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Saturday, October 18 was a very special day at the 384th BG reunion in Dayton.  Brig. Gen. McLaughlin was there to pay tribute to Lt. Col. Budd Peaslee and share his thoughts on Col. Peaslee's career.  It was a wonderful meeting with members of the Peaslee family, who are now all "officially" part of our SSMA family.  From left to right: grand-daughters Debbie and Monique, General McLaughlin, son Richard who also spoke to honor his father, grand-daughters Caroline and Kari, daughter Michelle.

In his comments

General McLaughlin said "Col.

Budd Peaslee was my WWII

hero."

The Peaslee family was

presented with a wooden box

hand-crafted by 384th BG

member Keith Ellefson

Inside the lid were the words of Peaslee's famous "Heritage of Valor .....

....  which grand-daughter

Debbie somehow managed to

read.

Once again the family of John Gell has placed a remembrance for SSMA at Madingly.
For those new members here, B-17 "Cat o'Nine Tails" of the 303rd BG crashed in the garden of the Gell family upon return to England 14 October 1943. All crew survived.

There is no doubt in our mind that Thomas will one day take over this task. Thank you for taking him each and every year and keeping our story alive in his heart.

It is with sadness and a heavy heart that we report that our dear, sweet Jay folded his wings on December 21, 2014. Always Pete and Jay together with Michelle close by. Pete piloted the 94th BG A/c that went down during the Schweinfurt mission. Jay loved to tell the story that he landed in a pigpen. From that pigpen to Stalag Luft III where he was a "penguin", to Wharton School of Business, to hospital administrator. And oh the stories he could tell. At our reunion in Se...ptember he closed down the hospitality room telling stories, even some that Michelle had never heard before. Our thoughts are with Michelle and the family. Jay had recently moved from Lexington to Richmond to be closer Michelle. A memorial service at a date to be determined will be held in Lexington KY and Jay's funeral will be at Arlington National Cemetery. More details as we receive them. Please share you favorite Jay story and photos.