13th Bomb Squadron- The Devil's Own Grim Reapers
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Reunions

Good News!
At Last, our Reunion of 2022 is Here! The latest Invader has four full pages of information covering the Reunion April 20-24 at the Holiday Inn on the Riverwalk, in San Antonio, TX. Page 18 lists the hotel telephone numbers for making reservations. Page 19 lists all of the activities for each of the five days, and page 20 is the Registration Form to be filled out and sent to: Bob Parks at 3219 Tavern Oaks St., San Antonio , TX 78247 ASAP. The fourth page has added tours, arrangements and Places of Interest in San Antonio.
(Click here for Invader Vol. 40 No 1, 2022 to complete your reservations.)



Seeing old friends, some for the first time in 30-50 years can be an emotional and really gratifying experience. We have this at school reunions, but when the previous relationships were under hard working conditions including preparation for combat or combat itself, the reconnections become incredibly meaningful. This is what happens at 13th Bomb Squadron Reunions. One pilot reunites for the first time in 35 years with the navigator he flew 65 combat missions with in Vietnam and that reunion becomes electric. Similar happy events like this occur every year at the annual Association reunions which rotate to different parts of the country where members and their wives, family members and friends enjoy tours and happenings in each location and especially the camaraderie.

The last gathering of the 13th Association, in 2019 took place at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Boise, the capital of the state of Idaho. Previously we visited Savannah, GA in 2018, and at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. 2017 was the unforgettable 100th Birthday/Reunion of the 13th Bomb Squadron hosted by B/Gen Paul W. Tibbets IV, commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, and Lt Col Matthew R. Newell, squadron commander, in 2016 San Diego (visit the USS aircraft carrier Midway, take the San Diego/Old Town trolley tour and a harbor dinner cruise), in 2015 Branson, MO (entertaining shows and dynamic speakers), in Providence, RI ( Newport Tour, The Old North Church and Quincy Market), in Reno (National Car Museum and Bucket of Blood Saloon); before that it was New Orleans (World War II Museum), Washington, DC (Air Force Memorial Service), Tucson, (Pima Air Museum), Colorado Springs, (Air Force Academy), Hampton, VA. (F-22), Kansas City, (B-2), Dayton, (Air Force Museum), San Antonio, (River Walk), St Louis, (The Cards and The Bud Suds), Seattle, (Boeing Museum), Nashville, (Grand Ole Opry), and Abilene, TX. (B-1B).


For more information about the upcoming reunion, please contact:
James R.(Bob) Parks
3219 Tavern Oaks St
San Antonio, TX 78247
bob-parks@satx.rr.com
 
News


Looking ahead, the 13th BS, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in June 2017 may become one of the new B-21 bomb squadrons now being developed for the United States Air Force.


Poem


YOUNG GUNS

{A Salute to the Grim Reapers of the 13th Bomb Squadron}

Was a century ago in the skies over France,
Oscar was born!
War One was the scene - the SPAD was the machine
Biddle, Stovall, and Spaatz, Young Guns all
Showed little fear in those early days
Fought to win a peace they hoped would stay.

But forty years later on a cool Sunday morn
In a sneak attack the bombs began to fall
And in a matter of minutes another war was born
At a serene place called Pearl Harbor
So America’s Young guns answered the call
They were lawyer, farmer, butcher and barber.

They left home and family to do their share
As they had done years ago in a place called France
To fight for freedom and show the world we care
They served the world over and took great chance,
This generation of America’s young Guns

From Savannah to Australia and on to Japan,
There was great bitterness toward that land.
Strafing, bombing, kickin butt and being bold
Many brave young Reapers gave their all
To win a peace they all prayed would hold

Four years later the fighting would cease
And the warriors could finally go home
To their families and their loved ones
And pass the mantle of their deeds
To the next generation of Young Guns

But time again would tell the world
As long as man lives and is still in the game
That peace is fragile and seldom ever won
So four years later and Korea is aflame
And Oscar leads the charge of our Young Guns

Then after Korea they’re off to Nam
A few years later we’re faced with Saddam
And after all this we know we’re not done
So there will always be a need for
Our Brave Young Guns
The putterin’ poet, Joseph Stroud, 0418 {Reaper, 1946-1950}



Rhode Island Reunion Pictures

 

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