The Final Chapter - Ralph & Emily

In my previous post, Ralph and his cousin Morgan Ford attended a Youth Council dance where they met Emily Holliker and Dorothy Ford (classmates from Waterville OH).

And this is how you'll learn the rest of the story - in my mother's own words.

The following is taken from "The Grandparent Book" that Emily was given by my daughter, Leslie many years ago. While preparing photos and memorabilia for Emily's funeral, I happened upon the book. My comments/clarifications are in [ ].

Q. How did you meet grandpa?
A. Met Grandpa (Ralph William Brown) at Lucas Co. Youth Council

Q. How old were you when you met?
A. 19

Q. What attracted you to each other?
A. Good square dancer.

Q. What do you remember most about the courtship?
A. Going to see lots of movies. His kindness. Patience & consideration to let me date others as I had not dated before. He was very affectionate. Good kisser! Lovable person.

Q. When and where was the wedding?
A. April 30, 1949 (Saturday 7:30 P.M.) Waterville Zion Lutheran Church

Q. What did you wear?
A. White satin dress. Was made by "future" sister-in-law, Marie Brown. Veil borrowed from "future sister-in-law", Dorothy Brown.

[Marie was Cliff's wife who wrote Ralph so many letters while he was in the service.]
[Dorothy married Ralph's brother Harley in 1946. He was also in the service and mentioned frequently in his letters. He entered after Ralph, but got home from Europe before Ralph.]

Q. What is your strongest memory from your wedding?
A. Forgot to get my bouquet from maid of honor, so we walked out of church without flowers. After church reception we went back to my folks house & took gifts. - Bill got upset. - couldn't find marriage certificate & we wanted it as going to Niagara Falls - Canada. - Someone had it. OK.

[Emily rarely called Ralph by his given name; she usually referred to him as Bill.]

Q. Who was there (in general)?
A. All my family - mother, father, sisters & spouses, brother & wife - and their children.
Same for Ralph's family.
Cousins & friends.

Q. Did you go on a honeymoon? Tell about it.
A. Yes. Sunday went to Canada - Niagara Falls. Very little business open on a Sunday, like restaurants. Went to N.Y. after seeing American falls. Went on "Maid of Mist" boat trip. Went to New England States. Very cold in Vermont. - Went to Maryland & visited Baumgardner. On to Washington D.C. Was anxious to get home (on Sat home) to see all our wedding gifts.

[Earlier in the set of questions, Emily told how she moved out of the family home in October 1946 when she got a job with Ohio Bell Co. (Telephone). She lived with Mr. & Mrs. Baumgardner at the suggestion of a family friend. Her pay was $29/week.]

Q. What was your adjustment to married life like? Were there any surprises?
A. Not much of any problems. Bill worked all three shifts. Big meals sometimes at noon & other times evening. All night shift I had to sleep by myself - in old upstairs small apartment on Prouty Ave, Toledo Oh. I worked different hours also. Sometimes Bill picked me up from work at Ohio Bell Telephone, other times rode city bus or if after midnight, Co. sent me home in cab - free of charge.

[Ralph worked as a stationary engineer at Medusa Cement Co.]

Here is their wedding invitation and their wedding photo. And one more surprise! (Read through to the end of this post.)

Remember the year that Ralph asked his mom to buy Irene's Christmas present? Remember that he asked his mom to have Irene return it to him after she broke the engagement? Remember that it was a "hope chest" or cedar chest? Guess what he did with it.

Yep, he kept it and either gave it to Emily, or it just became a part of their furniture. It was brought to Florida in 2013 when my mom and I moved down here.

The Rest of the Story - Morgan Ford, Dorothy Hertzfeld, and Emily Holliker

Frequently in his letters, Ralph referred to his cousin, Morgan Ford. Here is some of his story:

• Morgan's mother Susie Brown Ford and Ralph's father, William Stephen Brown were sister & brother.
• Morgan's homestead/farm was in Berkey OH, next to the cemetery on Sylvania-Metamora Rd. His home was less than 2 miles from Ralph's home on Silberhorn Highway, Blissfield, MI.
• Morgan graduated from Burnham HS in Sylvania OH in 1937.
• Morgan served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 8th Air Force, 466 Bomber Group. He was a navigator on a B24 bomber, but didn't fly any missions as his crew was broken up upon arriving in Norwich. He remained on the ground charting maps for other crews to fly.
• He passed away in July of 2013.

