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  • Studebaker heros among us

    This might be better in Stove Huggers, but it has so much Studebaker content...
    At our Potomac Chapter Christmas Party yesterday, the Chapter President, Bob Devore, called one of our long-time members, Leonard Summers, to the podium. Leonard had received some mention several weeks ago about being honored in a War Veterans' parade in Williamsport, MD, but even those of us you have known him for a long time didn't know "the rest of the Story". Bob has somehow gotten more information from Leonard who has always been reluctant to talk about his WW II experience other than to say that Studebaker engines always got his B-17 back safely. We also knew that Leonard was a flight engineer on a B-17 flying 8th Air Force bombing missions over Germany. But, it turns out that Leonard he had flown 35 missions and had been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, and three Bronze Stars in addition to campaign medals. Bob had arranged to get a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol to present to him as part of the recognition for his service.




    Bob also learned that even with the all the high ranking medals, Leonard had never received a Good Conduct Medal. So, he contacted Leonard's Congressman and they arranged to get him the medal.





    Leonard wasn't the only one with a tear in his eye.



    Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Daytona convertible, '53 Commander Starliner, Museum R-4 engine, '62 Gravely Model L, '72 Gravely Model 430

    Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.
    '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Avanti R-1, Museum R-4 engine, '72 Gravely Model 430 with Onan engine

  • #2
    Very COOL,
    Man they don't make em like that any more.

    Very impressive to see such an honorable guy like that being commended for his actions.

    Dean.

    Comment


    • #3
      Congratulations Leonard on a job well done.


      Lark ala mode
      In the middle of Minnesota
      sigpic
      In the middle of MinneSTUDEa.

      Comment


      • #4
        Beautiful. God Bless the greatest soldiers in the world- truly the Lord's servants.

        I wish I had been there. I would have loved to snap off a crisp salute to him and shake his hand[^]

        Robert (Bob) Andrews- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys)
        Parish, central NY 13131

        GOD BLESS AMERICA





        Comment


        • #5
          Kudos to Leonard as well as all those that weren't as "lucky" as he was. It most definitely WAS a matter of luck to be able to get your required number of missions in and get to come back home. A whole big bunch of them never made that goal.[V]


          1957 Transtar 1/2ton
          1963 Cruiser
          1960 Larkvertible V8
          1958 Provincial wagon
          1953 Commander coupe
          1957 President two door

          No deceptive flags to prove I'm patriotic - no biblical BS to impress - just ME and Studebakers - as it should be.

          Comment


          • #6
            Wow! That is great to see this happen!

            Dylan Wills

            '61 lark deluxe 4 door wagon
            Dylan Wills
            Everett, Wa.


            1961 Lark 4 door wagon
            1961 Lark 4 door wagon #2 (Wife's car!)
            1955 VW Beetle (Went to the dark side)
            1914 Ford Model T

            Comment


            • #7
              What a great thing your chapter has done to honor this much deserving veteran. Thanks to him for his service and to you folks for taking the time and effort to recognize him.

              Joe Roberts
              '61 R1 Champ
              '65 Cruiser
              Editor of "The Down Easterner"
              Eastern North Carolina Chapter
              Joe Roberts
              '61 R1 Champ
              '65 Cruiser
              Eastern North Carolina Chapter

              Comment


              • #8
                Very nice indeed (and I noticed the bar in the background that was missing at our get together on Saturday ). My uncle was a decorated fighter ace (13.5 kills) in the 8th Air Force, 356th Fighter Battalion in World War II where he flew 122 combat missions from January, 1944 til the end of the war. He later served in Korea flying F-86, F-84 and F-105 fighters went on to become an Air Force Major General and has been featured in a couple of documentaries on World War II.

                He flew both P-47's and P-51's in WWII. Below is a picture of him next to his Mustang, the "Jersey Jerk".



                This is a picture of the plane with it original markings.



