Roy Stubbendick is pictured with his quilt of valor
surrounded by Auxiliary members including Kay Due (right) and on the left, Pat
Rocole.
The William Sullivan American Legion Post #218 in Exeter
held a quilt of valor ceremony Monday evening, September 12 for World War II
veteran, Roy Stubbendick.
At age 95, Mr. Stubbendick has received his 70 year
membership pin from the Amercian Legion coming from his active duty from the
fall of 1942 to mid-March 1946.
Wearing a red rose boutonniere from his daughters, Roy wanted
to tell about growing up near Unadilla, Nebraska and going to country school.
His father passed away when Roy was nine years old but his strong willed mother
kept the family together and continued to farm. In 1941 he became engaged
but was working away from home and got drafted. Roy stated, “I didn’t
want to walk for the Army so I decided to fly.”
After receiving training at different sites in different
states he became a multi-engine pilot for them c-47 airplane.
From Fort Wayne, Ind. Roy flew to southeast Florida then to
South America crossing the Amazon River which he described in great deal.
He was amazed at how large it was and called it “amazing.”
They landed in Brazil. He appreciated having a good
navigator assisting the pilots on every flight as he was sent to Africa by way
of the northern route which was through India.
Stubbendick’s job was hauling supplies to the American
troops. The couldn’t land the planes so they removed the back door and
put cargo in huge bags to push it out the back door. When they could land, they
did and found fresh pineapples off of the trees on the hillsides.
After six months they got orders to go to China. They
flew day trips to Shanghai but didn’t always have a navigator so they followed
the river to get to their camp.
Unfortunately, sometimes the cargo Stubbendick had to
transport were the bodies of dead soldiers so that they could be returned home
to the United States.
Near the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, a huge blizzard hit the
antenna on the plane and they had to land make camp. Tigers came down
from the hills to their camp. Another time while sleeping, Stubbendick
was aroused from sleeping with the feeling of the presence of something in the
tent. He kept a .45 pistol under his pillow which he slowly removed only to
discover a cow had been watching him sleep. He reminded the audience
that, “Cows are sacred in India.”
Stubbendick recalled that the C-47 was one of the most
reliable planes. Most other planes contributed to the “Trail of Tin” as
they tried to cross the Himalayan Mountains.
When the war was over, Stubbendick had to wait four months
before receiving his orders to go home. He parked his plane in Calcutta,
India and headed home by ship. It took three days to get down the river
to the ocean and then 31 days to get to the United States.
Stubbendick received a letter of appreciation from the Air
Force of China and a “Pair of Wings.” He was thankful that he had never
contracted jungle fever like so many did while serving overseas.
After Stubbendick spoke, Phyllis Schoenholz, the Nebraska
South Central Coordinator for the quilt of valor program, welcomed
everyone. She gave a brief history of the quilt of valor and the mission
of the group.
American Legion Auxiliary members Kay Due and Pat Rocole
displayed the quilt behind Stubbendick and wrapped him in it at the end of the
presentation. A reception followed the presentation.
Prior to hearing Stubbendick speak, Evan True, the Exeter
American Legion representative to Cornhusker Boys State this year spoke to the
audience and thanked them for the opportunity to attend the educational event.
