On August 1, 1946, in my east Tennessee hometown of Athens, my father was one of the GI's who led what has come to be known as "The Battle of Athens." These men had fought for liberty overseas only to see it withheld at home by a corrupt political machine. On 8/1/46, election day, things came to a head, and my father acted with bravery against a group of gun-toting "deputies" who were thugs. As usual, ballot boxes were stolen and stuffed, but this time, the GI's, led in part by my father, put up resistance. Shots were fired throughout the night, and finally the political machine surrendered. A bipartisan slate called the "GI Ticket" was elected. In the aftermath, the Good Government League was created. It became a model nationwide for civic and electoral reform. In many towns, machine politics was supplanted by a movement toward openness and accountability, and those efforts were led by GI's. The GI's in Athens were the first. The Battle of Athens made the front page of the New York Times, and Eleanor Roosevelt wrote about it in her newspaper column. My father and a few others spoke all over the country. The most scholarly account of the battle, a book by professor Steven Byrum, cites the time Daddy and two others were invited to speak to the national VFW convention in Boston. They raised the Tenn. flag over the Miles Standish Hotel where the convention was being held. How like him.

I hope there is some forum within your website to include this story about my father. Thank you for your attention to my request. Best regards, Sarah Scott Olympia, WA

Hi, Shawn, My name is Mark Shoup. My father, John, was the Knock-out Dropper's first bombardier. He flew to Molesworth in the fall of 1942 and completed his 25 missions the following June. When the war was over, he was scheduled for jet fighter training but left the service, as did many other men, when the war ended. He stayed in the National Guard another 28 years and retired a Lt. Colonel. Dad also named the Knock-out Dropper. The original crew submitted names for the plane, and his idea was chosen. If not for a few aborted missions, the Dropper would have been the first B-17 to fly 25 missions. I just thought you'd like to know this little bit of information. Mark Shoup, Iuka, Kansas

On 13th and 14th November of this year, 2004, the Greatest Air Show in the Nation will be held at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. Many will recall that the Base is named for a pilot by the name of Nellis who flew cover for us in the ETO in WW#2. The theme of the Air Show will be to commemorate veterans of D-Day and Veterans of WW#2, known as the Greatest Generation.

It is hoped that as many possible of you WHO WERE THERE, will attend this Air Show. You must, of course, attend on your own. There are no facilities nor assistances available. If you attend it is at your cost. You will be guaranteed a GOOD AIR SHOW ... the BEST in the Nation. And, if you can wear ANY part or all of your WW#2 uniform, please do so. Thank you.

I took Dad to see a B-17 on display in Portland, Maine in 1995. Dad passed at home on May 31, 1998 of natural causes. He was a banker all his life - worked his way up from teller to president and raised four children. His youngest was handicapped and passed when she was 12. My other sister was killed in a car accident when she was 25.

Craig and I have always been so proud of the service Dad gave his country. We know if the war had not been fought with the dedication and sacrifice that it was, our world would be a very different place. My brother's oldest son, Jeremy, is in Iraq. He talked with his Pepe often about his experiences in Molesworth and read extensively on the war and B17's. I'm sure Dad is watching over Jeremy and is proud of his heritage as Jeremy embodies it. Jeremy is a tank commander in the First Armored Division stationed north of Bagdad. He's 21.

I plan on sending in my membership and will work on the biography unless Dad sent one in already. I hope he did but I'm not sure. Again, thank you so much for all the work that has been put into this sight. Craig and I went to the 303rd museum shortly after we lost Dad.

Seeing Dad's picture under the information for "Satan's Workshop" was truly heartwarming. Thanks again so much, Maureen Lee Cote

We still have heroes, many times the memories are searing and the healing long. If you have yet to record your memories, consider doing it. I lost a hero the other day. We never got Papa Dave's Luzon exploits with a flame-thrower on record. Lied, enlisted at 16. He was a Hurricane. Got sick. Got well. "Nope, you're not a Hurricane, anymore. They got wiped out. You're a Black Hawk, now." Angry young man, seeking enemies, freeing prisoners of war, guarding Yamata (sp?), "Go home Mexican man, your fight is not with us." Papa Dave used to sit and swap war stories with the Cuban across the street, who served in Angola. And I was in the gulf in '74. I'm sorry I can't share your site with him. He would have liked it, too.

In order to record the World War II history of Alamogordo Army Air Field, I’d like to request any stories, recollections, or photographs you may have from your time in New Mexico. These will be used in writing a World War II history of Alamogordo Army Air Field that I would be glad to share when completed this summer.

Thank you for your help, MSgt Greg Henneman, Holloman AFB Historian