Profile 167: A-4E Skyhawk as flown by Martin "Marty" Lenzini, VMA-211

50 years is a long time!  Or is it just a blink...?

Hmmmm.  

True-story — 2023 marks the 50th Anniversary of the 'end of the Vietnam War*' for the United States.  

Remembering the Vietnam War is valid as a historic event not only because it happened, but because it shaped The United States of America in profound ways.  In fact, I assert the Vietnam War continues to affect every American.  Don't believe me?  Invite me to your Rotary Club, Kindergarten, Lunch'n Learn, Block Party... 

Or, you can start learning yourself (which is highly recommended as The Vietnam War isn't really even mentioned in schools today).

Ken Burns' documentary is certainly well produced!  But be careful.  Just like the McDonalds® doesn't define the concept of "hamburger," no one-source defines a historic event, especially what happened in Southeast Asia during the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s...  

It can't be stressed enough that that studying history is far more than mere nostalgia, entertainment or collecting "names, dates and places" information. Studying history is the stuff of Life.  And we either learn or we don't.  We evolve or something else evolves beyond us.  

Indeed, "History is Nutritious.™"

I digress.

Have a look at the top of this post — it's the progress-shot of Martin "Marty" Lenzini's A-4E Skyhawk, c. 1968**, stationed at Chu Lai, South Vietnam.  I'm calling it "30% there." 

This October, the finished piece will be unveiled at a Vietnam War 50th Anniversary "Welcome Home" event.  More on that later.  In the meantime, this post will focus more on the A-4 and set up the next TWO posts which will focus on Marty.

Marty is the first to tell anyone that his story is not unique, not worthy of a spotlight or celebration.  If you can conjure a somewhat diluted Chicago accent, imagine this:  "Jaahn, ah wuz just doin'my jawb." 

But, as an "Old Guy**" he represents something so much more — an eyewitness, a participant and the beneficiary of fifty more years of wisdom to help the rest of us put the moment to good use.

So.  Before we dive into combat, let's have some lighthearted fun.

Where's Chu Lai?  It's here (look below).  

A pretty swell map of N/S Vietnam produced by the 50th Anniversary folk this past summer.  Lots of arrows. I made my own (hint: the obvious red/white arrow goes to Chu Lai.)

Today, Chu Lai, Vietnam is a resort community and manufacturing town.  But 50+ years ago,  it was a ginormous Naval base that served Marine aviation from 1965-1970.  After that, the U.S. Army took it over until the new owners took possession in 1975.  I looked for fascinating photos of the place and found none — air bases are inherently flat, paved and the buildings are rather boring to look at. 

Need proof?  Just ask any veteran of Chu Lai from the moment. Or, look at the photo below. 

I found this official Marine Corps photo on Wikipedia.  If you squint, you can see A-4 Skyhawks.  If you're looking for something more picturesque, try here.  Time changes things, eh?

What's an A-4E Skyhawk?

Efficient, effective and cheap, the A-4E Skyhawk is one of the greatest war machines ever built.  But, "greatest" is subjective, especially when geeks start analyzing data.  WWII/Korean War/Vietnam War pilot Hank Snow answered my question, "What was the greatest airplane you ever flew?" with the brilliant answer, "Hmmm.  The one I was flying at the time!"

Unfortunately, that's not exactly helpful.  I wasn't able to jack-into Hank's brain and see for myself... though I often think of Hank, his family and his willingness to share...

I digress again.

In honor of the war's 50th, I decided to do some data analysis between the A-4 Skyhawk and the Sopwith F.1 Camel, a combat aircraft of 50 years prior.   Why the Camel?  Because. It's my blog and I can pick whatever I want.

Granted there were a blizzard of airplanes I could have chosen.  But let this be a reminder to all who want to become a History Geek — we all have our perspectives, our biases... it's up to you to learn more.

Right?

Right.

Anyway.  Click below.

Be careful drawing blanket performance conclusions about Wing Loading. But, essentially, a lower-wing loaded aircraft will be able to keep a sustained turn at a slower speed while a higher-loaded aircraft will be able to haul more, faster.

In this case, a Skyhawk vs Camel comparison tells us very little than the fact that aviation changed A LOT in 50 years.

Ok, so the A-4 Skyhawk was no Sopwith Camel when it came to twisting/turning dogfights.  Heck, while the Camel was struggling to crack 120mph, the A-4E was still hurtling down the runway!  Nevertheless, this rather silly graphic does illustrate one thing — humans have clearly demonstrated the capacity to learn from the past.  

