THE AIRBORNE: WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING

Bill Lusk never intended his Mullens, WV, banker father to keep him from the draft, even as draft board head.  

To the contrary, Lusk was a rising junior in the accelerated ROTC program at Virginia Tech.  In April, 1943, it was his dad who gave him the not-unexpected news, “You’re going in.”

Bill Lusk, World War II Paratrooper/Glider Soldier

At Camp Mackall, NC, (just south of Southern Pines) Lusk joined the 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division.  The division moved to Tennessee for maneuvers and war games.

“The weather was terribly cold, lots of rain, sleet and snow,” Lusk recalls.  “One of our assault boats flooded while crossing a rain-swollen river, twelve men drowned.  We were told to keep moving, that’s the way it is in war!”

Early in 1944, the call went out for paratrooper volunteers. Lusk volunteered.  “I liked the self-sufficient, fight-to-survive paratrooper training, plus the $50 pay raise,” exclaimed Lusk.

August, 1944, was a whirlwind for Lusk and the 17th Airborne Division.  Troop-trained to Boston, they sailed for England. “We did glider exercises and maneuvers in England.  I believe the British had a fighter plane hid under every haystack,” reflects Lusk.

December 23, 1944, the entire 17th Airborne Division was air-lifted into France overnight.  “I landed at 2 a.m.  We rode trucks for a while, and walked the rest of Christmas Eve, the snow was 24-30 inches deep.”

Battle of  the Bulge

“During the Battle of the Bulge, we fought near Bastogne for control of Dead Man’s Ridge.”

“I was wounded by an 88mm artillery shell.  It landed right at my feet!  Two of my men were killed and many others were wounded.”  Lusk hallucinated in and out of consciousness, reasoning, “I’m not going to get out of here alive.”

“Resting my head in my helmet, I injected myself with morphine and prayed, Lord, I’m ready to come home!  I was sure that when I woke up, I would be in heaven!”

Providentially, two medics discovered Lusk was still alive as they came by verifying casualties.  “Those brave medics took me by stretcher to a field hospital, where surgeons removed multiple shrapnel fragments.”

Lusk’s surgery was done without anesthetics since all supplies of pain killers had been exhausted.  “They teased me that no rawhide was available, but gave me a piece of rubber to place between my teeth,” per Lusk.

Lusk was moved to France for further treatment and recuperation.  “On March 22, 1945, a jeep came to the hospital with orders for me.”  Taken to the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, Lusk learned his 193rd Regiment has been so decimated at Dead Man’s Ridge, that survivors had been merged into the 194th.  

First, he learned, “We’re short a platoon sergeant, and you’re it!”   That placed Lusk in charge of three squads, each with twelve airborne infantrymen.

Secondly, Lusk learned they were just hours away from being dropped across the Rhine River into Germany, behind enemy lines.  

World War II Glider

On March 24, 1945, Lusk’s platoon boarded gliders, twelve men per glider.  They weren’t alone – over 900 USAF gliders were loading -- from multiple airfields.  Two gliders ferrying Lusk’s squad landed safely, but the third overshot the landing zone.  All twelve men and the glider pilot were killed by enemy fire.

By 2 p.m. Allied forces were in control, but running out of ammunition.  “Pilots risked their lives to fly low and drop us ammo.  Two planes were shot down and all crewmembers perished.”

Lusk’s platoon was later pinned down by enemy snipers operating from three large stone buildings.  “A British tank crew caught up with us.  I asked them to take the buildings out.  They did, and we moved on!”     

This was the final airborne operation of WW II, the first where glider troops and paratroopers dropped together, and the first where C-47s towed two gliders each.

Lusk came home on furlough after joining the 517th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment for the invasion of Japan.  The atomic bomb altered those plans.  Lusk earned a bronze star, purple heart, combat infantryman’s badge, parachutist badge, three campaign battle stars, invasion arrowhead, glider badge, M-1 expert’s badge and more.  

Lusk married Betty Williams, his childhood sweetheart on September 6, 1945.  After obtaining a B.S. degree in business administration with honors from Virginia Tech in 1947, he worked with Burlington Industries for forty years, retiring as Assistant Corporate Controller.

Bill and Betty Lusk are long-time members of First Baptist Church -- Greensboro, where both have had leadership roles.  They have three grown children and seven grands.  

