I just got home from a business trip in Poland this weekend. I connected through Munich and while walking back to my seat, I passed an older gentleman with a 101st Airborne hat on and a green flight jacket draped over his seatback. The nameplate had his name, unit designation and underneath said "Band of Brothers".
I was two rows behind him and once he settled in, I went forward and asked him if he was in Easy Company. He said "Yes" and we began talking.
It was Ed Mauser, who at 92, is believed to be the oldest surviving member of Easy Company. Ed said that he had just completed a 2 week tour where he found his jump zone from D-Day and traced his route of all the major engagements they were involved in...all the way to the Eagle's Nest. Ed was wounded at Bastogne. He received the Silver Star as part of the nighttime rescue of the Arnheim survivors.
I told him how honored I was to have met him and thanked him for his time.
Later, I mentioned him to a flight attendant. She immediately went over to talk to him. She went up front and soon, each pilot came back in turn to shake his hand. The crew wrote out a letter saying what an honor it was to have him on the flight.
When the crew finished their post-takeoff announcements, they mentioned the "very important passenger". The entire aircraft broke out into applause. The crew refused to let him pay for his wine during dinner. There were several military people on the flight returning for leave and many of them stopped by, shook his hand and asked to have their picture taken with him.
Heavens...stuff like this almost restores my faith in people. For me, this was like meeting Elvis...
Mr. Mauser was kind enough to sign this autograph for me...I'll put this in my "Band of Brothers" book or DVD set.
Here's my "commemorative" picture...my favorite M1 Garand with his little brother carbine backing him up
Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me for a picture. Here's a few links I found on him.
http://www.omaha.com/article/20090906/NEWS01/709069862
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacques_wood/3899920876/
http://www.majordickwinters.com/php...6&t=3031&sid=6c393c700d331fcb93cc3af71d80d6e4
I was two rows behind him and once he settled in, I went forward and asked him if he was in Easy Company. He said "Yes" and we began talking.
It was Ed Mauser, who at 92, is believed to be the oldest surviving member of Easy Company. Ed said that he had just completed a 2 week tour where he found his jump zone from D-Day and traced his route of all the major engagements they were involved in...all the way to the Eagle's Nest. Ed was wounded at Bastogne. He received the Silver Star as part of the nighttime rescue of the Arnheim survivors.
I told him how honored I was to have met him and thanked him for his time.
Later, I mentioned him to a flight attendant. She immediately went over to talk to him. She went up front and soon, each pilot came back in turn to shake his hand. The crew wrote out a letter saying what an honor it was to have him on the flight.
When the crew finished their post-takeoff announcements, they mentioned the "very important passenger". The entire aircraft broke out into applause. The crew refused to let him pay for his wine during dinner. There were several military people on the flight returning for leave and many of them stopped by, shook his hand and asked to have their picture taken with him.
Heavens...stuff like this almost restores my faith in people. For me, this was like meeting Elvis...
Mr. Mauser was kind enough to sign this autograph for me...I'll put this in my "Band of Brothers" book or DVD set.
Here's my "commemorative" picture...my favorite M1 Garand with his little brother carbine backing him up
Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me for a picture. Here's a few links I found on him.
http://www.omaha.com/article/20090906/NEWS01/709069862
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacques_wood/3899920876/
http://www.majordickwinters.com/php...6&t=3031&sid=6c393c700d331fcb93cc3af71d80d6e4