After the war, Ralph and Morgan attended Youth Council meetings and dances in Riga Township sponsored by the Lucas County Farm Bureau. It was there that Morgan met his future bride, Dorothy Hertzfeld. Dorothy grew up on Noward Rd. in the Waterville/Whitehouse OH area. They were married on May 28, 1949.

Dorothy had a classmate, Emily Holliker. Emily grew up on Dutch Rd in Waterville OH. She and Dorothy graduated together from Waterville HS in 1946. They went to a dance where they met Morgan Ford and Ralph Brown.

And that's just about the rest of the story.

The next post will be shared on October 25th.

Ralph's Separation & Discharge

There were no more letters after October 18th. We can assume that the plans Ralph wrote about were what transpired.

I have no record of when he finally arrived home to see his mother & father, as well as his siblings, their spouses, and his nieces and nephews.

However, I do have copies of his separation and discharge papers that tell us when and where he ended his time in military service....Fort Knox KY on 13 Nov 45, almost a full month after boarding a ship in France.

Note: Look carefully on his discharge paper and you will see the date he arrived in the States was Nov. 7th. The Pay Data section is also interesting.

The next post will be on October 24th.

The Rest of the Story - Irene

Remember Irene?

Ralph's fiancee who broke their engagement.

Here's what I found out about her life:

• She was born in Berkey OH in 1922 to Lelah & Frederick Setzler. The 1940 census lists her mother's name as Dortha.
• Her name was recorded as Irene F. Setzler in the 1940 census.
• Her home was located on Lathrop Rd. in Berkey OH (1940 census).
• Irene was the oldest of 4 girls; her sisters were Irma, Fern, and Marilyn (1940 census).
• She had a sister, Irma, who married Charles (Charlie) Stutzman on Aug. 16, 1944 in Metamora OH. He served 4 years during WWII with the Army Air Force. He was born in 1921 (making him about 2 years younger than Ralph).

Here is the obituary I found:

F. Irene Brothers, 94, of Bradenton, FL, formerly of Oregon, OH passed away July 24, 2015. Born in Berkey, OH, to Lelah and Fred Setzler, she graduated from Metamora High School in 1940. She was employed as a secretary to a VP at Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Toledo, OH for 41 years, she retired in February 1986. She was a member of the Ohio Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary serving as Secretary Treasurer for several years, she also was a member of the Oregon Art Club and the First St. John’s Lutheran Church. When she moved to Bradenton she became a member of Evangelical Covenant Church. She was married to Kenneth L. Potts in 1947 until his death in 1995, then she married Donald S. Brothers in February 2000 until his death in 2006. She was also preceded by her parents and sister, Marilyn Cranis. She is survived by 2 sisters, Irma Stutzman of Burlington, IA and Frene Root of Bradenton, FL and Fenton, MI; also many nieces and nephews. There will be no local Services. Burial will take place August 3, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. in West Union Cemetery in Gibsonburg, OH. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 in charge. Condolences www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.

The next post will be shared on October 23rd.

More of Ralph's story - from 1945

I found this photocopied clipping from the Metamora newspaper.

.

The next post will be on October 22nd: The Rest of the Story - Irene.

France Oct. 18

Dear Mother & all,
      Just a few words to let
you know how I am getting
along. We leave here tomorrow
th for the boat. By the time
you receive this letter I will
be somewhere on the high seas.
I don't know yet if we go to
La Havre or Marseilles. If you
go to Marseilles we will come
through the Straits of Gibrator. [sic]
   I will receive my discharge
at Camp Attebury Ind.
   When I get in the U.S. I will
try to call you at once. Then
when I get my discharge and
on my way home I will
telegraph Cliff so he can get
it first and let you folks know

what station I will be at. Adrain [sic]
or Toledo and what time. I
figure they will be able to get
the telegram first by living
in town.
   I probably will be home for
Thanksgiving. My unit isn't
comeing so don't keep looking
for the 30th Air Depot Group
on the shipping list. I am in
a replacement pool and in a
casual unit. I should arrive
in the states in the early part
of Nov. Well so long for now.
Hope to see you soon. Let
the rest know. I am just writing
to you now.
                         Love Ralph.


There will be no more letters posted; this is the last one.

However, I will post some follow up information that many of you have asked to know.
This information will be posted on October 21st. There will probably be more than one follow-up post.