Can you imagine a proper aeronautical engineer announcing to the dev team, "Hey y'all.  I'm thinking for this next sub-space drone that we do TWO wings and a total-loss rotary engine!"  

If you can't imagine that, find anyone (repeat) in the aviation industry, show them the imaginary quote above and take note of their response.

Next graphic!

I remember reading David Halberstam's book, "The Best and The Brightest" and learning that the Vietnam War's chief architect (and former Ford Motor Company whiz), Robert S. McNamara, believed that transacting war from an accountant's perspective would make sense.

Having worked alongside Whiz Kid Accountants (WKAs) a time or two, I decided to channel my inner Wonk and come up with the graphic below:

Gawd, I hope you're laughing.

But I'm fairly sure that there are some of us who, even for a second

thought, "OMG!  We should'a had Sopwith Camels in Vietnam!"  I'm guilty, btw.

Well.  Imagine that  — the Camel is nearly 30% more efficient, pound per dollar, in carrying ordnance!  Of course it has to be done a pound a time but geez... what a savings!

Ok.  If you've never seen the movie "Galaxy Quest" you may not get the whole gist of the clip above.  So watch the movie.  The desperation of actor Alan Rickman's voice is palpable — he speaks for every soul that ever realized that there was more to life than the vacuity of "the present."

Whatever.

It doesn't take long to figure out that war may benefit business, it shouldn't be waged like a business.  If you decide to learn about the Vietnam War from veterans who experienced it first-hand, they'll likely have clear opinions on this idea, too.

Sometimes the Accounting Weenies are right.  Sometimes they're not. Seek to know the difference.

Ok.  Moving on.

The prior two graphics are (though based on fact) completely silly.  Heck, war is silly (even though our species tends to like 'silly' too often).

However the one below may be actually worth thinking about.  Years ago, Dean Failor — 7x DFC recipient and pioneer in the development of  laser-guided bombs —  and I were talking about the terrible waste of resources that went into sending huge resources to WWII targets and only miss the mark.  Laser guided bombs effectively erased that problem.

One bomb, one target --------- > Boof!

Remembering our conversation, I started thinking about the people/cost/efficiency of the A-4E vs Camel comparison; which was more effective (on a people-cost) at delivering ordnance?

Clearly, the Skyhawk!  I can only imagine what the North Vietnamese Army would have thought seeing a gaggle of eighty biplanes buzzing over their heads...

Look below.

Alright, the fun is over.

It's time to get ready to meet Marty.

I met him years ago.  It was an honor.  For one, Marty is a 4x recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (among others) and a gentleman of the old order.  Truth be known, I've had dinner in his home.  He's in my contact file.  We have mutual friends.  

So, if I call, he'll answer... and don't think for a second that I forget who I'm talking to...

A man who was there.

(deep breath)

This post had some funny bits and posted with my sense of irreverance.  But the purpose is far, far more sober and serious —  If you want to know "what was it like?" don't wait for someone else to make a documentary.

Seek, ask and listen.

The next post(s) will be what I learned when I followed my own advice.

This is Marty, c. 1968-9 in front of VMA-211's logo emblazoned on some building at Chu Lai Naval base.  I spent at least an hour drawing the lion that is leaping across the Wake Island atoll.  

*In spite of the Paris Peace Accords, combat continued in South Vietnam until the country's capitulation in 1975.  But, be advised — American combat in the arena didn't end.  I've made note to bring up the Mayaguez Incident at the appropriate time.  And then, there was Cambodia...

**The term is offered in the utmost respect and glory.  I've learned that 'young guys' tend to not know nearly as much as 'old guys.'   Sure, younger people get technology, zeitgeist... but time — like compound-interest can make you more money — can make you wiser.

And God said it.  Proverbs 8:11.  I don't argue with God.

FLOWN WEST - Paul Ehlen, History Geek

Somewhere east of Pierre, SD, looking East.

There’s a moniker growing-around that’s becoming rather popular:  History Geek. 

If the reader is tempted to think of History Geek(ishness) as an academic, intellectual pursuit of the quantifiable (i.e. names, dates, places), you’re incorrect.  Instead, those who scour history’s record with the scrupulosity of a 19th Century Counting House clerk are something altogether different than a History Geek.  

