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bulletpusher
09-25-2010, 11:33 AM
Last night at approximately 10:15 PM James A. Harper passed away in his sleep in a hospital in Oklahoma. This gentleman was a Farmer and the Great Uncle of my wonderful Wife.

He shared his birth date with my oldest son, GoodOlBoy, who frequents Hunt Chat regularly.

Born 19 December 1918 and Passed 24 September 2010, James A. Harper was going to be 92 years old, and he looked a lot like Jimmy Stewart the movie star.

James A. Harper was in the United States Army Air Corp in WWII. He flew in B-24 Liberators. He was also on the first bombing run over Berlin Germany. He was in the nose of his Liberator taking pictures when Anti Aircraft Artillery went off against the glass close to him. Luckily the blast only sucked the camera out of the plane and not him. He spent about 6 months in the hospital trying to hear again. He finally got some of his hearing back.

After the War he returned home to Oklahoma and returned to Farming. The World is a lesser place with his passing and I thought that some of the World should know of the event.

Thanks
Bulletpusher

Dan Morris
09-25-2010, 11:40 AM
RIP...WW2 vets are getting scarce!My condolances
Dan

Adam Helmer
09-25-2010, 01:46 PM
bulletpusher,

Thanks for the post. My reenactment unit often fires the rifle salute at grave side for veterans hereabouts. I read where we lose about 1,000 WWII Veterans everyday. Those folks really were "The Greatest Generation" and we are interviewing WWII veterans locally to get their story on video, while there is yet time.....

Adam

Rapier
09-26-2010, 07:38 AM
Was a time when we older guys served with or lived with all manner of WWII and even WWI vets. Today they are leaving our ranks faster and faster, with all the WWI vets now departed. It is good that we have so many stories, books and pictures to remind us of their sacrifice.

A hand salute to James, God speed and may you always have a tail wind.
Ed

bulletpusher
09-30-2010, 12:26 PM
James A. Harper to be laid to rest Saturday the 2nd of October 2010.

Just for information.

Bulletpusher

Thanks to the ones who commented my Wife is grateful.