American Legion.
"We call them brothers and sisters ... they never questioned nor faltered in doing their duty," Heeren said.
Upon the table was a vase containing three flowers - a red flower for those who gave their lives, a white flower for those who returned from battle and a yellow flower for those who remain missing in action.
Five wine glasses turned stems up also were on the table, signifying those who cannot be present. During the ceremony, they're turned upright again, "to show they are with us in spirit."
Joining in the ceremony were Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine and Fifth District Solano County Supervisor Mike Reagan, each of whom presented a proclamation recognizing POW-MIA Recognition day.
Both local lawmakers pointed out that roughly 86,700 Americans remain unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf conflicts.
Augustine said it's important that Americans continue pursuing the fullest possible accounting of those still missing.
"Public awareness is critical in achieving this mission and, to this end, the city of Vacaville pledges our continued support of behalf of the American patriots who paid for our freedom with their own," Augustine stated.
- Brian Hamlin can be reached at courts@thereporter.com.
Ellie
By BRIAN HAMLIN/The Reporter, Vacaville
Remembering those once imprisoned on foreign soil - and those who never came home - veterans, friends and family gathered Friday at the Solano County Vietnam Veterans Memorial in downtown Vacaville in observance of POW-MIA Recognition Day.
The ceremony commemorated the 25th anniversary of the national event, which salutes the sacrifice of American prisoners of war and the memory of servicemen and women missing in action.
Friday's observance outside Vacaville City Hall drew more than 50 participants along with the Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard, Brotherhood of Vietnam Veterans and the Vanden High School Viking Band.
Friday's keynote speaker was World War II POW Robert Tharratt of Walnut Creek, a B-17 Flying Fortress gunner who was shot down and captured during a bombing mission over Germany on Sept. 10, 1944.
His crew's four-engined bomber disabled by anti-aircraft fire, Tharratt and his fellow crewmembers had to bail out, and Tharratt didn't land in the best of locations.
"I hit the ground and, unfortunately, I was a quarter-mile from a Hitler Youth camp," the former Eighth Air Force gunner said.
"What we endured from then on was a bit of hell," Tharratt said, recalling forced marches between Nazi prison camps as German forces retreated before an Allied advance near the war's end.
He eventually was liberated on April 26, 1945.
"I weighed 155 pounds when I was shot down. After liberation, I weighed 105 pounds," Tharratt said. "I look upon myself as a survivor."
Faith, he said, played a key role in his survival.
"Those of us who did become prisoners had faith in our government and faith in our God. Without faith we would not have survived," Tharratt said.
Friday's observance also included a "Five Hat" ceremony performed by the Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard.
The solemn ceremony centered on a small dining table to which the honor guard slowly carried five military hats representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
"The table is set for those who have yet to return from the field of battle," said Kathleen Heeren, past Fifth District Commander of the American Legion.
"We call them brothers and sisters ... they never questioned nor faltered in doing their duty," Heeren said.
Upon the table was a vase containing three flowers - a red flower for those who gave their lives, a white flower for those who returned from battle and a yellow flower for those who remain missing in action.
Five wine glasses turned stems up also were on the table, signifying those who cannot be present. During the ceremony, they're turned upright again, "to show they are with us in spirit."
Joining in the ceremony were Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine and Fifth District Solano County Supervisor Mike Reagan, each of whom presented a proclamation recognizing POW-MIA Recognition day.
Both local lawmakers pointed out that roughly 86,700 Americans remain unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf conflicts.
Augustine said it's important that Americans continue pursuing the fullest possible accounting of those still missing.
"Public awareness is critical in achieving this mission and, to this end, the city of Vacaville pledges our continued support of behalf of the American patriots who paid for our freedom with their own," Augustine stated.
- Brian Hamlin can be reached at courts@thereporter.com.
Ellie