Now.  These NON-History Geek people are not bad people. In fact, they play a terrific role in providing the rest — History Geeks — with the framework, navigation points and scale to thrive on this strange blue ball.   Indeed, a History Geek is one who’s learned to not merely collect data but to then assemble it into … well… expressions of something greater.

“Greater?  Like what?”  

Well, here’s where things get challenging because the human story is far bigger than can be contained in a meme.  “Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492,” tells us very little.  But when a History Geek digs in to the moment and starts to wonder, “Why?” “What were the outcomes?”  “Was the price worth the gain?”  “What would I have done in Columbus’ spot?” the rewards reveal themselves in the ways that define the best of us:  wisdom, inspiration, excellence…

(Sigh)

Maybe what I’m trying to say is that there are people who “know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.”  And there are people who know the value of everything and the cost of (doing) nothing.

I’m a History Geek.   Probably, you are too.

So was Paul Ehlen.

I’ll be brief.  About a month ago, 27 June to be precise, Paul died in a crash of a Curtiss P-40E fighter plane. He’d just taken off from Ravalli County Airport in Western Montana when… well, the data wonks are sorting that out.  And thank gawd they are because the data is important to the Aviation community in improving the quality, safety and performance of all-things-airplanes.  And yeah, the irreparable damage to a rare airplane was palpable...

Those are facts.

But. Facts alone do not satisfy.  And they never satisfy. 

Later that day, I received a text from one of Paul’s dearest Warbird colleagues who stated it simply, “This is the most unpleasant way to lose a friend.”

Though the words appeared on a silent screen, the writer's profound pain was felt, the sound of sobs were heard.  Such is the depth and breadth of such news; it transcends the mere facts of the matter, reaching into the soul.

As a fringe-member of the “aviation community,” I knew Paul better than most but certainly not as well as others.  Indeed, Paul’s name was brilliantly known in the Warbird Aviation Community.  He’d backed the restoration of two beautiful P-51 Mustangs and made it possible for many more to be shared with the rest (like me).

I first met Paul years ago when he’d coordinated a commemorative flyover of Waldron Bridge, Fort Pierre, South Dakota. 

It was really a cool moment.  Two P-51s, a TBM, an FM-2 (Wildcat) and a straight-tail Bonanza camera plane, formed up to do a simple flyover of the community for no other reason than to salute a man who’d died doing his job, leaving behind an unsung legacy of Herculean heroism.  

The community was gobsmacked by Paul’s leadership… after all, weren’t those airplanes expensive?!  And didn’t the pilots have better things to do?  And FREE?  Certainly not FREE!  They have to want SOMEthing, right?!

Nope.  The cost of the event —  to Paul and his cadre — had been paid on 4 June, 1942.   The quantities of time, energy and money were irrelevant in comparison to the immense qualities of courage, integrity and duty that the moment represented. 

I told him I couldn’t find an appropriate way to thank him for what he’d done.   His reply was quick, firm and told with a smile...

“No thanks are needed or wanted.  I do what I do.  You do what you do.  We both are doing the same thing.”

The words of a History Geek, indeed.

Blue Skies, Paul.

And I'll keep doing the same thing, too... thank you for the inspiration. :(

Paul and his EAA Grand Champion P-51, "Sierra Sue."

Profile 167: A-4E Skyhawk as flown by Martin Lenzini, VMA-211

 

Long time, no post!

Certainly it's not because of a dearth of drawing — since my last full post in 2022, no fewer than NINE new aircraft have been successfully drawn (with corresponding interviews).

I will catch up.  Partly because I want to.  But mostly?  It's because I HAVE to.   And this A-4E is a brilliant symbol.

This morning, the folk behind the excellent "Cold War Conversations" podcast were charitable enough to include me in their episode list (evidently, I'll be #301).  They let me pontificate about Freeman Bruce Olmstead's undeserved 'shoot down' of his RB-47 in 1960 (and subsequent heroic representation while held in the infamous Lubyanka prison).  I drew Bruce's beautiful Boeing in 2014... click here (it's worth your trouble).

But most poignantly, podcast host Ian Sanders and I ended up riffing on the reality that 'these stories,' as told by those who've lived them, are quite literally, dying.  Of course, ALL stories (as told by those who've lived them) are dying.  No one gets out of life alive, right?

And once they're 'gone,' shmucks like me are (too often) all that's left to carry the tune.

