Via Makeout City, a Wizbang article entitled One Who Never Made the History Books, in honor of Memorial Day:
In Dec. 1942 Preddy was assigned to the 487th FS, 352nd Fighter Group. His new Commanding Officer, John C. Meyer, was not impressed by the small size and meekness of Preddy. "This fellow couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag", is what Meyer said of Preddy upon meeting him. In the summer of 1943, the 352nd Fighter Group was sent to England as part of the 8th Air Force. Preddy went on his first combat mission in the ETO (European Theater of Operations) in September 1943 and would wait almost 3 months for his first victory which was over an Me109. Three weeks later, he scored a second victory, fighting a superior force, as he was to do many times. He led his flight of three P-47s (one stayed up as top cover) against six Me-210s covered by 10 Bf-109s that were attacking a lone B-24 straggler. In the melee, Preddy knocked down one Me-210, broke up the attack, and then lured the remaining enemy aircraft away from the damaged B-24, earning for himself a Silver Star. (16 enemy fighters against a single damaged bomber and they lost.)
The tale moves me, in spite of the bloodless play-by-play side of it. Have a read if you'd like. And it occurs to me now (as it does from time to time, though I admit not often) to send best wishes to those who fight this country's wars, and to wish peace upon friend and foe alike.
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