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    Romance at Sheppard Field 1944
    Romance at Sheppard Field 1944
    Romance at Sheppard Field 1944
    Ebook126 pages1 hour

    Romance at Sheppard Field 1944

    By Lili Ludwick

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    About this ebook

    Vern Ludwick was born December 21, 1916 in Wyoming. His family eventually moved to California. He met the love of his life in 1944 at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas, while serving as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Air Forces. He married the woman he fell in love with on December 8, 1944. This is the story of the beginning of the love between the young couple, Vern and LaFaye.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLili Ludwick
    Release dateNov 25, 2013
    ISBN9781311905246
    Romance at Sheppard Field 1944
    Author

    Lili Ludwick

    Ms Ludwick spent her formative years in San Luis Obispo County, California, alongside her three sisters, with her mother, LaFaye, and her father, Vern. She now lives in Ventura County, California, where she works as a Legal Assistant with a sharp eye for detail and a penchant for organization. In her spare time she enjoys photography, cooking, sewing, researching her family ancestry and ignoring physical exercise. Lili loves Mexican food and strong coffee and can't get enough of her two daughters, two sons-in-law, and six grandchildren. Although she's a decent woman of high morals, it is widely known that she can be bribed with See's chocolate.

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      Book preview

      Romance at Sheppard Field 1944 - Lili Ludwick

      Dedication

      To my father, Vern Ludwick, who gave me unconditional love; and, to my daughters, Marilyn Renee and Gina LaFaye, to whom I have tried to give the same priceless gift.

      Introduction

      Vern Ludwick was born on December 21, 1916 in Basin, Wyoming, to Edward Claude Ludwick and Bessie P. Jones Ludwick. Their family lived in a very small town called Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Vern Ludwick met the love of his life in 1944 at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas, while serving as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army Air Forces. He married the woman he fell in love with on December 8, 1944. Their marriage lasted 38 years until his death at the age of 66 years on December 29, 1982 in San Luis Obispo, California. Romance at Sheppard Field 1944 is the story of the beginning of the love between the young couple, Vern and LaFaye.

      Chapter 1: Jan-Feb 1944

      No doubt, the year of 1944 was the year of greatest changes in my life & way of living, for many events took place which have & will continue to lead up to remolding my life into a different pattern than ever before.

      New Year’s Day of ’44 was spent quietly by me in my barracks studying Tech Orders and other reading material on B-25 & B-26s – giving little thought to what all might take place during the coming year for either myself or our family.

      I’ve always tried to take life as it comes along – for better or for worse & not worrying about anything. Perhaps if I could have been able to look into the future a bit, I would of – well, I really don’t know what I would of done, for –

      Up to Jan. 8th, I was searching thru airplane data which I was to pick out only what I figured good educational knowledge for the Inspection Branch students to learn, and to rewrite this information into concentrated form for pamphlet publication.

      Then on Jan 8th, my advanced schooling began which was to take me to many parts of this wonderful nation.

      Five of us instructors shipped out for Inglewood, California, to take a factory course on B-25 Field Service Representative at North American Factory.

      Throughout January and February, we spent at least 14 hours daily (save Sunday) going to school.

      Four out of the 7 weekends, I managed to go home 225 miles to San Luis Obispo.

      And, I am very thankful now that I had these chances to visit with my mother, for soon afterwards she was gone forever.

      Chapter 2: March 1944

      March 1st, our group of 5 had completed this B-25 course & we started back by train to Sheppard Field. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a swell Letter of Commendation from North American to the Sheppard Field A.M. School Director.

      Major Gaith, the School Director, also presented me with another Commendation & requested that the two be filed with my service records. (They never were filed, but had been destroyed by someone. However, I had additional copies for my collection of odds & ends).

      The A.M. school closed by the 2nd of March, and after a few days of disassembling school mock-ups & equipment, I was transferred to the sub-depot for duty in what was known as Aero Repair. This department worked on all & every system on any plane that might come along, so I felt qualified for this job.

      My best friend and old buddy, S/Sgt. Kenneth Seaoholtz, who was a California lad, was an instructor in Engine Repair. His branch closed a couple weeks before mine, so he was placed in charge of pickling engines.

