Came From East And West For Reunion

Came From East And West For Reunion

Friday the thirteenth was a lucky day for S/Sgt. Robert “Andy" Andrus. It was the day on which he landed in the States after serving with the 15th Air Force in Italy, and it made possible his being home when his life-long pal, Sgt. Howard "Howie" Baker, received a 10-day furlough from Tonopah, Nev.

Although neither knew it at the time, both were in the same depot in Chicago and arrived home just one train apart. Andy had tried to make the first train but had missed it.

Separated Since August

The very next morning after their arrival, Andy came "bustin' in" to find Howie at home. The boys hadn’t seen each other since last August. Both 19 years old, they went to Ann Arbor High school together, lived just a block apart, belonged to the same church and played on the same baseball team.

They left for service on June 3, 1944, and went through their basic training side by side at Sheppard Field, Tex. Then their paths separated although both went on in the Air Force to become gunners. Andy in the ball turret of a B-17 and Howie in the nose position on a B-24.

As to the comparative reputations of the two ships, Andy is in a position to judge for he flew over to Italy in his B-17 and returned to the United States in a B-24, and he- says they’re both good.

Sgt. Andrus landed at Foggia in Italy on March 26 and as a member of the 483rd Bomb group got in five missions over the Brenner Pass, southern Austria and northern Italy before V-E Day in Europe.

On Guard Duty

On that day of victory Andy was on guard duty and all he could do to celebrate was set off some flares. He wears his gunner’s wings, the air medal, the good conduct ribbon, and the Mediterranean theater of war ribbon with one battle star representing his participation in the Po Valley campaign.

On leaving Andy at Sheppard Field, Sgt. Baker went to Lowry Field, Colo., and to Harlingen Field, Tex., for armament and gunnery schooling. Before arriving at his present post in Tonopah, Nev., where he is preparing for overseas duty, Howie spent some time at LeMoore, Calif.

Howie is the son of Harold C. Baker, 920 S. Seventh St., and Andy’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Harold R. Andrus, 1002 Hutchins Ave.

Sgt. Howard “Howie” Baker (left) and S/Sgt. Robert “Andy” Andrus luckily arrived home on the same night to see each other for the first time since last August. The reunion took place in the home of Howie's father, Harold C. Baker, at 920 S. Seventh St., when Andy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold R. Andrus of 1002 Hutchins Ave., "busted in” the morning after the boys got in town on separate trains.