In this particular A-4's case, her pilot, Col Martin Lenzini, is healthy, strong, smart, brilliant... and I promised him I'd draw his bird back in 20-when?! All of a sudden, I realized how I'd let the urgency of lesser-moments eclipse the more illustrious power of the past. 

"Dangit.  I gotta get Marty's story."

So, have a look at the A-4E on top.  It's a progress-shot of A-4E BuNo 151193.  It will be armed with Marty's chosen load out of "snakes and nape."  I'll be explaining more about that in the next couple of posts. 

Now, have a look at the photo below.  That's "Marty," circa 1969, Chu Lai, South Vietnam.  It too is an A-4E but with the more characteristic hump atop the fuselage.  This add-on bit may have detracted from the inherent attractiveness of the pure A-4 form but it increased its ability to survive in combat as the hump contained crucial ECM (Electronic CounterMeasure) gear.

In effect, there are two forms of E-models - humped and humpless.  (I'm glad Marty suggested 1193 as his representative Skyhawk as I think the humpless variety is just a wee bit prettier...

I digress.

Marty in front of a VMA-211 A-4E Skyhawk.

Anyways, in the event the reader is not an A-4 Skyhawk devotee, there are a few things to know:

1.  ONE A-4E Skyhawk could have stopped World War Two.  How so?   Well, in comparison to the B-17G, an an A-4 could carry twice the ordnance, had 1/8th the crew, was three times faster AND was nuke capable.  So, assuming one had a Time Machine, my statement is correct.

And the first A-4 flew in 1954, a mere nine years after WWII ended.  Progress, eh?

2.  2,900+ (of all variants) were manufactured from 1954 to 1979.  That's a twenty five year production run. 

3. The A-4 could (almost) do-it-all.  Though designed as an "attack" aircraft — meaning, tactical airstrikes, close air support, interdiction — it was also a capable fighter, level-bomber and even air-to-air tanker!

4. The A-4 was def combat proven.  History geeks know the bulk of her combat sorties were flown during the Vietnam War.  Still, Skyhawks fought under the Israeli flag in their myriad of conflicts, with the Argentinians in the Falklands Crisis and also in Kuwaiti markings during the Gulf War.  No fewer than nine nations used the A-4.

I could go on.   When asked if he had any particular affection for the airplane, Marty replied with gusto, "I loved it!"  Of course, it's not uncommon for pilots/crew to have particular affection for 'their' airplane.  But in the case of "the Scooter" (as it was nicknamed), the sentiment is that rare alchemy that happens when function + form + finesse come together to = "COOL!"

And indeed it is.  A while back, I designed a little cut-out A-4F in the markings of DFC Society Director, Charles "Chuck" Sweeney.   While flying with VA-212 Chuck was awarded three DFCs in ONE WEEK flying the A-4 in Sept of 1972.

I have a couple more.  Want one?  First come, first served.

I'm an A-4 fan boi for sure.   But what do I know? I just draw them.  Marty, on the other hand, flew them, as intended, in harms way, 350 times.  In the process, he was awarded four DFCs.  

And Marty's (as well as Chuck's, et al) DFCs weren't awarded for refilling the coffee pot while sitting on alert. 

Stay with me.  In Marty's words, "We're cleared in HOT."

Profile 161: "323" - Vought A-7D as flown by Charles "Alex" Wright, 388th TFW, 3rd TFS

 

I'm not sure what it is about being a History Geek (HG) that is so danged compelling.

Maybe it's the ability to keep calm in the face of chaos.... or see multiple sides of the same issue.  Or, maybe it's knowing the answer before others even understand the question...

Whatever it is, History Geeks (HGs) command respect. 

Why?  ONE WORD:  Perspective.

A trite, dated trope?  Bah.  The whole world is a trite, dated trope.

HGs know this.

Indeed.   

Look at the pencil sketch.  It's a Vought A-7D Corsair II circa May, 1975 and based at Korat, Thailand.

* break break *

On the whole, 1975 was a year of malaise.   In case you're wondering what "Malaise" actually is, the graphic below showed up on a quick search.  Evidently, an Icon Designer figured this was the best way to represent the condition in pictograph... 

At first, I couldn't quite figure it out as it looked like someone dancing.   So, I googled popular songs of 1975 and immediately saw that Barry Manilow had his first #1 chart hit with the song "Mandy" in January!