Background Information (and comments):

• Here is what I found about Camp Atterbury:

ww2dbaseCamp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Indiana, United States began construction in Dec 1941. It consisted of over 1,500 buildings for the purpose of military training, convalescence of wounded soldiers, and holding German and Italian prisoners of war. The camp ceased operations in Aug 1946. It was reactivated between 1950 and 1954 for the Korean War. It was reactivated again in 1969 and remained activate at the time of this writing.

Over 275,000 soldiers trained at Camp Atterbury during World War II, including the 83rd Infantry Division; 8th Detachment of Special Troops, ... The Camp also served as an internment camp, housing between 12,000 and 15,000 Italian and German prisoners of war.

Homeward Bound. France Oct. 14 - 45.

Dear Mother & Dad,
      Well here I am, sweating it
out and on my way home. We
left Illesheim Germany Wed. Oct. 10
in 40 & 8 boxcars. Gosh what
a ride. We arrived here in
France Friday afternoon about
3:00 oclock. It is somewhere
near Metz. We really have a
good place here. This Repple
Depple have the buildings that
were used by a French garrison
that worked at the Magnot [sic] line.
It is right near us. Most
Replacement Depots are so crowded
all you do is sweat out chow
lines. Not here. About 10 minutes
is all it takes to go through.

     Yesterday we had steak for
dinner and today we had fried
chicken. Movies everynight.
     We have been told we will
go from here on Thursday to the
P.O.E. Hope to be on the boat
shortly after that. One can never
tell though, now the Limey's
have taken there boats away.
Just the fellows with 70, 71, 72
and 73 points are in this group.
     Well mother I hope to see you
soon. This may be my last
letter. Wish me good luck.
                         Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on October 18th.

Background Information (and comments):

• I learned something new - 40 & 8 boxcars and Repple Depple. I have also included information about the Maginot Line that Ralph referred to. Finally, I found a reasonable explanation for POE.

Quarante et huit (Forty-and-eights)
Forty and Eights-style covered goods wagon in the U.S. Army Transportation Museum
Capacity	40 men or 8 horses or 20 tonnes (19.7 long tons; 22.0 short tons) of supplies
Operator(s)	French Army and French railways
Specifications
Weight	7.9 tonnes (7.8 long tons; 8.7 short tons) tare
Braking system(s)	Air
Coupling system	Buffers and chain
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

• Forty-and-eights (French: Quarante et huit, typically written 40/8 or 40&8) were French 4-wheel covered goods wagons designed to hold 40 men or eight horses. Introduced in the 1870s, they were drafted into military service by the French Army in both World Wars. They were also used by the occupying Germans during in World War II, followed by the Allies.
• A replacement depot in United States military terminology is a unit containing reserves or replacements for large front-line formations, such as field armies. As such, the term refers to formations similar to, but larger than, march battalions in other countries. The slang term "repple depple" came into common use in the US Army ...
• once a soldier was separated from his unit by wounds or illness, there was little chance of him returning to that unit. Instead, he was sent to a replacement depot, a repple-depple in Army slang. 
• The Maginot Line, named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany and force them to move around the fortifications.
• 
  
  

• port of embarkation

  The geographic point in a routing scheme from which cargo or personnel depart. This may be a seaport or aerial port fromwhich personnel and equipment flow to a port of debarkation; for unit and nonunit requirements, it may or may notcoincide with the origin. Also called POE. See also port of debarkation.

Illesheim Germany. Oct. 9, 1945.

Dear Mother,
      A little late in writing
to you this week, but I think
this letter will be good news
to you. I have to turn in all
my surplus clothing this morning.
I will leave here tomorrow
or Thursday morning.
     I will be sent to a replace-
ment pool and proccessed and
get my records checked. Then
just wait to board the boat.
     Sunday afternoon I went to
Nurenburg. I saw the big
stadium where Hitler held
so many big German parades.
Nurenburg is bombed damaged
as same as other German cities.

I don't think it is as bad as
some of the cities I have traveled
through before. The liuetant
that rode up here with me
is scheduled to go home also.
He took about five rolls of
film comeing up here. He took
my name and address and said
he would send me a set of
the pictures. I gave him my
home address.
      Well this is about all for
now. I hope I am on the boat
when you receive this letter.
Goodbye for now.
                          Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on October 14th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Here is some information and photos I found of the Nuremberg stadium. I have also included a link to a 2-minute WWII newsreel which states that of all cities "none reflects greater destruction than Nuremberg" It also shows the stadium with the American flag replacing the Nazi swastika.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE2T8rq3P00

Nazi party rally 

The Nazi party rally grounds covered about 11 square kilometres in the southeast of Nuremberg, Germany. Six Nazi party rallies were held there between 1933 and 1938.

