Theodore W. Finck 1942 |
Ted and Mary Ann 1999 | Ted with West Virginia Plate |
Last Name: ` FINCK |
First Name
Middle Initial: THEODORE W |
Nick Name: 'TED' |
|
Street: 32 LOCUST AVE | City & State: WHEELING, WV | E-Mail: twfma@verizon.net | |
Zip: 26003 | Phone: (304) 242 2840 | Spouse: MARY ANN | |
Conflict: WW II | Service Branch: Army Air Corp | Unit: 8AF 384 BG 544 BS | |
Theater: | Where Captured: FRANCE | Date Captured: 06/26/43 | |
Camps Held In: 7A 17B | How Long Interned: 677 days | ||
liberated / repatriated: liberated | Date Liberated: 05/03/45 | Age at Capture: 26 | |
Medals Received: PURPLE HEART FAME Ribbon with one bronze star Good Conduct medal | |||
Military Job: RADIO OPERATOR AND GUNNER | Company: GROCERY MANAGER | ||
Occupation after War: FOODLAND MARKETS |
Military Bio: I was born at Parkersburg, WV. At the age of one and a half my family moved to Wheeling, WV. I was educated in the Ohio County Schools . On June 25th l942 I was drafted and entered the Army Air Force. Went to radio school at Sioux Falls , SD, and gunnery school at Harlington, TX. After That I went to Wendover Field , Utah where we formed our crew . They were as follows: Pilot Delton G Wheat, Co Pilot Donald G McMullen, Navigator Thomas L Ketchum, Bombadier Robert J Brown, Engineer Thomas B Randolph . Asst. Engineer Warren L Pursch, Waist gunner Ralph C Wood, Ball turret John J Katuzney, Tail gunner Dero M Hurst, and myself Radio Operator Theodore W Finck . On our arrival in England we were based at Grafton Underwood. On our first mission to Villacoublay, France,June 26, 1943, we were hit very hard by fighters and then flak which knocked out 3 engines and the controls. We were trying to make the English Channel and ditch it, but there was no hope. We all bailed out and was picked up at once when we hit the ground in Dieppe, France. I was wounded in the right leg by flak and taken to a field hospital where they pulled out a piece of metal about the size of your thumb, wrapped a paper bandage around my leg and sent me off to interrogation . Was there 3 days , then to Stalag V11A . On Oct. l3, l943 we were loaded into box cars [40 or 8] but we had 60 men to a car. After 3 days of travel we arrived at Stalag XV11-B Krems, Austria . While at this camp I kept myself busy playing guitar about every evening . I also took two courses in Spanish and one course in photography . I bought the guitar at Stalag V11-A from a Frenchman for 21 packs of cigarettes. On April 8th, l945 we were put on a forced march ,where we ended up in a large pine forest at Braunau, Germany.18 days , 281 miles. Was liberated by the l3th Armored Division of the 3rd Army, May 3rd, 1945. European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal one bronze star , Good conduct metal, Purple Heart, P.O.W. Medal,American Campaign Medal,WW11 Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WW11, Aircraft Crewman Badge. I have been married to my lovely wife, Mary Ann Tominack Finck,since Feb,24th,1969. |
My Message to Future Generations: To come |
To Edit Bio Click Here
Return to CombatVets.net Home Page
This Site Published CombatVets Network, Division of LovedOnes
Inc. (727) 588-0747