Now, if any song can knock you into a state of malaise, it's MANDY.   And if you actually were forced to dance to the tune, it'd look EXACTLY like above.  Try it yourself.  I'll wait...

See what I mean?  

However, if you're a stickler for details, let's let "the dictionary" define the term.

****

Malaise — /məˈlāz/   noun

A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify.
"a general air of malaise"

****

Why the malaise-iousness?  Well, if we were transported back in time to the United States circa May of 1975, the following would be depressing the collective consciousness:

• President Nixon's 1972 Watergate Scandal not only ruined his leadership, it also brought the ruin of the Presidential Office into the living rooms of every American that had a TV. 

• The formal withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam in 1973.  Granted, it should have been a time of celebration but the reality is, the war had stirred up so much muck, the moment 'felt' like a disaster cleanup.

• Sure the VN war POWs were home by April '73 but a third of them were either divorced or in the process.  Putting it into perspective, that's about twice the rate of the average population.

• Saigon fell, leaving an era of military men & women feeling as if they'd been cheated by their political leadership as well as cheating the very people (South Vietnamese) they'd believed they were trying to protect.

• When Nixon resigned from the Presidency, VP Gerald Ford was promoted.  One month later, Ford pardoned his old boss, ironically ruining his own chance at a legit chance of winning the 1976 election. 

• Inflation had a mind of its own — in 1975, it had cracked 9% (and wouldn't slow down until the Reagan-era of the 80s).

• American cars were (almost all) garbage — bloated behemoths powered by emissions-strangled engines, clad in orange-peeled paint, fake-wood appliqué and acres of soft, sticky, velour.  Oh and Ford was still selling burning Pintos.

• And if you were a man, the fashion industry absolutely hated you.  See the guy with the mustache?  I don't blame him for scowling.

True story.  I asked an old person about what they remembered from the 70s and the answer I received was a grunt, sneer and wave of the hand as if someone had just farted.

Malaise indeed.

However, HGs understand that the human story is one narrated by Newtonian voice.  It works like this: when something sucks, another thing blows.  And if you were a Southeast Asian Communist in 1975, your whole world was blowing RED.

• Vietnam was now Communist (April).

• Cambodia became Communist (April).

• Laos became Communist, too (December).

(sigh)

Now's a good time to get back to the A-7D above (or below for that matter(.   Specifically, the A-7D, S/N 71-0323 assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) based at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), 12 MAY 1975.

For most of the Vietnam War, Thailand hosted any number of bases for American fighting aircraft.  Ubon, Udorn, Tahkli, U-Tapao to name a few.  But none were as big or involved as Korat.  From 1962 through 1975 "Korat" was the largest USAF base in Thailand, sending massive amounts of sorties into North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos... I tried to look up how many sorties but simply couldn't figure it out.  My guess?  Over half a million.   For a single-runway base, Korat was a happening place.

Until 1975.

I found this map here.  It's a pretty cool personal page on Korat AFB

By 1975, the withdrawal of American forces left a much smaller aerial footprint in Thailand.  No need for the deed, right?   The Thai government was as tired of war as everyone else.  With Cambodia and South Vietnam's fall, Thai politicos wanted nothing more than to secure its own government (which had growing Communist influences) and stay out of conflict.  Period.  The Thais imposed restrictions upon the U.S. on what kinds of missions could be flown from Thai bases (including Korat).

Thus, the A-7Ds of the 388th TFW were simply a vestige feather of a once-mighty (now black-eyed) Eagle.  I can envision the moment now — a hot May afternoon,  a row of green, brown and white A-7s sitting idle, waiting for nothing more than to go home... more malaise.

Meet Lt. Alex Wright.   He was one of the new arrivals to the USAF's cream of fighter pilots.  Too late for the action of the Vietnam War, he figured he would wind out his Southeast Asian tour flexing his aerial muscles to no one in particular and then end up back in the states.

Alex said, "Now John, look carefully.  I want my A-7 to be weathered.  See the fading?  Chips of paint? Like that. (he paused) Like me now!"  He thought that was funny.  To me, this story is not funny at all.

On the morning of May 12, Alex was just another bored American fighter pilot, biding his time in a part of the world where he wasn't wanted or needed.

By 1430 hours, however, the gods of war decided the Vietnam War needed one more battle...