Hitler planned to build the world’s largest Olympic stadium in Nuremberg …

Apr 9, 2016 Ian Harvey

Source:Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände

One would think that if you’re the most powerful dictator in the world at the time, the last thing you’d want to do is build a stadium. Well, not so with Hitler; he wanted it all.

On September 7, 1937 German construction workers began laying the cornerstones for what Hitler hoped would become the world’s largest stadium. This particular stadium would hold over 400,000 spectators. It was designed by one of Hitler’s closest friends, Albert Speer. Speer was inspired by the Greek Panathenaic Stadium of Athens, as well as by Hitler’s brazen megalomania. However, the stadium never saw its completion because the project was cut short by the demands of World War II and the eventual demise of the Third Reich.

In a groundbreaking ceremony, Hitler unveiled a model of the Deutsches Stadion (German Stadium). The ceremony had brought in a crowd of 24,000 people. He described to the spectators how  it would speak words of stone, which were meant to be stronger than anything that could ever be spoken.

V Mail postmarked Oct. 6, 1945

Dear Mother,
       I am scheduled to return to the United
States sometime before the end of December;
so please hold any Christmas parcels you
have for me.
      Until I advise you otherwise, continue
to send my letters, but DO NOT SEND
ANY MORE PACKAGES.

                                           
                                        Ralph W. Brown


The next letter will be posted on October 9th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Here is what the V mail looks like on paper that measures approximately 4 1/8 x 5 1/8.

Illesheim Germany Sept. 30, 1945.

Dear Mom & Dad,
        The last day of Sept. and
deep in Germany. The mail
has been bad in catching up to
us. I don't think you had
better write any more letters
to me. I don't know when
I will be leaving, but it will
be sometime between Oct. 5
and the 15. Tell the rest of
the family to stop writing
anymore letters also. It will
be so hard for the mail to
catch up with me. It probably
will follow me home.
    At one time I thought I
wouldn't make it by Christmas.
But now it looks like I
will be spending Thanksgiving
in the U.S with you folks.

   I was awarded the Rhineland
battle star which gave me 5
more points. This puts me
only 38th man on the list
for leaving.
     Mom, I am so excited about
comeing home I hardly know
what to write about anymore.
I will keep writing you folks
so you will know I am ok.
So don't send me anymore
mail at this address, or
any address as my next address
will be my regular home
address.
     Maybe this letter sounds
mixup, but it is a grand feeling.
Let the rest know about stopping
my mail. Goodnight for now.
Hope to see you soon.
                         Love Ralph.

The next letter will be posted on October 6th.

Background Information (and comments):

• I could not find the Rhineland battle star, but here is some general information about bronze stars and bronze battle stars:

Bronze Star Medal

The Bronze Star Medal is a decoration awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement. This decoration was established on February 4, 1944 by Executive Order 9419 which states under Section B. the following:

"The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party."

These provisions clearly state The Bronze Star Medal was designed specifically for those in the armed services not involved in aerial warfare. The Bronze Star was primarily created for the Army engaged in ground combat. In 1944 pressure from the Air Corps resulted in a change which allowed the decoration to also be awarded in recognition of the often heroic deeds of individuals on the ground such as ground crews maintaining fighters and bombers, and airmen performing deeds while not engaged in aerial combat.

Bronze Battle Star

The Bronze Battle Star is an attachment worn in conjunction with another medal, such as the Oak Leaf Cluster is worn with the Air Medal. The Bronze Battle Star is worn on the campaign ribbon (the Eastern Theater Offensive or "ETO" ribbon in the case of 398th vets), and denotes an individuals participation in a specific battle, engagement or offensive. The Bronze Battle Star is often called the following names in military documents and jargon: bronze star, battle star, or campaign star.

It is quite easy to see how these two distinct decorations can be easily mistaken for each other. What the vast majority of 398th vets have are one or more "Bronze Battle Stars", indicating their participation in a given engagement during their tour of duty. For example, my grandfather was awarded 5 Bronze Battle Stars to be worn with his ETO ribbon. He was awarded a Bronze Battle Star for each of the following engagements/battles:

1. Air Offensive Europe,
2. The Normandy Invasion,
3. The Northern France Offensive,
4. The Ardennes/Battle of the Bulge, and
5. The Germany Invasion

Germany, Sept. 26, 1945.

