By Vern Holmquist
In December, I learned a World War II buddy died quietly in his sleep without any fanfare as I know he would have wanted it to happen.
Eldon Bevens joined my Bomb group as a belly gunner, that maneuverable bubble with two 50-caliber machine guns attached to the underside of the B-17 fuselage.
We may have passed each other daily but it was my great loss that we never got acquainted until later in life.
Air crews came, finished their 25 mission assignment, and if they had survived moved on – if lucky back home to the USA.
I was permanently stationed with our group in England when Eldon was reported missing in action, his plane shot down over enemy territory.
After a week or so, some how, I believe with the help of the French underground, we found him back on our base and transferred to our headquarters Squadron where he served until the conflict was over.
Raised in Dallas, Oregon, Eldon lived in three different homes, each just across the street from the other.
He was involved with the family business, operating a tannery producing leather for saddles, harnesses and chaps. It’s now on the Historic Register.
Just a few years ago, Eldon gave me a tour of the tannery. I looked up at the overhead machinery and asked, “How long has this machinery been operating?” “Over a hundred years,” was Eldon’s reply.
He served on the Dallas City Council for 28 consecutive years, one might say he knew everybody in town. He had little things he liked to do and that was to tip waitresses with $2 bills, he never seemed to run of out of them. A very charming man and a hero.
I had known Eldon for about 10 years, ever since I spotted him wearing a leather flight jacket with our squadron emblem painted on the back while we were watching one of our beloved Flying Fortresses land at the Salem Airport.
We became close friends, comrades if you will. He remained active through his life persevering the memory, the reason the USA became the greatest country on this earth through his devotion to our 390th Bomb Group H Museum in Tucson and the Mighty 8th Air Force Historical Association of Oregon.
While the chances don’t look too promising at this time, let us pray one of our political parties can come up with a man of this character.
I miss you, buddy.
Sgt. Vernon C. Holmquist,
458th Sub Depot of the 390th Bomb Group H of the 13th wing of the 8th Air Force