(and we'll get to this notion of HGs having 'perspective' in the next post)

I hate "SEA Camo" (SEA = South East Asia) because no one is really sure what it really looked like.  Think I'm being funny?  Look up photos for yourself, multiply that by the raging sun, humidity, wear, tear... but I do know that Alex's A-7D was painted with "anti-flash white" on the bottom. And even then, it was filthy.

Profile 160: "269" - McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II as flown by "Andy" Anderson and Wade "Mom" Hubbard

"I sure love/hate the governor..."

"We went to Mount Rushmore once. My little brother/sister got carsick..."

"Watched Fargo!  Great movie!"

And of course (paraphrasing 99.97% of all graduating high school seniors) "I can't wait to leave."

Welcome to South Dakota!

Here.  Have a sign.  It's free.  Which is a good way to get to meet South Dakotans — offer free stuff.  Why?  Because, South Dakotans are simple folk, working the land, hoping that something to eat will come out of it (after the thaw) and making clothes out of grocery sacks...

Ah, just kiddin'.  But there is a point here.  

* break break *

Have a look at the F-4E Phantom II on top.  It's the opening sketch of an illustration that will soon be distributed (for free, btw) to school kids in South Dakota.   And better yet, it'll also be made into a little flingable model airplane (something to do when Tornado & Locust Season comes and families will be hunkered in the cellar).

Want one?  Of course you do.  Building paper F-4E Phantoms is satisfying and good.  And maybe I can hook you up.  But in the meantime, back to the point I'm trying to make.

Meet Wade Hubbard, you've never heard of him.  He lives a quiet life in South Dakota; pretty much the lifestyle of  everyone in South Dakota.

Ok.  Now you can have a look below.  It's the finished F-4E - specifically, "229".  From what Wade tells me, it was an extraordinary bird; Wade was a WSO (Weapon Systems Officer) and even sometimes co-pilot (the USAF had joysticks in the backseat while the Navy/Marines did not) on 229 on more than a few occasions.  

But back to the "point."   I can't really get into Wade's story right now — I will later.  But, for the moment,  his is yet another example how remarkable people surround us, often without any indication whatsoever.  Though I've been privileged to have met some extraordinary 'celebrities' of 20th Century history, the reality of life's "reality" is bound in the ordinary folk.   

I'm beginning to think that our fascination with celebrities, entertainment — "personal branding" if you will — is a terrible delusion.  As a native Dakotan, oft frustrated by certain Lack, I'm appreciating more and more the value of the Ordinary; the ordinary commitment to live one's life as fully as possible, without the need to measure it by clicks of the mouse, camera or net worth.

Ironically, Wade will soon be honored far beyond he ever imagined.  

Want to come to South Dakota?  Make plans 9-15 May... maybe you can meet Wade.  Let me know — we South Dakotans tend to be friendly (we'll share the casserole, but if you like spicy, bring your own ketchup).

Profile 158: "Mammy Yocum" - Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 468th BG, 792nd BS as crewed by Malen Powell

 

Have a look at my B-29 sketch above.

Now, close your eyes and try to imagine what it really looked like...

Did you notice the nose art?

* break break *

(sigh)

My lifestyle requires that I 'hit the gym' every day.  Without the gym, I'd be a 300lb potato; working out is the only way I know to achieve any kind of physical fitness in my line of work.  But the essential practice is boring.  And solitary.  I'm not alone in this sentiment.  

Thus, it stands to reason that - social species as we are - there are a group of us that meet in the facility's dry and steam saunas.  Once the notion of being around naked, ugly, sweaty men in their pinnacle of "ick," (wrapping up in towels does not help much) is blocked out,  the conversations that follow make the place fascinating.

A scene from the sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond."

I do not recommend doing internet searches with the words:

"Old men in sauna."

©NBC

As a twenty+ year gym member, most of the people there know me as "the guy who does war stuff."  I'm seen as a subject-matter expert on aviation, military, politics — an odd irony in that I'm simply a repository of other people's activity.  I know nothing other than what I learn from interviewing other people.  I'm just an observer.  Of history.  I tend to keep my eye's shut in the steam room (and observe with my ears).

Anyway.

Years ago, one of the 'steam room guys' and I got to know each other well enough to recognize each other through the hissing steam —at the time, he was in his 80s and did his swimming/sauna routine about the same time I did my weights; our schedules in the Steam Room coincided.  

We exchanged pleasantries —"Hey."  "Hey."   and "How's it going?"  "Good, you?" But judging from his lack of direct interaction with the steady exchange of other Steam Room Acolytes, I recognized him to be an Observer, too.  

