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Kettering WWII veteran to receive Congressional Gold Medal
And a good news story this morning.
And a good news story this morning.
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Posted from whio.comPosted in these groups: 
WWII World War Two
WWII World War Two
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 11
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Okay my friend Lt Col Charlie Brown since I am a MOAA Life Member I copied and pasted the text.
Images:
1. 1943 Russel Cliff Hastler WWII pilot and 93-year-old Russel Cliff Hastler (Hastler family photo).jpg
2. Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret) receives the Congressional Gold Medal from Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, during an October ceremony. (Hastler family photo)
3. Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret) left service in 1978. (Hastler family photo)
"A B-24 gunner who flew missions to drop spies and supplies into France and Italy during World War II has received the country's highest civilian honor.
Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret), a 93-year-old Life Member of MOAA from Ohio, recently was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal. Hastler enlisted as a member of the Army Air Corps, then returned to service as an Air Force officer, retiring in 1978 after 30 years of service.
“During World War II, I wanted so much to serve as a pilot, and we all wanted to do the right thing,” Hastler said in a written response to MOAA's questions provided through his family. “That sense of patriotism has remained a part of my being to this day. It's been my greatest honor to serve my country as a member of the military, and especially as an Air Force officer.”
Hastler, of Kettering, Ohio, was presented the medal during a ceremony hosted by Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's tactical air and land forces panel.
“Col. Hastler was part of the 'Greatest Generation' and played a role in forming our current military and intelligence operations,” Turner said.
Before he'd graduated from high school, Hastler said he'd been devising ways to join the military. He knew missions in World War II were ramping up and wanted to be part of the efforts - especially as a pilot.
Hastler enlisted when he was 18 and still taking high school classes. By the time he'd completed five months of flight school, the Army Air Corps had filled its pilot slots.
Undeterred, Hastler accepted a slot for gunnery school, which would still get him on a plane. He was assigned to the 492nd Bomb Group, which entered combat in World War II at Royal Air Force Station Harrington in Northamptonshire, England, in August 1944.
The unit led the stealthy “Carpetbagger” mission - sneaking fuel, food, supplies and spies into parts of France, Italy and other countries. The planes were designed to keep the crew undetected, so they were painted matte black on the inside and permitted only to fly at night. They operated with limited radio communication to stay hidden.
“We flew modified B-24s, gutted inside to drop spies and supplies through the 'Joe Hole' (turret opening),” Hastler said. “We flew only by moonlight, making drops to resistance fighters at drop sites lighted only by directional flash lights on the ground.”
Hastler said the biggest challenge was finding ways to operate while concealing their position.
Sometimes the crew would have to conduct low-altitude drops, requiring the plane to fly as low as 400 feet. And, they had to find ways to stay warm without lighting a bonfire, which would omit smoke, immediately giving away their position.
As the crew's gunner, Hastler said he remained vigilant.
“The darkness and the clandestine nature worked more in our favor than the daylight guys,” he said. “It was harder to scramble German fighters if we were spotted. In the air, once they spotted my tracer fire, they most often left us alone. We were so darkened, we were hard to find - even in the moonlight.”
After the war, Hastler returned to Ohio to help raise his three children with his wife, Norma, to whom he has been married for 74 years. He used his G.I. Bill benefits to take college courses while working full time at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
Still, he missed the camaraderie of his Bomb Group. That led him obtain an officer commission in the Air Force in 1952.
Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret) left service in 1978. (Hastler family photo)
Hastler served in the Air Force for 30 years, then worked at Battelle Memorial Institute in nuclear waste disposal for Systems Research Laboratories.
“My World War II experience was a once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind of ingenuity,” Hastler said. “Today's military structure is very different from when I retired in 1978, and even more so than during WWII. But the one thing that never changes is the commitment of those who serve.
“While I can't provide a guidepost for survival or success, I think the old adage of 'God, country, family' will always hold true. Keep those priorities in the fore and you will be on the right path. Remember those who went before you and never forget your fallen comrades.”
Amanda Dolasinski is MOAA's staff writer. She can be reached at [login to see] . Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMOAA.
FYI LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip Roncari Lt Col Jim CoeCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSGT Jim Arnold Sgt Albert Castro PO3 Phyllis Maynard Maj Robert Thornton SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft PO1 H Gene Lawrence PVT Karl Goode CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see) PO2 Kevin Parker SGT James Murphy SrA John Monette
Images:
1. 1943 Russel Cliff Hastler WWII pilot and 93-year-old Russel Cliff Hastler (Hastler family photo).jpg
2. Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret) receives the Congressional Gold Medal from Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, during an October ceremony. (Hastler family photo)
3. Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret) left service in 1978. (Hastler family photo)
"A B-24 gunner who flew missions to drop spies and supplies into France and Italy during World War II has received the country's highest civilian honor.
Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret), a 93-year-old Life Member of MOAA from Ohio, recently was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal. Hastler enlisted as a member of the Army Air Corps, then returned to service as an Air Force officer, retiring in 1978 after 30 years of service.
“During World War II, I wanted so much to serve as a pilot, and we all wanted to do the right thing,” Hastler said in a written response to MOAA's questions provided through his family. “That sense of patriotism has remained a part of my being to this day. It's been my greatest honor to serve my country as a member of the military, and especially as an Air Force officer.”
Hastler, of Kettering, Ohio, was presented the medal during a ceremony hosted by Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's tactical air and land forces panel.
“Col. Hastler was part of the 'Greatest Generation' and played a role in forming our current military and intelligence operations,” Turner said.
Before he'd graduated from high school, Hastler said he'd been devising ways to join the military. He knew missions in World War II were ramping up and wanted to be part of the efforts - especially as a pilot.
Hastler enlisted when he was 18 and still taking high school classes. By the time he'd completed five months of flight school, the Army Air Corps had filled its pilot slots.
Undeterred, Hastler accepted a slot for gunnery school, which would still get him on a plane. He was assigned to the 492nd Bomb Group, which entered combat in World War II at Royal Air Force Station Harrington in Northamptonshire, England, in August 1944.
The unit led the stealthy “Carpetbagger” mission - sneaking fuel, food, supplies and spies into parts of France, Italy and other countries. The planes were designed to keep the crew undetected, so they were painted matte black on the inside and permitted only to fly at night. They operated with limited radio communication to stay hidden.
“We flew modified B-24s, gutted inside to drop spies and supplies through the 'Joe Hole' (turret opening),” Hastler said. “We flew only by moonlight, making drops to resistance fighters at drop sites lighted only by directional flash lights on the ground.”
Hastler said the biggest challenge was finding ways to operate while concealing their position.
Sometimes the crew would have to conduct low-altitude drops, requiring the plane to fly as low as 400 feet. And, they had to find ways to stay warm without lighting a bonfire, which would omit smoke, immediately giving away their position.
As the crew's gunner, Hastler said he remained vigilant.
“The darkness and the clandestine nature worked more in our favor than the daylight guys,” he said. “It was harder to scramble German fighters if we were spotted. In the air, once they spotted my tracer fire, they most often left us alone. We were so darkened, we were hard to find - even in the moonlight.”
After the war, Hastler returned to Ohio to help raise his three children with his wife, Norma, to whom he has been married for 74 years. He used his G.I. Bill benefits to take college courses while working full time at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
Still, he missed the camaraderie of his Bomb Group. That led him obtain an officer commission in the Air Force in 1952.
Air Force Col. Russell “Cliff” Hastler Jr. (Ret) left service in 1978. (Hastler family photo)
Hastler served in the Air Force for 30 years, then worked at Battelle Memorial Institute in nuclear waste disposal for Systems Research Laboratories.
“My World War II experience was a once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind of ingenuity,” Hastler said. “Today's military structure is very different from when I retired in 1978, and even more so than during WWII. But the one thing that never changes is the commitment of those who serve.
“While I can't provide a guidepost for survival or success, I think the old adage of 'God, country, family' will always hold true. Keep those priorities in the fore and you will be on the right path. Remember those who went before you and never forget your fallen comrades.”
Amanda Dolasinski is MOAA's staff writer. She can be reached at [login to see] . Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMOAA.
FYI LTC Jeff ShearerSGT Philip Roncari Lt Col Jim CoeCWO3 Dennis M.SGT (Join to see)PO3 Bob McCordSGT Jim Arnold Sgt Albert Castro PO3 Phyllis Maynard Maj Robert Thornton SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft PO1 H Gene Lawrence PVT Karl Goode CW5 John M. CMSgt (Join to see) PO2 Kevin Parker SGT James Murphy SrA John Monette
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
They could have come up with a Legion of Merit. It’s worth More than tha civ. Gold medal. (X-Pres. Obama diluted that medal when he awarded it to Jane Fonda the $&@€£¥# vietnam war activist.. and to some in the black panther and other anti-civil activist groups..
The man deserves more after what he done just by serving our country.
The man deserves more after what he done just by serving our country.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LT Brad McInnis PO3 Bob McCord CW3 Dick McManus SGT John " Mac " McConnell CWO3 Dennis M. MSgt Stephen Council LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephan Porter LTC Stephen C. LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SGT Jim Arnold Capt Christian D. Orr Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SFC Francisco Rosario LTC (Join to see)
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Definitely a great piece of news ma'am, thank you for the share.
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