Veterans describe World War II, Cold War experiences

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Veterans Bill Baltisberger and Allan Packer of Marshalltown made World War II and early Cold War history come alive Thursday evening at the Historical Society of Marshall County's museum.

The setting was the HSMC's monthly "Third Thursday" history programs hosted by HSMC board member Julie Lang.

Both men graphically and sometimes lightheartedly, shared their extensive experiences to approximately 60 citizens, some of whom sat in an adjoining hallway. The men saw extensive action in World War II. Baltisberger was a navigator on B-17s. Packer piloted P-47 Thunderbolts.

But their service was not over. Baltisberger was recalled to serve during the Korean conflict from 1951-53. Packer remained in service, graduating from the U.S. Military Academy. He too would experience the Cold War during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The U.S. entry into World War II after Pearl Harbor changed the lives of both men dramatically.

"On Dec. 6, 1941, I knew what my destiny was going to be," Packer said, who opened the program.

He graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1942 and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in December that same year.

After completing pilot training in April, 1944, he was stationed in Duxford, England flying in the 8th Air Force.

He was shot down in January, 1944 and was a POW in Germany until the war ended in May.

Much of Packer's recollections dealt with his stint as a POW.

"I was shot down over Hamburg in 1945 and we were liberated by Patton's 14th Armor in May," he said. "We spent our first night in a Hamburg jail with a bunch of German drunks who had been arrested for looting."

From Hamburg they were sent to Nuremberg.

Later, the Germans forced Packer and other GIs to walk from Nuremberg to Munich.

During the march Packer and several others escaped into the nearby countryside, but were re-captured after 17 days of freedom.

"It was very austere living," Packer said with a smile, recounting his days as a POW. "We learned to subsist on black bread, water and soup. We would look down into the vat of soup and hope there were bugs floating around to make it better."

Packer said a German guard's comments would prove to be prophetic.

"He said to us POWs, you are going to be back after this war fighting the Russians."

The audience listened intently as he described his duties commanding the Puerto Rico Air Defense Sector during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

With Soviet state Cuba nearby, Russian planes were plentiful.

"It was a tense time," Packer said. "We had many eager, young pilots who were looking to make a name for themselves. We were allowed to follow Soviet planes but not shoot them down."

After Puerto Rico, Packer was assigned to other posts, among them the United States Air Force Headquarters and Tactical Air Command Headquarters. He retired in 1975 as a Colonel and farms near Marshalltown. He is extremely active in Marshall County veterans activities and serves on the Marshalltown Veterans Coliseum board of directors.

Baltisberger also graduated from MHS in 1942. After navigator training, he was deployed to a the 452nd Bomb Squad in England. He flew 31 missions into Russia, Italy, Germany and France. He flew two missions on D-Day.

Baltisberger vividly recounted the missions, his crewmen always on the alert for anti-aircraft fire and German fighter planes.

He was shot down twice. Once, they ditched into the English Channel and were rescued.

"We were up in the air the next day," he said.

He was shot down a second time in Germany and like Packer captured. However, Baltisberger and others were able to escape and hiked through the German countryside, raiding vacant farmhouses for food and clothing.

Once Baltisberger and a fellow crew mate dressed like a German couple on a German train, with Baltisberger dressed like a woman.

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of the guys that didn't make it," he said. There were flights where most of the planes did not make it back to England."

An audience member said the two men were part of the "Greatest Generation."

Packer said he went on an Honor Flight recently.

"Looking at all of us old duffers, I wonder how we won the war," Packer said. "You were a lot younger then," someone said. "Thank God they were," another said.

"We did what we had to do," Baltisberger said.

Next month's Third Thursday program "Juke Boxes, Pool Halls and Duck Tails, is scheduled July 15 at Marshalltown's Orpheum Theatre.

Contact the HSMC at 641-752-6664 for additional information.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@ timesrepublican.com