Having participated in a few WWII memorial events, I got to be a pretty-good judge of age and figured him to be about 85.  Backed with a heavy interest in all-things-WWII, I decided to ask the obvious.  But, I'd learned that The Greatest Generation weren't always best approached from the front.  Sometimes, an oblique approach was better. 

In my minds-eye, I remember the moment like this — three in the steam room, the steady hiss of hot fog, the sharp scent of eucalyptus oil and weird acoustics that come from wet ceramic tile and the odd splat of sweaty feet.

Can you picture that?

Ok.  Anyway...

"Did you happen to go overseas in the '40s?"

"Yes," was his reply.

"Really.  Where?"

"North Africa."  Through the steam, I could see his posture hadn't changed and sat hunched, looking at the floor as men tend to do in places like this.  

(Ssssssss...splat, cough, sssssss...)

That was the roundabout-answer to the question I REALLY wanted to ask, "I see you're WWII age.  Did you serve in combat?" (For those of you who are history-challenged, North Africa was not much of tourist destination in the 1940s.)

A few seconds passed and I decided to ask another.  "Anywhere else?"

(Ssssssss...splat, cough, sssssss...)

In a flash, he stood up straight, and without making eye contact, announced to the doorway in a stern voice, "Italy!  And two Purple Hearts if it means anything to you!" And he fairly bolted to the door, obviously uncomfortable with something and obviously DONE with the Steam Room.

Poking around stories of the past is my work, but when it pokes back, I don't always know how to react.  This time, I felt horrible.

So did the other, silent dude, sitting in the mist in the corner... awkward?  Indeed.

However... 

As this old guy splatted his way out of the sauna, one hand holding his towel tight, the other strong arming the door, I noticed two ancient scars on his back.  One about nine inches long across his shoulder and the other wrapped around his ribs, perhaps equally as long.  Jagged, thick — these were not the marks of a surgeon but of the butchery of mortal combat. 

Again, I felt horrible.  And it took another year before we got back to pleasantries —"Hey."  "Hey."   and "How's it going?"  "Good, you?" 

Until, one day, the conversation eased back into his combat service and this time, he seemed more interested in talking about his wartime life — "One day, we'll have to get together.  I'll tell you all about it.  All of it."  

The day never came — like everyone on earth, he died.  And like everyone on earth, he died with a story still locked away... and I was left with the sparse framework of Operation Torch, the Invasion of Italy and sobering memory of two ugly scars slashed onto the skin of an old man.

Ok, so this post is supposed to be about B-29s.

Have a look again.

My finished B-29!

© Me.

Did you notice the nose art?   You can BARELY see it.  But getting that bit right took 50% of the time required to render, "Mammy Yocum," the B-29 crewed by gunner SSgt Malen Powell, 792nd Bombardment Squadron, among the first to use the airplane in the historic bombing of mainland Japan in 1944-45.

The piece was created to represent the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Society at Malen's 100th birthday party to be held on 11 December in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Powell was awarded the honor for his actions over a mission over Japan — in the packed formation, he identified a stick of bombs plummeting from another B-29 as on a collision course with his crew's own B-29 and helped the pilot make lightning-quick course changes to just-barely miss a sure-fire collision.  

This is a photo of bombs leaving the bomb bay of a 792 BS B-29.

I can only imagine what Malen saw...

©Unknown

DFCs aren't handed out like cookies.  And they're no mere 'at'a boy!' awards.  Gads, I wanted to know more about exactly what happened that day... and of course, what happened every other day in Mallen's life (which I found out was fairly stiched together with deeds of community service, profound Christian faith and friendship to many.  

Unfortunately, Malen contracted pneumonia in early December and his ill-health forced the decision to postpone his birthday party for...

"Six months?!" I said aloud, reading the notice.  

Hmmmm.

Anyway, back to the nose art.  Of all the B-29s he'd crewed, Malen wanted "Mammy Yocum"* to represent his service.  Now, as long as I have good photographic references, I'm pretty amped with nose-art challenges.  But in the case of "Mammy Yocum," I was less-so as only two (kinda) crappy references remained. 

The two lousy photos I had and my cobbled-up scrawl trying to simulate what "Mammy Yocum" would have looked like on the B-29 that Malen crewed.

