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Hillard E. Johnmeyer

Date of Birth Mar 31, 1924	Enlisted Dec 14, 1942 St. Louis, MO	Commissioned Jun 26, 1944 Lubbock, TX	Discharged Nov 12, 1945 Roswell, NM	Died Oct 5, 1998

While Dad was in a coma, we got this letter from my favorite cousin ... No one has been able to say it better.

I know that words are cheap, and of little comfort at a time like this, but I just wanted to let you know how much we as a family are praying for Uncle Hillard, and how much he means to me, and my family. Whether or not Uncle Hillard makes it through this physically, his tremendous spirit will always be with us, and be a guiding light to us. He has always been recognized by all whose lives he touched as a strong & good man. He has always been one of those few who are able to live life in the fast lane, and still maintain the high road and the straight and narrow.

Your family, and all those lucky enough to be close to him, have been especially blessed. As you know, his impact on my life has been tremendous. Uncle Hillard has always been a second father to me, and much more. I have been able to make a living doing something I love to do, primarily because of him. My life and his have had many parallels. On those parallel paths Uncle Hillard has always been a guide, someone to look up to, and even emulate. I have always (and still do) looked forward to the times when our paths would cross. I can only hope that my life will have even a small fraction of the positive impact that his has had.

Although I will never be able to find the words to express how much Uncle Hillard means to me, I can tell you this; Andrea & I are both praying for him, and we know that whether we see him again in this life or not, his life has been a blessing to us all, and we look forward as always to our next meeting, where ever that may be.

With all our Love,                  
Glenn & Andrea Johnmeyer

PS Uncle Hillard. It is my fervent prayer that you get to read this yourself as you convalesce. God Bless You.

*Glenn flew fixed wing in Viet Nam, salted thunderstorms in Littlefield, Texas, flew commercial and now has a left seat ride in a 747 for UPS.

Army Air Force Song

An Aviation Cadet in training for duty as a flying officer is required to meet special physical standards, somewhat higher than for others. His visual acuity and color perception must be perfectly normal. Hearing must be normal in each ear. A flying officer, except fighter pilot, is required to be not less than 60 nor more than 76 inches in height and to weigh not less than 105 nor more than 200 pounds. A fighter pilot must be not less than 64 nor more than 72 inches in height and must weigh not more than 180 and not less than 114 pounds. Before an Aviation Cadet is eligible to enter upon any flying training, he must pass a complete physical examination for flying duty.

The Aviation Cadet who is training to become a pilot receives thirty-six weeks' instruction. This instruction is divided into four courses, each of Nine weeks' duration. The first course is devoted to fundamentals involving general military training and preliminary ground work.

Flying training of pilots is divided into three nine-week courses: primary, basic, and advanced, with flying time of sixty to sixty-five, seventy, and eighty hours, respectively. During advanced training the pilot is assigned to bombardment flying or pursuit flying and to twin- or single-engine planes, depending upon his temperament and physique — two important factors in determining the Aviation Cadet's particular field of specialization.

Mechanical aptitude, unusually quick reflexes, perfect physical coordination, and the ability to make rapid decisions are desirable in the applicant who wishes to become a pilot. A knowledge of mathematics and some experience in the field of the applied sciences are useful. - Aviation Cadet Training for the Army Air Forces

The Library of Congress is actively seeking to collect as many veterans' stories as they can to preserve and to make available over the Internet for all future generations of Americans to access. If you have a relative or friend who is a veteran, take the time to visit them this Memorial Day, to thank them for their service, and to offer to help them to collect their memorabilia and to write their stories.

The 'Greatest Generation' Deserves To Have Its Stories Told

Sixty-five years ago, many ordinary men and women answered the challenge of the colossal conflict of history that engulfed much of the world in flames and eventually took the lives of more than 50 million people. It was a battle to decide the fate of the world: Would the world be ruled by militant tyrants and brutal dictators, or by principles of freedom and democracy?

The vast majority of the American men called upon to meet the eminent threat of the enemy were young men barely out of high school. They came from every village, town and city across this nation and collectively formed a military machine that astonished even our enemies.

Hitler's general Rommel commented, "Starting from scratch an army has been created in the very minimum of time, which, in equipment, armament and organization of all arms, surpasses anything the world has yet seen."

It was the raw courage of these men and innumerable acts of heroism that eventually put the bullies in their place. Sadly, this generation is about to pass away, but for those who still remain there is a window of opportunity that we must take advantage of.

Every veteran is a capsule of history with a unique story to tell. The legacy of the "greatest generation" is a priceless gift. We are who we are because of what they were. I want all of my progeny to know the intimate details of their forefather's role in the conflict of the ages. May we all take it as our duty to honor these heroes that are still among us by preserving the history that lies within them before the whisper becomes the silence.

Gregg Lawrence is president of HealthMart USA. The 'greatest generation' deserves to have its stories told. The Tennessean. Monday, 05/30/05.

Dad kept a couple of Penworthy Note Books with reminders, class and flight briefing notes in it. You'll find some of the notes imaged and/or referenced on different pages on the site. Just wanted to let you know where they came from.

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