Looking for anyone whose parent might have served with my Dad…7th Army Air Corps, 30th HB Group (B-24s), 27th Squadron, in the Pacific. He was in the TH of Hawaii, in the Gilbert, Marshall, and Mariana Islands (included Apamama, Kwajalein, Saipan). I have original documents re: promotions, pictures, and other information that might be of interest to some of you; would be willing to share info.via fold3.com. One of his "buddies" was Leonard Gould of New York. They got razzed a bit because they were "the two Leonards." Go figure! I have the names of the fellas who signed his autograph book. They are: 1.) Maxie T. Blalock of N.C.; 2.) Haakon O. Olson (Called him O-Lee Olson) of Revillo, S. Dakota; John R. Connolly of Pittsfield, Mass.; Roy J. DeMuth of Chicago, Ill; Lowell H. Wright of Gem, Texas; Clarence B. Henry of Lubbock, Texas; Harlow H. Hollen of Blairsville, PA; Charles M. Franklin, Jr. of Union Springs, AL; Chris E. Hertz of Rocky River, Ohio; Joe H. Frye of Frederick, OK; Charles E. Davis of Troy, New York; Ray. H. Foord (Yes, he had written his name with two o's, but writing could have faded.) of Bearden, Arkansas; Earnest Cobb of Columbus, MISS; Lloyd M. Cook of Long Beach, California; Wendell C. Cook of Rutland, Vermont; Lacy H. Brimfield of Tylertown, MISS OR Minnesota; Bennie R. Everett of Lordsbury, New Mexico; Clarence L. Burkhart of Litchfield, ILL; Warren Smith of Hazel Park, Michigan; Joseph P. Kelleher of Cambridge, MASS; Jim Connolly of Hazel Park, Michigan; Elton K. Loomis of Owasso, Michigan (Dad said this was his best buddy.); Leonard Gould of Bronx, New York; and Thomas R. Long of Buffalo, New York.

The aforementioned names are just some the ones who had signed Dad's autograph book. As with these men of the "Greatest Generation," they kept quiet about what they had seen and been through. I do not recall my father corresponding with any of his buddies, but he kept his two (2) large scrapbooks, which he had kept during the war, in the safe "sacred" drawer of our living room secretary…second only to the Bibles in our home. It was not until circa 1995 that my father "opened up" and began to tell me some of the stories from the war. He was an avid baseball fan, so that is where he began; he was stationed at both Wheeler and Hickham @ varied times. He loved the fact that he got to see Joe Demaggio & some of the other great major league players off and on the ball field.

Leonard Oscar Kitchens Jr