The Telescope

Issue Date: 11/6/06

Students learn from war veteran pilots

By Shahrazad Encinias

Media Credit: Josh Peterson (clockwise from left): Norman Achen, a World War II fighter pilot, talks with History 102 students Kacie Nomura, Kevin Cooper, Brianna miniter, Lauren De Baun, Carlos Flor and Brian johnson at an Old Bold Pilots meeting at Denny's on Oct. 25.

Palomar College students took a field trip to Denny's to share breakfast with war veterans. There were 80 people at the event. Only the war veterans and Palomar professor Joseph Bagnall's History 102 class attended the event.

Veterans shared memories and pictures with the students during breakfast. Many of the veterans brought their pictures from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and the Gulf War.

The veterans have been meeting for many years every Wednesday at the same Denny's in Oceanside for breakfast.

This time students and veterans sat together at tables. The veterans recruited students to their tables to share their experiences with them. Tim Deering, History 102 student, said he really wants to return next week.

Deering shared a table with Bill Ryherd, a World War II veteran. Ryherd had a movie made out of one of his most memorable experiences during the war; "Shot from the Sky," aired on the History Channel.

Deering said he saw the movie months ago with his father when it aired and was so excited to meet the man behind the true story that he had to call his father and tell him.

"It's really nice to hear their stories," Deering said.

Ryherd was a sophomore at Texas A&M when he volunteered to got to war in 1942. During his time in war he was mistaken for an enemy and sent to a concentration camp where he spent one month sleeping outside. When he returned he graduated from USC in 1952.

War veteran Charles H. Huebsch flew with Charles Lindberg during his time in World War II. Huebsch took pictures of locations before and after bombs were dropped and Lindbergh flew above him to protect him from enemies.

Huebsch was 20 years old when he joined and served from 1942 to 1945. He flew over the South Pacific and he lived with a native headhunter tribe for 10 days when his plane ran out of gas. The island where he landed was 100 miles from a Japanese training camp.

"I thought I was going to be there forever," Huebsch said.

When he lived with the natives they taught him how to spear fish for food. He said he also had to change his attire to fit in.

He made a grass skirt and wore it over his underwear because the men didn't wear anything under their skirts.

"You had to be young and stupid to survive," said Huebsch about his experiences in war.

Bagnall knew about this weekly event and told his History 102 class said student Mark Wessling. Bagnall told the history department about his field trip idea and was approved.

"It was a really good experience," Wessling said.

Tom Brokaw called the generation that beat the Great Depression and World War II the greatest generation.

"Here is a splendid chance for our students to meet and converse with members of that generation," Bagnall said. "This is a good opportunity for good fellowship, fun and

bonding."

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