Dear Mother & Dad,
      Well here I am in Germany.
I was one of the last men to leave
Belgium. When I arrived here
I learned Glen Pyle my buddy
had left yesterday for home. He
was one swell fellow. I hated to
break away from him. I guess that
is what army life does to a fellow.
      Well I suppose you are wondering
where in Germany I am at. The
name of the nearest village is
Illesheim. It is 32 miles
directly west of Nurenburg.
Windsheim Germany, where Harley
said he was at is about 2 miles
from here. This must be the
German airfield he stayed at.
My ride up here was very

interesting. I am sending you
our routing so you can really
know the places I was at.
    Boy, the German people are
a people without a smile. No
one gives even a cheery glance
at you. It is just a cold stare.
    Cologne is a city of rubble.
If you could just picture the city
of Toledo just crumpling down
and all the bridges falling into
the river you can imagine how
this place looks. They brought it
onto themselves.
     I am rather tired tonight so
I think I will hit the bed early.
It was a rough drive, and a lot
of detours for bridges being out.
We are in barracks again. The
first time for almost a year.

   It certainly seems good, not to
be living in tents. I have a room
with two other fellows. We have
a radio and the showers and toilets
are in the same building. It seems
almost to good to be true.
   Well I must close for now. As
the plans stand now, I will be
leaving for home sometime
in November. Hope to see you soon
after that.
                                  Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on Sept. 30th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Here is information about Illesheim and maps of both Illesheim and Windsheim:

The map above gives you an idea of the distance from Ralph's trip between Belgium (near Brussels) and Illesheim (you have to look very carefully).

The Illesheim Military Community is located in Germany in Northern Bavaria, approximately 45 minutes from the historic city of Nuernberg and two hours from Frankfurt, Germany. Storck Barracks occupies about 415 acres just outside of the Village of Illesheim. It is a subcommunity of USAG Ansbach. This installation is approximately 27 miles from Ansbach/Katterbach.

This map shows both Bad Windsheim and Illesheim.

Belgium Sept. 23.

Dear Mom & Dad,
     I bet this is about the earliest
I have written to you folks on
a Sunday morning. It is now
1:15 in the morning. I am Sgt
of the guard tonight so I have
plenty of time for writing letters.
     Well I finally received some
mail this week and I am glad
they are getting it straightened
out again.
     I suppose this will be
my last letter to you from
Belgium. Next Tues. I am
leaving for Germany. There are
about forty of us left here in
Belgium. I was on the advance
party comeing to Belgium and one
of the last ones to leave here.

    I have a jeep to drive to
Germany, so I will see plenty of
the country. It takes about two
days to drive to our next base
or 2 hours to fly. I would rather
drive. A person can see more
country this way.
     My buddy Glenn Pyle was
called to Germany today. He has
77 points so her will soon
be heading to the U.S. He lives
in Charles City Iwo Iowa and
wants me to come out there
after I get home.
     The radio say all men
with over 60 points will be
on their way home by Dec.31.
Our CO. told us we would
probably leave in Nov. Gosh
only a month or so to go.

I am hopeing I will be able
to get home in time for Christmas.
     It is to bad about Rev. Meyer
wanting to leave. I guess after
being in one place for awhile
preachers grow restless just like
soldiers do and have to have
a chang of scenery.
     Well this is all for tonight.
Hope I can make it by Xmas.
Goodbye.
                     Love
                          Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on September 26th.

Background Information (and comments):

• Ralph was getting his news about the changing point system over the radio. Here is how it was being changed due to the surrender by Japan and why he feels he probably be home by Christmas:

When Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, the demand for rapid demobilization from soldiers, their families, and Congress became unstoppable and all previous plans became moot. Conscription was reduced to 50,000 men per month, less than the military's requirements for replacements. Soldiers, sailors, and marines in the Pacific became eligible for demobilization. The points required for demobilization were reduced several times, reaching 50 points on December 19, 1945. Ten aircraft carriers, 26 cruisers, and six battleships were converted into troopships to bring soldiers home from Europe and the Pacific. Racial segregation on the troop ships created a problem. In December 1945, the Navy barred 123 African-American soldiers from sailing home because they could "not be segregated" on a troop ship.^[15]

The War Department promised that all servicemen eligible for demobilization from Europe would be in the U.S. by February 1946 and from the Pacific by June 1946. One million men were discharged from the military in December 1945. Every congressman was "under constant and terrific pressure from servicemen and their families" to discharge soldiers more rapidly

Belgium Sept. 18, 1945.

