V.F.W. Altus
V.F.W. stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars. My wife, "CheezWhiz" and I are both active in the V.F.W. Post 1335, Woodward, Oklahoma. We, both, have held and are holding several positions at our local post. I am now the 2nd Vice and, "CheezWhiz" is a Trustee for the district V.F.W. Auxiliary.
This cache is placed here to honor all the men and women who have fought for our freedom. Two of these men were my father, PFC Harry Alexander Kraft, and my father-in-law, SSGT Jack Dempsey "Dink" Bumpass.
SSGT Bumpass was in the US Army and was a driver of a medium duty tank. While in Italy, on their way to Germany, they encountered the Germans in a fierce battle. The tank's commander, who was SSGT Bumpass's best friend, was shot and killed. SSGT Bumpass dumped his body over the side of the tank and took command on the tank. SSGT Bumpass never returned to that place and his friend's body was never recovered. SSGT Bumpass passed away in 1982 and is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Woodward, Oklahoma.
PFC Kraft was in the US Army Air Corp, which later became the US Air Force, and he was stationed on the Island of Tinian. PFC Kraft was on the ground crew of the "Enola Gay" and the "Brock's Car". These were the two B-29's that bombed Japan. PFC Kraft told me many stories of how the B-29's would come back all shot up, and how he lost some of his buddies over there. PFC Kraft remembered everyone of them by name. And, everytime he told me some of these stories, it would bring tears to his eyes. PFC Kraft passed away in 1992 and is buried in the Gage Memorial Cemetery, Gage, Oklahoma.
This war had a great impact on both of these men. My father-in-law never told any of these stories to his wife or kids. He only talked to me, about what happened to him, the last few years before he passed away. And, my Dad was very emotional whenever he would talk to me about what he went through over there.
SSGT Bumpass and PFC Kraft are just two of the many men and women who went through "HELL" for you and me. Let's not forget any of them. "God Bless America"
Stealth required...Muggles present...Cache is a micro.................