                He is now 92 years old and had knee replacement surgery a couple of years ago. He is a huge golfer and is probably the only person I know who has shot his age in a round of golf.

                Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful" and real Studebaker horsepower lives

                See pictures here: http://community.webshots.com/user/GuidoSalvage

                Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond, Goochland & Louisa, Va.

                Comment


                • #9
                  A big ,Thank You, to all who have served and are now serving our great nation.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    It's hard to understand how men who did such monumental deeds can remain so humble. The pop "heros" of today should take note.


                    Doug
                    Venice, Florida
                    1950 Champion
                    9G F1

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      quote:Originally posted by Guido

                      Very nice indeed (and I noticed the bar in the background that was missing at our get together on Saturday ). My uncle was a decorated fighter ace (13.5 kills) in the 8th Air Force, 356th Fighter Battalion in World War II where he flew 122 combat missions from January, 1944 til the end of the war. He later served in Korea flying F-86, F-84 and F-105 fighters went on to become an Air Force Major General and has been featured in a couple of documentaries on World War II.
                      He flew both P-47's and P-51's in WWII. Below is a picture of him next to his Mustang, the "Jersey Jerk". ...
                      ...He is now 92 years old and had knee replacement surgery a couple of years ago. He is a huge golfer and is probably the only person I know who has shot his age in a round of golf.
                      Very neat story Gary. Thanks. Your uncle may very well have escorted his B-17 at some point.
                      Our Potomac Chapter party was about 180 out from our Greater Virginia one. We had it at the Inn at Charles Town, the new 100+ room state-of-the-art hotel at Charles Town Races and Slots. Ruth set it up and it was fantastic. We had a very large room for the 40+ people that made it (in spite of the ice/rain/fog). They set up a full service cash bar in one end of the room and a great buffet in the other end. The food was catered by the food service at the track so they had unlimited possibilities, really great to work with- a variety of salads ranging from spinach salad to pasta salad, chilled asparagus salad with pine nuts, chilled grilled veggies, hot vegetables, steamed potatoes, two entrees, about eight or ten different desserts, unlimited tea/coffee/lemonade, great service (all for $25 a head all inclusive). They didn't charge us for falling short of the final number given them and they provided the podium, PA system and a TV at no charge (on the TV we ran a continuous loop slide show of chapter activities through 2009- 260 pictures). Sadly they threw away more food than we ate. State law doesn't allow them to even give it away.



                      Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia. '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Daytona convertible, '53 Commander Starliner, Museum R-4 engine, '62 Gravely Model L, '72 Gravely Model 430

                      Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.
                      '64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Avanti R-1, Museum R-4 engine, '72 Gravely Model 430 with Onan engine

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        What a great generation of men and women that will never be duplicated. THANK YOU

                        Tom

                        sigpic

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          While I do not know Leonard personally, I do know that he is a humble unassuming HERO who deserved the recognition that he received at the Christmas party. Thank You Leonard and the countless other members of the forum who have served in our armed forces protecting the freedoms that we so deeply cherish.
                          sigpicSee you in the future as I write about our past

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            quote:Originally posted by COMMANDERPINK1

                            What a great generation of men and women that will never be duplicated. THANK YOU

                            Tom

                            AGREED. THANK YOU.

                            kurtruk
                            KURTRUK
                            (read it backwards)




                            Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong. -A. Lincoln

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              quote:Originally posted by Invalid User Name

                              It's hard to understand how men who did such monumental deeds can remain so humble. The pop "heros" of today should take note.

                              Doug
                              Venice, Florida
                              1950 Champion
                              9G F1
                              Boy, that is the truth! In a world full of self-promoters today, it is certainly refreshing to see such humility in a true hero.

                              Tom
                              1960 Lark VIII
                              1962 Lark Cruiser
                              1964 Cruiser
                              Tom
                              1960 Lark VIII
                              1962 Lark Cruiser
                              1964 Cruiser

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