Personnel

MEMO



Subj: 100thBG Feedback Form  

Date: 5/16/2002 9:15:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

From: david_garber@charter.net 

To: mpfaley@aol.com 

Sent from the Internet (Details) 

 

EMAIL = david_garber@charter.net

UNAME = David Garber

CONNECTION = I am a relative of a 100th veteran

COMMENTS = Sgt. Ben Garber died March 30, 1984, age 72. Member, 100th Bomb Group, 350th Bomb Squadron, Ground Echelon, sailed from NYC May, 1943. Ref: Jack Sheridan's book, "They Never Had It So Good" (1946).  Garber mentioned on pp. 28, 31, 36, 38, 74, 98, & 161.  Ben was a B-17 mechanic. In 1945, he completed OCS in France.

Thanks for this web site.  I just found it.  I am Ben's son.  He was very proud of his WWII service and his fellow servicemen.

David Garber





Subj: Fw: Ben Garber, 100th Bomb Group TAPS Report  

Date: 6/14/2002 5:03:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

From: marketsq@coredcs.com 

To: MPFaley@aol.com 

CC: david_garber@charter.net 

Sent from the Internet (Details) 

 

Rely to: david_garber@charter.net 

 

M. Faley

 

Michael, here is the information you requested for the TAPS report:

 

Sgt. Ben Garber died March 30, 1984, two weeks short of his 73rd birthday.  Ben was a B17 mechanic in the 350th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, from late 1942 in the states to at least latter 1943.  I think he was transferred to another squadron after a serious head injury incurred while riding a horse in latter 1943 or 1944.  

 

He became a 2LT via OCS in France in 1945, expecting to participate in the invasion of Japan.  He married an English girl, Audrey Pickard, in 1946.  They lived in Bremen until 1948, where Ben worked for the Army occupation hotel system as a civilian.  Audrey died in 1995.  RAF wrestling champ Harry Brooks was a seven-time opponent of Ben's during the period (Ben said Ben won six of the seven bouts).  Brooks was best man at Ben & Aud's wedding.

 

Ben & Aud attended and much enjoyed a 100th Bomb Group reunion in Colorado Springs (late 1970's or early 1980's, I forget the year.  Ben got a copy of Jack Sheridan's book "They Never Had It So Good" from fellow 350th member Clarence Schoeppfer of Marshfield.  Ben is mentioned a number of times in the book, especially as an organizer of sports games, and for a boxing match with squadron mate "Sgt. Riffle."

 

Ben owned an iron and paper scrap yard in Stevens Point, Wisc., from 1948-1977, and was very active in civic affairs.  He was honored by the Jaycees as the Stevens Point's "Distiguished Citizen of the Year" circa 1963; he also received the Lions International "Life Membership" award; and awards from other organizations including the Boy Scouts of America.  He loved the ice sport of curling (now an Olympic sport).  He regularly baked bread and bagels, which he gave away to friends and neighbors.

 

Ben and Audrey are survived by sons David and Paul and one grandchild.

 

David Garber





Not positive. My dad spent 1943 and part of '44 at TA, then at Bovingdon air base, then in July, 1945, he went to OCS in France, then for two years after VJ day, he was a civilian working for the army in Bremen--it's possible the fellow pictured was someone he knew from after Thorpe Abbots.