WW11 Veteran, remembered....

............on this beautiful Memorial Day.  His name was Gene Brais,  he volunteered in the Army and was sent to the Army Air Corp to learn how to fly Mitchell bombers, here in Florida.  His training brought him to Ocala, where he flew all his training sets and daily learning missions.
   After graduation from air camp, when the framed picture was taken, he was made Captain and sent to Okinawa at the age of 19.  There he flew many missions, bombing Japan.  He watched some of his best friends come home from raids and crash on landing, the planes were all shot up.  They were very hard times that left him with nightmares for the rest of his life.  He also contracted Malaria there and fought that disease till he died.
    Later in life he married, had a son, and lived a wonderful, productive and fruitful life.  He became a police officer and continued helping others.  The picture in the corner was taken in 1988 when he was given the privilege to fly one of the Good Year Blimps, which was a huge highlight in his life.

   Today is Memorial Day, and I wish to remember this fine American who gave his youth to defend this country and the United States, which he always said he would do again if his country needed him.  There are hundreds of thousands of hero's, like Gene, who we all owe a debt of gratitude for what they have given so we can live free.

Thank you, Gene, and everyone who has bleed and died so we can be free.