You don't want to know what it took to figure out what color Mammy's clothes were and you certainly don't want to know how many iterations it took of sketching the iconic character on paper to get my head around how I could draw someone else's vision through someone ELSE'S minds-eye...

But!  The presses were fired up, proofs made, signed, numbered and readied for the party where Malen would be reunited with his airplane to a crowd of VIPs...

...when on 19 December, I opened my email to find a short note from Malen's daughter, "I'm sorry.  I'm trying to contact everyone.  He passed this morning..."

(sigh)

Life is terminal, I get that.  As much as we try to fool ourselves, there's a Higher Order that prevails, plucking every one of us from the time continuum.  Play by the rules, break them all or pick your ratio in-between — the end is the same.

I was really hoping Malen would have his moment, though.

However, in my brief interaction with Malen prior to his passing, he did get a chance to answer a few of my questions (thank you, DeAnna Powell for the help!)

***

Me: If there was painting of your plane made, would Mammy be in color?

Malen: It seems like she was.

Me: Do you remember if the colors matched the comic strip?

Malen: I just remember seeing her with her fists up like this (motions) ready to fight.  Tom Young said that she was the "fighting-est" old girl in the army.

Me: How many bombs would you want on your plane?

Malen: Well, there would be 19 bombs and 4 camels... 

My artwork showing a nifty effect I use with clear "varnish"

Notice the 100 (for Birthday), the five camels (for times flown over 'the hump')

and 35 bombs for Malen's combat total.

Later, we got around to questions of more substance.

Me:  Did WWII change you in any way?

Malen:  I don't think it changed me.  I was the same as before I joined.  We had a job to do,  we went over and did it. 

Me:  So then describe your WWII service...

Malen:  I am proud of what we did.  I saved my crew.  I've been thinking about the movie"Saving Private Ryan". In the movie the gov't heard of four brothers that were killed.  They sent a troop in to get the last surviving brother.  The leader said to pvt Ryan, we are here to get you out. The gov't doesn't want all of the brothers killed in combat.  Pvt Ryan looked at the leader and said, " Do you see that guy there, that guy there, that guy there,  they are all my brothers and I'm not leaving them". The feeling,  you've got friends here and there, but if you were in combat, your feelings for each other would be different.  There is a story of friends 50 feet apart.  One was shot,  and the other defied death to bring his friend out to get medical attention.  There's a bond between people who are in combat.  I'll use Martin as an example. We were in combat together. He was probably the best friend I've ever had.  When I lost him,  man, that hurt.  If it was the marines,  army, navy, it would be different, but when we were together,  there was no distinction between us.  Captain Barber was my Good friend. We went to the shows together a few times. When we were sitting around together there was no distinction between us.  

Me:  If you could do anything differently in your life, what would it be and why?

Malen:   That's a hard question.  I don't know what I'd do differently.  The only thing I can think of would be to go college on the GI bill. 

Me:  Are you particularly proud of any accomplishment you did?

Malen:  I took flying lessons to be a commercial pilot.  I would have been proud to be a pilot.  I'm proud of my military service.  Two different times I saved my crew from death.  I was on the last mission that stopped WWII. I'm very proud of that.  

Me:  When you go back into your memories of a B-29 mission, what do they comprise?

Malen: I made 34 bombing missions. Half of those missions I don't remember dropping the bombs. I remember the important missions.  On the Mukden Manchurian mission we (almost) to have froze to death. It was 65 below zero, and we didn't take our coats. After about 25 minutes from dropping our bombs, we crossed the Great Wall of China. On a different flight from Pakistan,  we flew over the Taj Mahal.  

Me:  Any advice you'd give a total stranger?  Like me?

Malen:  I'm not sure.  I'm not sure...

And the interview was stopped to pick up another day.  Which of course, won't happen.

I just scribbled this. That's my Challenge Coin though.  Appropriate enough for today.

****

That this post is the last of 2021 seems fitting as  I'm tired from interviewing old guys and drawing their airplanes.

And tired of watching generations grow up in mind-tight capsules that can't learn from the past.

Tired too of shouted words and plugged ears.

And tired of seeing old people walk through the door of life, wisdom unshared, scars at their backs while the rest of us wonder what the hell just happened.

Blue Skies, Malen.  I hear there's a place especially prepared for folk like you... 

Malen Powell - 1921-2021

*Mammy Yocum was the tough-talking Matriarch of Dogpatch, USA of the then-famous comic strip, "Lil'Abner."