He%27s alive?!

"He's alive...?"

From: Terry Poyser
I met Dick MacDonald, WW2 paratrooper, through his son, Kelly, my next door neighbor.
Kelly saw me wearing my Airborne Demonstration Team sweatshirt while we were mowing our lawns and asked me about the organization. Kelly told me his father was in the 82nd ABN in WW2 and was in Normandy. He did not know what regiment he was with so he called his father and let me know he was in A Co, 507th of the 82nd Airborne.
Kelly's dad, Dick MacDonald, came over a few weks later and had a nice visit with me. He was amazed about the ADT and our historical commemorations; that people would care about remembering them 60 years after World War II.
Above: Dick MacDonald--507th PIR 82nd Airborne Division
A few months later Dick and Kelly went to a "living history" event at Camp Roberts, where Dick had been and volunteered for the airborne. Dick swapped war stories with a E/506th Veteran in our barracks, and began to open up about Normandy for the 1st time in 60 years.
I asked Dick if he would like to go with the Airborne Demonstration Team to Normandy, as we would be jumping near St.Mere Eglise for the 60th anniversary. Dick said he could not return to Normandy, as a good friend, James Fowler, was killed there next to him, and he saw his best friend MIke Hanley mowed down by machinegun fire and killed crossing the La Fiere causeway bridge on June 7th.
Dick himself was seriously wounded by a mortar round a week after the crossing at La Fiere bridge. He returned home, spent months in Army hospitals, and had nightmares for years about Normandy and the loss of his friends. He asked me to look for his friends graves while I was there...
I was unable to find either Fowler's or Hanley's grave in the US military cemeteries or in France. So, I emailed airborne historian and "ace people finder" Dave Berry for help. Dave told me that his records showed Mike Hanley was NOT a KIA, and only that he was wounded in Normandy.
Above: Mike Hanley 507th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division
With the basic information I was able to get from Dick, Dave found information on a Mike Hanley--of the right age--in Chicago---and also in Arkansas. Dave suggested I try the Chicago number first.
The next day I called the 1st number on the list and spoke with a gal who told me her father-in-law is named Mike Hanley and that he was a paratrooper who was badly wounded in Normandy. She did not know any other details but provided his number to his home....in Arkansas!
I called the number and asked for Mike Hanely.
I was told I was speaking with him.
I told him I was doing some research for a friend and asked him if he was in the 82nd ABN in WW2.
He told me he was.
I asked if he was in the 507th...he was.
I asked if he was in A Company...he was.
I asked if he knew a guy named Dick MacDonald... he said he did.
Mike told me Dick was his best friend in the Army... but WAS KILLED IN NORMANDY.
I told Mike that Dick was alive and I was looking for his (Mikes) grave. Mike laguhed and told me he was not dead, but had been disabled from MG fire and gangrene in Normandy, and had heard that Dick had later been killed.
I told Mike to stand by for a call...
I called Dick and told him I could not find Hanleys grave. Dick said it was OK and he appreciated my looking. I told Dick to sit down and told him I had just gotten off the phone with Mike Hanley!
Dick was stunned and excited. Five minutes later the two were on the phone together... two dead men takiing to each other after 60 years!
Both made plans to try to get to see each other, but I decided to secretly fly Mike out to California. Dick's son Kelly planned a family BBQ at Dicks house with his four kids and grandkids. Everyone including Dick's wife knew Mike was coming out with his son, Brian.
Everyone knew... except Dick.
This one photo speaks a thousand words.....
The two had a reunion 60 years in the making, and spent a great weekend talking till the early hours of the morning about their time together. It was a great therapy for both, especially Dick, who had suffered so long over Normandy.
So, hopefully this year I will be bringing the two back to La Feire for the first time in 61 years...
It would not have been possible without you DAVE!
Terry Poyser
Airborne Demonstration Team
Check out Terry Poyser's Airborne Demonstration Team here: http://www.wwiiadt.com/

From: Terry Poyser I met Dick MacDonald, WW2 paratrooper, through his son, Kelly, my next door neighbor. Kelly saw me wearing my Airborne Demonstration Team sweatshirt while we were mowing our lawns and asked me about the organization. Kelly told me his father was in the 82nd ABN in WW2 and was in Normandy. He did not know what regiment he was with so he called his father and let me know he was in A Co, 507th of the 82nd Airborne. Kelly's dad, Dick MacDonald, came over a few weks later and had a nice visit with me. He was amazed about the ADT and our historical commemorations; that people would care about remembering them 60 years after World War II. Above: Dick MacDonald--507th PIR 82nd Airborne Division A few months later Dick and Kelly went to a "living history" event at Camp Roberts, where Dick had been and volunteered for the airborne. Dick swapped war stories with a E/506th Veteran in our barracks, and began to open up about Normandy for the 1st time in 60 years.
I asked Dick if he would like to go with the Airborne Demonstration Team to Normandy, as we would be jumping near St.Mere Eglise for the 60th anniversary. Dick said he could not return to Normandy, as a good friend, James Fowler, was killed there next to him, and he saw his best friend MIke Hanley mowed down by machinegun fire and killed crossing the La Fiere causeway bridge on June 7th. Dick himself was seriously wounded by a mortar round a week after the crossing at La Fiere bridge. He returned home, spent months in Army hospitals, and had nightmares for years about Normandy and the loss of his friends. He asked me to look for his friends graves while I was there... I was unable to find either Fowler's or Hanley's grave in the US military cemeteries or in France. So, I emailed airborne historian and "ace people finder" Dave Berry for help. Dave told me that his records showed Mike Hanley was NOT a KIA, and only that he was wounded in Normandy. Above: Mike Hanley 507th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division With the basic information I was able to get from Dick, Dave found information on a Mike Hanley--of the right age--in Chicago---and also in Arkansas. Dave suggested I try the Chicago number first. The next day I called the 1st number on the list and spoke with a gal who told me her father-in-law is named Mike Hanley and that he was a paratrooper who was badly wounded in Normandy. She did not know any other details but provided his number to his home....in Arkansas!

I called the number and asked for Mike Hanely. I was told I was speaking with him. I told him I was doing some research for a friend and asked him if he was in the 82nd ABN in WW2. He told me he was. I asked if he was in the 507th...he was. I asked if he was in A Company...he was. I asked if he knew a guy named Dick MacDonald... he said he did. Mike told me Dick was his best friend in the Army... but WAS KILLED IN NORMANDY. I told Mike that Dick was alive and I was looking for his (Mikes) grave. Mike laguhed and told me he was not dead, but had been disabled from MG fire and gangrene in Normandy, and had heard that Dick had later been killed. I told Mike to stand by for a call... I called Dick and told him I could not find Hanleys grave. Dick said it was OK and he appreciated my looking. I told Dick to sit down and told him I had just gotten off the phone with Mike Hanley! Dick was stunned and excited. Five minutes later the two were on the phone together... two dead men takiing to each other after 60 years! Both made plans to try to get to see each other, but I decided to secretly fly Mike out to California. Dick's son Kelly planned a family BBQ at Dicks house with his four kids and grandkids. Everyone including Dick's wife knew Mike was coming out with his son, Brian. Everyone knew... except Dick. This one photo speaks a thousand words..... The two had a reunion 60 years in the making, and spent a great weekend talking till the early hours of the morning about their time together. It was a great therapy for both, especially Dick, who had suffered so long over Normandy. So, hopefully this year I will be bringing the two back to La Feire for the first time in 61 years... It would not have been possible without you DAVE! Terry Poyser Airborne Demonstration Team Check out Terry Poyser's Airborne Demonstration Team here: http://www.wwiiadt.com/