The next meeting of the Texoma Patriots is Monday, August 14, at 7:00 p.m.
The topic is: Accounts of World War II Veterans
The location is Buck Snort BBQ, 224 E. Jefferson St, Van Alstyne, TX – the buffet will be open so plan to come early and enjoy the delicious barbeque meats and salads. Of course, don’t forget the chocolate chip cookies Jim bakes for us.
We hope you will join us to honor these men and hear their stories. Everyone is welcome. There is not charge to attend.
August 14 1945: Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies is made public, in effect ending the war.
August 14, 2017: Two WW II veterans are coming to talk about their experiences in the European Theater. Our speakers are Fred Disney and Victor Hancock.
FRED DISNEY was born and raised in Alabama. While in high school, he joined the Alabama National Guard. The infantry unit he was assigned to was called up at the start of World War II. Disney transferred to the air corps and completed pilot training. After he completed his B17 pilot training, he was assigned to the 384th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, England.
On June 22, 1943, Fred was shot down. As a POW, he was taken to Stalag Luft III in Sagan (now Zagań, Poland). This concentration camp was made famous by the epic film The Great Escape based on an escape by British Commonwealth prisoners of war from the German POW camp starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough. Fred Disney was liberated by General Patton on April 29, 1945. Upon his return home to the United States, he served a few years in the Air Force Reserves. He left service with the rank of Captain.
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VICTOR HANCOCK joined the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet while in high school. He was supposed to graduate in January 1943, but his class was called up to active duty on November 12, 1942. He went on to pilot training in Texas where he trained in “night flighters.” He graduated with the 44E class from Ellington Field (near Houston). From there he went on to combat training in B25s.
Victor was sent overseas to Corsica, Italy, on December 31, 1944, where he flew the South Atlantic. The average age of the men in his unit was 21 to 22; Victor was only 20. He flew 22 combat missions in the B25. He was about to be assigned to the Pacific when the war ended. “When Truman dropped the bombs,” Victor stated, “he saved many lives.” Hancock spent another 4+ years in service to our country during the Korean War. From January 1951 to June 1955 he was assigned to Goose Bay, Labrador. He left the service with the rank of Captain.