1. Kell High School welcomes WWII Veterans!

2. James J. Mehornay – “Jim” Born 1923 at Harper Hospital in Detriot, Michigan. Joined navy at 17, became a coreman/medic and then joined marines. Served overseas and fought at Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima. Navy – Petty Officer, 1 st class.

4. Be sure to ask about… How long his journey was to the Pacific. Times spent training in the Pacific. Fighting at Guadalcanal Guam Iwo Jima How he met his wife and how they got married.

5. Richard F. Gambino – “Doc” Born in Martinsberg, West Virgina in 1924 at home. Worked for.$10/hour at an apple and peach orchard before the War. Tried to enlist seven times before accepted by the army. Spent time overseas in France: Utah Beach, Normandy, Alsace Lorraine & the Rhineland (as part of Patton’s 3 rd Army) Army – Staff Sargent Leader – Heavy Machine Gun Section

8. Be sure to ask about… His attempts at enlisting. His father’s reaction to Pearl Harbor. Arriving at Utah Beach following the start of D-Day operation in June 1944. Having a German soldier point a gun at him. Cooking potatoes in his helmet. Being seriously injured and trapped in a demolished building for days. What General Patton was like. Receiving his Bronze Star.

9. Frederick C. Kramer – “Fred” Born in Salina, Kansas in 1926 at home. Father was an engineer on the Union Pacific RR. Family endured the Dust Bowl while living in Kansas. Joined air force reserves at 17 and was shipped off to Texas. Air force: Private 1 st Class

11. Be sure to ask him about: His experiences and memories of the Dust Bowl. His multitude of odd jobs to help out his family while in high school and college. How his tooth/root canal saved him from going overseas to fight. What life was like being on base in the USA while fighting was happening overseas.

12. Ask any of them about: How their families dealt with the Great Depression. Their memories of finding out about Pearl Harbor. Their pay… or lack there of. How slow the mail was and why. About the food they were served – K and C rations. Training at boot camp. How they spent “downtime” and any “holiday celebrations” or celebrity visits. How long it took them to come home and how they were greeted when they arrived.