Accepting thanks for his service, Lusk is appreciative but assertive, “Only by the grace of God am I here!”        

Family Legacies Unite At the Quarterdeck of the Navy

This is the second Guest Blog from my son, an active duty Navy Captain.  He sends periodic emails, entitled the SUPPO Log, to friends and family about his Navy adventures.  Enjoy!

Ol'Harry

SUPPO Log 21 March 2015 - Family Legacies Unite At the Quarterdeck of the Navy

Every so often worlds collide in a surprising way.  Occasionally, paths cross in ways that amaze.  I recently experienced an astonishing coincidence at the Navy Recruit Training Command.


As background, I'm currently attending the Navy Leadership and Ethics Course in Newport, Rhode Island in preparation for an upcoming assignment as a Commanding Officer (CO).  The course includes a trip to Chicago to visit the Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC) so that CO's understand how recruits are turned into Sailors.  And more importantly, to understand that America's parents are entrusting their daughters and sons to your care and leadership.


The first event was dinner with recruits who recently completed the eight week boot camp, and were to graduate the next morning.  We remained spread throughout the mess hall as recruits sat down to eat around us.  Nervously, they answered our questions.  Some even asked a question or two.  This was the first meal in eight weeks at which they were allowed to talk.  And not be rushed to complete.


During the meal, I spotted a shipmate whom I worked with at the Pentagon.  He is now the Commanding Officer of the RTC, and I went to talk with him.  He was surprised to see me, and talked about the job and all the challenges that come with transforming young Americans into Sailors.
He then pointed out a civilian talking with the recruits, and mentioned that she was a school teacher and was there as sponsor of the graduating class.  

He then said something that immediately snapped my mind to attention...she was the granddaughter of one of the five Sullivan Brothers.


For those not aware, the five Sullivan Brothers were from Waterloo, Iowa.  They enlisted in the Navy during World War II, under the condition they could serve together.  Navy agreed despite the rules against this, and they ended up together on board the cruiser USS JUNEAU (CL 52).


Also serving on the JUNEAU was a relative of mine, LCDR John Stuart Blue, who was the ship's Navigator.  It was not surprising LCDR Blue was in the Navy.  His father retired as a Navy Admiral.  The destroyer USS BLUE was named in the Admirals honor, and was the only ship to get underway from Pearl Harbor during the attack.  Early in the Guadalcanal campaign, the USS BLUE was damaged by Japanese torpedoes and scuttled.


The JUNEAU also joined the fight off Guadalcanal.  Just after midnight on November 13, 1943 the JUNEAU was struck by multiple Japanese torpedoes.  The mighty ship exploded and sank in seconds.  Of the nearly 700 crew members, most died in the explosion and subsequent sinking.  Some survived, only to perish in the sea.  Ultimately just ten crew members were rescued.


The five Sullivan Brothers and LCDR Blue all perished.


The Sullivan and Blue families were about to be reunited nearly 72 years later on March 19, 2015 at Naval Station Great Lakes...the same place the five Sullivan Brothers attended boot camp.

CAPT Harry Thetford and Ms. Linda Sullivan met at the Navy Recruit Command in Great Lakes, IL.  Both are relatives of  sailors who died on board the USS JUNEAU during WWII.

I approached Kelly Sullivan, who was busy talking to recruits and congratulating them.  I told her the story of LCDR Blue.  We instantly became siblings, bonded by the blood of family sacrifice in support of our Nation.


The Sullivan Brothers are honored by the USS SULLIVANS (DDG 68), a destroyer home ported in Mayport, Florida.  LCDR Blue was honored by the USS BLUE (DD 744), which was decommissioned in 1974.


The Sullivan Brothers are also honored today by the selfless service of Kelly Sullivan and her work with Navy recruits.


To top it off, there were two Navy Admirals there that night for the graduation.  Incredibly, both were previous Commanding Officers of the USS SULLIVANS.  You can't make this stuff up!


This chance meeting made the trip to RTC much more rewarding, and my heart swelled with pride as the recruits marched in to graduate, witnessed by a large crowd of family and military members.  I could imagine the Sullivan Brothers and John Stuart Blue smiling up above; comfortable that their legacy lives on and that the future of our Nation's Navy is in good hands.


Until next time, safe sailing!
Harry Thetford Jr.
Captain, Supply Corps, United States Navy

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