Capt.Wallace Emmer 354th Fighter Group

[aaatripp]

A belated posting to remember that evening in the woods just west of Udenbreth, Germany. It was just over the border from Belgium with Raymond P. Emmer and his buddy, Bill Williams, as ammo bearers located in a foxhole just behind the gun emplacement for a 30cal machine gun of H Co/2nd Bat/394 Infantry Regiment/99 Division in Omar Bradley's 1st Army. Ray was suffering from trenchfoot and was distraught after receiving a letter from his mother which informed him that his older brother, Bud, had been shot down (on Aug. 9th). Though Bud had survived the explosion of his P-51D ARSON'S REWARD and was a POW, Ray was convinced that his brother was dead. Highly accurate enemy mortar fire descended upon their position and Ray was hit by shrapnel. Bill pulled Ray back into the foxhole....Ray groaned once
and was gone....it was Nov. 18, 1944....Bud's 27th birthday.

We remember the two Emmer brothers who gave their lives in WWII.

Tripp

[aaatripp]

......to remember Bud Emmer who, this day 69 years ago, died in POW transit camp Dulag Wetzlar. Recipient of the DSC, Silver Star, DFC (3x), Air Medal (25x) and Purple Heart he was hit by German anti-aircraft fire near Rouen, France on 9 Aug 44 and parachuted safely from his burning P-51D "ARSON'S REWARD" to the ground. He was the acting CO of the 353FS (354FG/100FW/XIX TAC/9AF) and had just lost his best friend and tentmate that morning, the 353FS CO Don Beerbower.

His parents, Blanch & Viv Emmer lost both their boys in the ETO during WWII and lived for another 30 years with their photos on a lighted table in their home.

RIP, Bud & Ray.

Tripp

[aaatripp]

9 Aug 1944


To remember that day when Bud Emmer ("Red One") was shot down while leading the 353rd Fighter Squadron on an armed recce mission near Rouen, France.


His best friend, Don Beerbower, was his tentmate. Don was Sqdn CO and had just recently pinned on the oak leaves of Major. Bud was his OPSO. When they awoke that morning little did they know that, by the end of the day, Don would be dead and Bud would be badly burned and in German hands...this is war.


Their "Bonnie B II" (Don) and "Arson's Reward" (Bud) would be destroyed, but not before they had shot down a combined 29 1/2 enemy aircraft.


70 years ago today.....'Lest we forget.


Tripp

A fellow pilot Cary W Salter, I understand was part of that flight flying P51D "Charlotte's Chariot". I'm not sure if Cary has any recall on this but I am advised he was there. Cary is still alive but no longer in good health.
Cary Bailey

[aaatripp]

November 18, 1944:

To remember Bud Emmer's 27th birthday on this day. He was a POW, somewhere in Germany at this time.

Sadly, in the evening of this day, Bud's younger brother, PFC Raymond Phillip Emmer would be killed by enemy mortar fire in the woods just west of Udenbreth, Germany. Ray was a member of a heavy weapons unit of H Company, 2nd Batallion, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Division. He was in a foxhole with his buddy, William B. Williams. Ray was buried in Europe and in 1948 the remains of both Emmer boys would be returned to St. Louis and buried with military honors at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery. With the passing of their parents in 1975 the family is together at the family burial plot.

'Lest We Forget.........

Tripp