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He
also researched and wrote "History" for VFW Post 249 and DAV Chapter
64. That project took more than 3 years to complete. Curry also
continues to update the books as needed.
His
extensive knowledge about the County's veterans along with his
personal experiences, have lead Curry to become a much-sought-after
speaker for area school groups.
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Back
Seat: Grandchildren Lauren & Michael and in the front
Richard Curry with Gene Wise behind the wheel
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In
2001,the commanders of the Butler County veterans' organizations
selected him as Veteran of the Year, and honored him at the Veterans
Day dinner-dance at the Vagabond Center in Lyndora, PA.
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Thirty
Four Years Later
Richard Curry (L) and Harry
Slater, Jr meet in 1979. The last they saw one another
was May 25, 1945. The day Harry, David and the rest of the
Kobler Crew left
on their bombing mission to Tokyo.
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An
excerpt from Richard Curry's diary states:
May 25, 1945 (Richard went with David to his plane to see him
off, wish him good luck and return safely) "I was a gasp when
he said, "This will be the last time I see you. I know that I
will not be returning. I want to thank you for all that you have
done for me and wish that I could be more like you". Richard answered
him saying, "Don't worry too much. I just flew my first mission
and I returned "O.K." Richard tried to further reassure his cousin
that everything would be all right, but he could see he wasn't
getting through to him.
David's
premonition came true.
On 26
May 1945 - on David Curry's first mission he and 9 other members
of his crew mates were lost. Harry Slater, Jr., was the CFC Gunner
and the only survivor of the crew. He spent from May - August until
liberated as prisoner of the Japanese
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Butler
County Veterans of World War II |
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Richard
Curry has put three years of hard work into writing and
compiling this book as well as a life-time of gathering
information about the experiences of others, as well as
his own, as veterans from Butler County, PA.
Included
in the 243-pages are photos of the veterans and of memorabilia
from their WWII days
Profits
from the sale of this book are donated to D.A.V. Chapter
64. |
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