Naval pilot's diary offers glimpse into war

Antipodean Andy · Dec 7, 2008

Veteran's diary offers glimpse into World War II | hattiesburgamerican.com | Hattiesburg American

Walline Vogle goes to play bingo with her husband, Tom, every afternoon at the Bedford Care Center in Hattiesburg.

It's a slower life for the once avid hunter, golfer and fisherman. Tom Vogle is 86 now and spends his day in a wheelchair, playing cards and bingo.

At this time of year, around the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, which marked the United States' entry into World War II, Walline and Tom reflect on his service during that war.

Tom served as a Navy reserve pilot during World War II in Guadalcanal and the Gilbert Islands.

His wife kept his diary along with an air medal given to him for shooting down an enemy jet (What the...?!) as mementos from one period of his life he said he'll never forget.

"It was a horrible war," he said. "The biggest fun I had was getting to land on an aircraft carrier."

Vogle traveled on the USS Bunker Hill, which was involved in a Christmas attack on Japanese forces. In his diary, Vogle accounts of the surprise attack on Dec. 24, 1943.

"Christmas Eve, and nobody on this ship seems to realize it," he wrote. "Guess they're concentrating too much on the little party we're putting on for the [Japanese] tomorrow morning bright and early (just like Santa Claus)."

An attack on the Marshall Islands on Jan. 29, 1944, had Vogle anxious for battle.

"Tomorrow comes another day of misery for the [Japanese], the first carrier blow of this new attack to capture the Marshall Islands," he wrote. "Revielle is at 3:10 in the morning and my first hop is at 6:35. Here's hoping all lots of luck for we may need it shortly."

Vogle served for seven years in the Naval reserves as a lieutenant. He said he grew up 10 miles east of Saucier and played basketball at Perkinston Junior College where he met his wife.

They have been married for more than 60 years.

With today's 67th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, Walline said she can still remember the attacks even though Tom was not yet in the service.

"We were at school at the junior college," she said. "We went over to supper and the dietitian had a son in the Navy and I remember to this day her crying."

She said people should still take the time to pause and remember the sacrifices of the servicemen who died that day.

"It was an eventful occasion, like John F. Kennedy being killed, no one should ever forget it," she said.

Vogle said he remembers reading about Pearl Harbor in the newspaper.

"I felt like I wanted to do something, I needed to do something," he said.

Walline said her husband began having blackouts later in life and lost the use of his legs with age. She said his memory of World War II remains sharp, however.

"The proudest thing he ever did was serve his country. He tells people that to this day."
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liverpool annie · Dec 8, 2008

Antipodean Andy said: ↑

Veteran's diary offers glimpse into World War II | hattiesburgamerican.com | Hattiesburg American
Click to expand...

God Bless Tom Vogle .... thank you for being proud to serve your country !

USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17). Who is USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17)? What is USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17)? Where is USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17)? Definition of USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17). Meaning of USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17).

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