Our Fading Greatest Generation
Sadly, I recently learned from Mike Yadlosky that his World War II veteran dad, Paul, a member of the Greatest Generation, passed away at the ripe old age of 97 on September 25, 2019.  Mike said, “It’s going to be strange not having my wonderful ole’ Dad around and I’ll miss taking him to Santa Clarita’s wonderful Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies and our annual July 4th Parades.”

American Patriotism Abound
Paul Yadlosky, like so many other patriotic citizens during our WWII era, realized at an early age that it was a solemn duty to serve our country in any capacity to help protect America’s freedom. Paul was bound and determined to do exactly that. Paul was born May 18, 1922 in the small Minnesota mining town of Ely, where he became a man growing up there. He graduated from Memorial High School in 1940 and then attended Ely Junior College, but dropped out to join America’s war effort.  Paul and three buddies traveled to Burbank, Calif. to work for Lockheed Aircraft, which was cranking out P-38 Fighter Planes and Ventura Bombers hand over fist. Paul became a tool machinist, learning his trade by “on the job training” (OJT), but one year later he received Uncle Sam’s famous “greeting letter.”

Paul Yadlosky

Abbreviated Pilot Training
Paul’s interest was learning to pilot airplanes, and at age 20, before getting drafted, he enlisted with the U.S. Army Air Corps on October 14, 1942, and went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for Basic Training.  Afterward, he was ordered to attend Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for six months of pilot training, navigation and cloud identification. Soon he was in preliminary flying classes and attending basic flying school.  When Paul’s flight instructor stated, “You’re trying to fly your airplane into the ground,” Paul was most disheartened, realizing he had just washed out of pilot school.

Confucius Says

In February 1944, Paul was ordered to Gunnery School in Harlingen, Texas, but two months later he was seemingly discharged from the Army as his excellent machinist skills were in strong demand back at Burbank’s Lockheed Aircraft.  Paul was greatly disappointed having lost his chance to become a pilot, but now he found himself about to work with a Rosie the Riveters crew.  Paul realized things could have been way worse.  I’m sure Paul wasn’t pondering that old Confucius quote, “Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change,” as he was summoned to Lockheed in June 1944.  Paul was soon astonished again, learning that his Army discharge was a mistake, as he was ordered to report to the Presidio at San Francisco, joining 20 other washed-out pilots for deployment overseas via train to the East Coast.  Fortunately, while on the way, Paul received a 10-day leave of absence in which he visited his family in Ely, Minnesota. Afterward, he traveled to Virginia, where he shipped out via troopship to an airbase near Cerignola, Italy, arriving in August 1944.

Machinist Duty
Due to Paul’s outstanding machinist skills, he was assigned to aircraft maintenance and he worked over there performing B-24 Bomber engine repairs for the remainder of WWII.  While there, he saw many shot up B-24’s barely returning from their long bombing runs. On one occasion, a crippled B-24 came into land; however, one of its bombs had not been properly released, and as the bomber set down hard, it blew up right before their eyes, leaving a giant crater in the runway.  Paul said it was the saddest thing he had ever seen.

Paul Yadlosky and Friends Aboard a Troop Ship Headed Home from Casablanca. Late 1945

K-Rations Anyone

As WWII officially ended May 8, 1945, with Germany’s surrender following Adolph Hitler’s suicide and Japan’s unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, U.S. troops began shipping home.  It was a glorious time as Paul and his unit escorted wounded soldiers and officers back home. Paul remembers happily going from living in dirty tents to living in fine hotel rooms at Casablanca, Morocco.  He was assigned as a flight steward on flights covering Karachi, Cairo, Casablanca, Dakar and across the Atlantic to Natal, Brazil. Other flight crews transported soldiers from there to American destinations.  You would have thought exceptional cuisine would be available for those long flights, but no. Paul’s primary duty was serving K-Rations. Paul was honorably discharged February 11, 1946, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. His military awards include The Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Ribbon and European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon.

Paul and Shirley’s Wedding. Aug. 30, 1947.

American Dream Pursuit
Paul returned to Ely, Minnesota to live with his parents while finishing his college education on the G.I. Bill.  He met the love of his life, Shirley Mae Johnson, during college and they were married August 30, 1947, right there in Ely.  They had three daughters and one son. Right after Paul and Shirley married, they moved to Stout, Wisconsin so Paul could attend teaching school at Stout Institute for two years.  Paul worked as a house painter to make ends meet, and upon completion of his studies, he was hired by the Ypsilanti, Michigan School District as a high school machine shop instructor.  After two years, he was laid off, so Paul then went to work in tool maintenance for General Motors in Detroit. Fondly recalling Southern California’s fine climate and tiring of harsh winters, Paul packed up his family and they moved to the San Fernando Valley in 1954.  Paul worked for various aerospace firms and retired from Northrop Grumman Aerospace Corporation at age 62 in 1983.

Proud Memories
During Paul’s retirement years, he and Shirley lived in Desert Hot Springs, but sadly on June 19, 2015, Shirley passed away.  In 2016, Paul’s son, Mike, wanting his loving father nearby, moved him to a senior living community right here in Santa Clarita.  Prior to departing his desert home, Paul loved gardening and growing vegetables.  Paul had proud memories of his World War II experiences, and he so enjoyed displaying his fine memorabilia collection of photos, letters, maps and old flight records.  May God bless you, Paul R. Yadlosky.

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