You Cannot Make This Stuff Up
Remember the story I told yesterday about Gail Halvorsen, the original Uncle Wiggle Wings? In response, Plunge, Chief Wiggles' co-blogger, shot me a note. Get this:
Thought you might find this interesting.I sent your site to my sister and others because I found it fascinating. She called me almost immediately, Gail Halvorsen was her next door neighbor. Now his daughter and her family live in the home and he is only about 15 miles away!
My sister is arranging a lunch so I can meet him and discuss this fascinating convergence of events and history.
Thanks again for sharing!!!!!
Regards,
Plunge
Man. Dig that crazy internet.
You've already proved a thousand times over that you're a fine journalist. So why in hell don't you put that talent to work and whip up an interview-based story of Halvorsen and the Berlin airlift? You know, more or less like the one I did for you on Colonel Robert K Morgan of the B-17 "Memphis Belle"? I would love to read an insider's story of the airlift, and so would a large number of other folks who come to your website every day. Dean, this is one of the truly great stories of American history. Don't let the opportunity go to waste. Guys like Gail Halvorsen don't live forever, waiting for someone to get their story.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Plunge already invited me out to meet Halvorsen with him. Unfortunately I haven't the resources to fly to Utah from Michigan. Otherwise, I'd go and do a writeup on the whole thing.
I did try to talk Plunge into contacting the Salt Lake City Tribune, but he says he's not comfortable having reporters and cameras out there, especially becuase they might try to make the story about him instead of the history and what Chief Wiggles is doing.
I suppose I could try a phone interview with Halvorsen. Those take a hell of a lot of energy and time I don't have right now though.
Of course, if some enterprising reporter wanted to grab the story, I could probably get a phone number or two to get him started....
How much do you need? I'm in for $50.
I was so moved by you Dean. Your needs are one phone call away. Your post by ARNOLD IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT...
I am resarching things with my background of three organizations...hope you recall them.
Sounds like you need a 3rd party that is both local in Utah, that has an interest in WW2 and knowledgable enough to interview Gail. What about a volunteer from a VFW Post or a Eagle Scout, a journalism student at a college or high school, something like that. You could write out the questions, they could use a tape recorder and do an oral history interview. They could be your co-author.
I wonder if the Church of Latter Days Saints has a WW2 Genealogy group, that bunch would surely be interested in capturing the history.
If this man has not recorded his personal story and experiences of the history he made and lived, it's going to be a real shame to lose it.. :-(
That would be more work than phoning, I assume...
Dean- get a hold of me please ASAp. i have contacts in Utah - especially in the Salt Lake City area, and in the Provo area. I am sure my friends, Ross and Roger, both lawyers who are also writers would be interested in contacting Plunge and Mr Halvorsen.