      In order to get this job done, he had to obtain certain equipment from the sub-depot. While on his trips to the sub-depot, he had noticed the presence of a beautiful brunette who worked there.

      So, the first time he had a chance, he proceeded to tell me all about her. I clearly remember him using these words, – Boy howdy, Vern. There’s sure a swell-looking babe working at the sub-depot. I only replied, Oh, yeah.

      Little did I realize that she was to mean a great deal to me before the end of the year.

      Chapter 3: April-May 1944

      All was going well at the sub-depot when, on April 10, we were all put on alert until 1800 when a list was read off of us who were to ship to Altus, Oklahoma, for only 30 days. We were to leave at 0300 on the 11th.

      So, by 1000 that morn, the 30 of us were all settled at the Altus Army Air Force Field.

      Naturally, the first thing I was interested in when transferred to the sub-depot, was to look around a bit for this gal who my buddy had told me about.

      She happened to be the secretary to the shop foreman of Aero Repair – the department I had chosen. And the minute I saw her, I realized she was all that he had said and then some.

      She was very beautiful & had a perfect streamline shape, long dark hair, beautiful brown eyes, very light complexion, about 100 lbs. in weight, about 5’3 or 5’4, very dainty, dressed in slacks & blouse in well-chosen feminine colors, awful neat, quiet, swell smile, soft voice – just mighty nice.

      So, I figured, "Oh, oh. She’s too good for me – just out of my class – probably wouldn’t even look my way – so I left her alone.

      But, at the same time I thought to myself, – Gosh, how lucky I would be if ever I could go with a gal of her caliber. I figured surely she must be nabbed onto by some lucky guy.

      Anyhow, I started to inquire around about her. Couldn’t find out much though, for I went about it in such a way as to not give the other guy a chance to suspicion I was interested in this girl.

      Well, in the few days I was at the sub-depot, I found out very little of her.

      I was placed in charge of some AT-9s & AT-17s on the line, & really liked my work, for it was my first crack at practical work. All my schooling had been theory.

      I wrote to Mom each day while there, for I hadn’t heard from her for about 3 weeks.

      Sat. evening about 2000 April 19, I wrote a letter to Mom thanking her for all she had done for me while I was home again.

      Little did I realize I was to beat this letter home.

      Or, little did I realize that almost to the minute, Mom was being moved to a hospital at home.

      I sort of sensed something was wrong while writing to her, and made several remarks to my very good friend, S/Sgt Roy B. Georhagen, a Georgia cracker, who I paled around with for a couple of years.

      The next day, which was Sunday, we finished work at noon. I wanted to hang around the barracks & rest up, but some of the boys twisted my arm and talked me into going to Sheppard Field – 80 miles distance.

      Got there in time to go eat. While entering the mess hall, I told the fellows I was with, that surely something was wrong at home, for Mom hadn’t written me for a long time & normally she would write at least every three days.

      When walking from the mess hall to the barracks, a fellow instructor notified me that my mother wasn’t expected to live & that I had a telegram requesting me to come home immediately.

      So, first of all, I had to get back to Altus in order to get emergency furlough papers.

      Being on foot, I had to hitch-hike back.

      And by 2200, I had everything all set for a hop in the morning to Oklahoma City. After a good nite’s sleep, I boarded the AT-17 for Oklahoma City where, after almost 2 hours, was landed.

      A half-hour later, I had hooked a B-26C going to Santa Barbara – 110 miles from home.

      Five hours later, because of fog, we landed at San Bernardino. AB-18 was ready to take off, and the pilot told me to hop on after I gave him my line.

      Reached Glendale by 1830 & rode street car to Santa Monica. Hitch-hiked on home, arriving at 0600.

      Well, I visited Mom several times, but realized she would never pull through. High blood pressure had got her & nothing but penicillin might save her.

      The Army had control of all penicillin and it was impossible to obtain any.

      At 1800 on Friday, April 27th, she passed away with all her family either with her or at home. All 3 of us boys in the service had managed to fly home & all her other children were close enough home to be present at

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