Dear Mom & Dad,
      A little slow in writing
to you this week. I guess
everything is still in on a bad
way. I haven't moved up to
Germany yet, but expect to in a
few days. I get a jeep and will
drive through. It is somewhere
near four hundred miles. A
luitant [sic] will be with me. He
was a pilot and wants to
ride in a jeep so he can see
the country. I guess we will
make quite a trip out of it.
    I was in Brussels again this
past weekend. I guess it will be
the last time.
     Last Friday night someone
broke into our C-47's and

stole all the parachutes. There
are sixty eight missing and they
cost $700. a piece. Some black
market gang they think did it.
They can sell the silk out of them.
I received some mail this week
for a change. Had a letter from you
of Sept 5. Gosh it doesn't seem
possible that school has begun
again. I see by the Blissfield
paper, the sugar factory is going
to operate this year. Wish I could
get back to work there.
     Well they are sending fellows
out of our outfit fast now. High
points and age. I probably will
be leaving around the first of the
year. I don't think I will be
on my way or home for Christmas
but I probably will be home in
Feb. sometime.

As for Christmas present just
send me stuff to eat. I have
plenty of other things.
     We had the movie G.I.Joe
here tonight. It is Ernie Pyle's
story. It really is a realistic
picture.
     Had a letter from Harley. He says
they are going to make him into
a bugler. Also a letter from
Freeman. Gosh everyone has
been swell about writing. I try
to write everyone, but when I
start writing I run out of news.
I suppose everyone will bawl
me out for not writing sooner
but I can't help it. After I get
to Germany I will have more time
and things will be more settled
again. As now we are just

living where we can find a roof
over our heads and most of our
clothes packed away.
     Well I guess this is about
all for now. Please write as
often as possible. Goodnight for
now.
                      Love Ralph.


The next letter will be posted on September 23rd.

Background Information (and comments):

• If you're wondering about parachutes being sold on the black market, here is an excerpt from a BBC website about what sometimes happened to parachutes during wartime:

Silk parachutes, which were constructed from triangles of material, could be unpicked, re-stitched into rectangles and re-cut to make luxurious underwear. Consequently, when an airman was seen to bail out there was frequently a race between the authorities and civilians to recover the parachute, while sometimes a portion could be bought on the black market.

• Here is some information about the C-47 plane:
• The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remains in front line service with various military operators.  
• Here are 2 pieces of information about the movie G.I. Joe:

The Story of G.I. Joe was enthusiastically received upon its release. General Dwight D. Eisenhower went so far as to call it "the greatest war picture I've ever seen" and Wellman himself regarded it as the finest work of his career. James Agee characterized the film as a "tragic and eternal work of art," emphasizing the film's subtlety of conception: "With a slight shift of time and scene, men whose faces have become familiar simply aren't around any more. The fact is not commented on or in any way pointed; their absence merely creates its gradual vacuum and realization in the pit of the stomach. Things which seem at first tiresome, then to have become too much of a running gag, like the lascivious tongue-clacking of the professional stallion among the soldiers (Wally Cassell) or the Sergeant's continual effort to play the record of his son's voice, are allowed to run their risks without tip-off or apology. In the course of many repetitions they take on full obsessional power and do as much as anything could do to communicate the terrific weight of time, fatigue, and half-craziness which the picture is trying so successfully to make you live through." While recent World War II films such as Saving Private Ryan (1998) may go further in depicting the visceral horrors of war, the artistic achievement of The Story of G.I. Joe is arguably more lasting: it portrays the camaraderie, courage and underlying fear of the ordinary fighting man without once resorting to easy sentimentality. 

During World War II, American journalist Ernie Pyle (Burgess Meredith) goes abroad to write about the arduous experiences of stalwart members of the U.S. Army. In Africa and Europe, Pyle encounters brave soldiers who have put their lives in danger in order to defeat Hitler and Mussolini, including Lt. Bill Walker (Robert Mitchum), who is working hard to instill his men with a positive outlook, and Sgt. Steve Warnicki (Freddie Steele), whose young child is growing up back in America.

Initial release: June 18, 1945

Director: William A. Wellman

Producer: Lester Cowan

Initial DVD release: May 23, 2000

Nominations: Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, MORE

Cast

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Robert Mitchum

Lieutenant Walker

Burgess Meredith

Ernie Pyle

Wally Cassell

Private Dondaro

William Murphy

Private Mew

Dorothy Wellman

Nurse Lt. Elizabeth 'Red' Murphy