We talked of the time we left Kansas with snow on the ground and flew to Cuba for more in-flight training. When we landed in Florida we had to pass a physical before we could go to Cuba. It seems that when we took the physical in Florida, several of us had a high temperature so they made us stay in the hospital overnight for observation. If I remember correctly, the nurses were unhappy because we were only going to mess up their beds, probably for one night only, and we were not even sick. There were probably a lot of people around who needed the hospital beds more than we.

The best thing I remember of Cuba were the banana splits! Smitty says that they were only quarter, which sounds correct to me. I seems there was one or two slices of pineapple, the biggest banana split down the middle, three large scoops of different flavored ice cream (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry), whipped cream, nuts and a maraschino cherry on top - and always a girl in a low-cut dress who would bend down to dip the ice cream. So you see I am not sure what we all liked the best!

It was in Cuba that they tried to teach me to swim. Even with a Mae West on, I would turn upside down. I was thrown into the pool-they thought I would swim, but I only went to the bottom like a rock and they had to jump in and pull me out.

I enjoyed our tour of Cuba. Smitty said we had two taxis, probably one for officers and one for enlisted men. He was probably right; I don't remember, I enjoyed the Prado, Morro Castle, and Sloppy Joe's. I don't know if anyone went to Casa Marinas or not, If so no one will probably say.

Back to Smitty, if there is anything to the Prodigal Son story in the Bible, it came true for me on Tuesday. I was probably happier to see him than I would have been if my own son would have walked in. I don't know how long Smitty had planned this visit. He told me he was traveling to through Indianapolis and decided on coming to Washington. He said he thought that if anyone would stay in one place, after 42 years, it would be old John Essig at Washington, Indianapolis. Maybe sometime someone will be able to find out more about Johnson, Jones said before Johnson died he was an architect in Florida and designed buildings. I did not remember until Smitty reminded me that Johnson was often sketching or doodling with paper and pencil.

When I began this, I just started putting my thoughts on paper. It has crossed my mind that I would be most happy if any of the other crew members would put his thoughts on paper and return to me. I'm sure other members could think of items I have forgotten. It would refresh my memory.

One of my memories of T. Bell was what he said about our promotion ratings; that while in the states we would probably not get many, but as soon as we arrived overseas he would see that we got our promotions as soon as he could get them for us. NO TRUER WORDS WERE EVER SPOKEN. We always got our promotions as soon as possible. This was only a small item but we enlisted men looked forward to them like food from home. I think it took me my entire service time, 2 years and 9 months, to get the Good Conduct Medal.

Smitty showed me a roll of RCM which he brought back and had with him in his camper. I had never seen that for 42 years. In fact, I do not even remember seeing it in the plane when Schulman threw it out. I do remember the night over- Tokyo when it probably saved our lives. T. Bell told Schulman to dump the whole box and the lights and guns followed it. There was no atheist on our plane that night if there was any. in my top position, never saw much. But that night I sure saw the guns and flak shooting the dickens out of those tin-foil rolls.

I had forgotten but Smitty was telling that part of his pre-flight job was taking of the putt putt before starting the engine? We think about four times for each prop (?).

Smitty also mentioned the fact that on one of our day missions it was supposed to be a milk run because one of the high-ranking brass was with us on the mission. But as I recall it, it was one of the roughest missions we had. Plenty of flak and also enemy fighters.

Does anyone remember when we all sent home for wax and waxed the plane? I asked Beaver if it did indeed help and he told me yes. I don't remember if any of the other crews did it or not.

Remember the time my blister blew out from pressure? Beaver or T. Bell asked what was going on back there. Beaver said the pressure gauges went crazy. Naturally we all put on our oxygen masks and returned home okay.

Smitty and I talked about all of our crew members and we did not come up with anyone being more important than the others. We did talk about how T. Bell, Beaver and Callaghan maneuvered the plane as to fuel, altitude, location and wind velocity. They were constantly working while the rest of us would get some relax time up and back. I remember how Callaghan would say to look out to the right or left blister and you should see land soon. He was always right!

A big thanks to the whole crew. We made it back safely!