Touching the Ancient One

Thanks, Rita. There have been many contacts made with friends and family members since the book's publication in 2006. Most of those are discussed on my website, so after you finish the book, you might want to search this site for additional information and photographs.

Rupert

Mr.Pratt My sister Cece sent me the info on your web site. I was 13 when Uncle Bud died. I remember him well. He and Aunt Dolly made a handsome couple.I ordered your book. All I ever knew was that his plane exploded. Am looking forward to learning more. Rita

Cece,

I was quite impressed by your Aunt Dolly. Imagine joining the Peace Corps at her age! I never met her in person, but we did correspond through the mail for a time. As I related in my book, she wrote to me after learning through a People Magazine article (http://touchingancientone.squarespace.com/main-page-journal/2008/6/4/reunion-article-in-people-magazine.html#entry1884747) about our first survivor's reunion in 1996. Several of James Hill's relatives stay in touch, as well.

Our reunions and the publication of my book opened a whole new set of relationships. Although our full reunions seem to have ceased, we still keep in touch. I think you'll enjoy the book. Even though it's written from my own viewpoint, it contains a great deal of historical material about the crash and the families involved.

Thanks for your letter. Please keep in touch.

Rupert

Mr. Pratt, just ran across your site while looking up facts on my home town of Johnsonburg, PA. I know live in Pittsburgh, PA but remember very much the crash in 1954--I was 9 years old and Bud HIll was married to my Aunt Dolly, my mother, Viola Candalor's sister. There were so many years of sorrow for my Aunt and I don't think that she ever recovered from her loss. Bud gave my Mom a silk parachut and she made a slip for my sister's wedding gown from it. I flagged your site for my brothers and sisters and intend to get your book. After all these years with my Aunt and my Parents gone I will learn the whole story.
Thank you,
Cece Candalor

Robert,

Thanks for telling me about that. We've had several men identify themselves as being in on the search and rescue when our C-47 went down. One of the first was Dr. Stan Nelson who flew over the crash site and took photographs a couple of days later. He even supplied film which we showed at our first reunion in 1996. He and I had a nice telephone conversation just last week. It's good to hear from someone who shared that space (Ladd AFB) at that time. I thought it was difficult then, but now I see it in a favorable light. I probably filled your fuel tanks at some point.

Rupert

mr.pratt just found this site and your book i was a flt.eng. with the 5001st ops sqd at the time searched for you with my pilot john roberts in a L-20 beaver often wondered what happened to that crew after 53 years im glad you are well had many anxious moments in the L20 as well as the C47 during my stay at ladd regards R.Emery

What do you muse over barely new US politics

A great site. I run a website dedicated to RAF Greenham Common, a former USAAF and USAF base which had C-47s in WW2 and after.

www.greenham.greatnow.com

Melissa,

Visiting Elkader was, once again, a wonderful experience. I plan to post a story about our visit on this website in the very near future. Watch for it.

For those members of your book club who missed our discussion at the Elkader Library, I would be glad to answer any of their questions. Simply scroll down the page and click on the “Send Email to Rupert” link. Or, we could have an open discussion right here in this forum.

My thanks to you for inviting us and for the great reception we had at the library. Millie and I hope to get back someday.

Rupert

Dear Rupert

Thank-you very much for having a book signing at the Ekader Public Library. We really enjoyed your talk and were very happy to get our books signed. I only wish all of our book club members could of been able to come. Your book touches everyone even though they did not have a family member involved in the crash. You and Mille are very special people and my life has been enriched by getting to know you and your family.

Debra,

I’m really sorry about the error. I apologize to both you and Nancy. I respected your father very much, not only for his part in our rescue but also as a friend. Should there be any further editions of the book, I will certainly correct it.

Again, I apologize for the error.

Sincerely,

Rupert

Hi, Mr.Pratt, I'm Dr. Russell's daughter,Debra and i would like to make a correction about your book. Nancy wasn't married to my father, she was his companion and lived with him.

thanks

Debra

Michelle,

Little did I realize back in 1954 when I was in the hospital with your grandfather at Elmendorf AFB, that I would one day be writing to his granddaughter through a technology that was then beyond our wildest imagination. Life is wonderful and full of surprises, isn’t it? Thanks for liking the website and for sharing the book with your children. If it has been able to help people make and keep those kinds of connections, I am pleased.

I am the granddaughter of Ed Olson, and I wanted to show my appreciation for your website. I plan to get the book for my daughters to share a piece of their family history with our future generations.

Capt. James Hill was my uncle, and died a few months before I was born. My father was in the USAF serving in Okinawa at the time of the crash, and learned of it weeks later, when mail arrived by ship. I have heard various versions of what happened on that flight, but your book seems to answer most of the questions. I am a pilot now, and flying through freezing rain and snowstorms is something I have learned to avoid.

Since my uncle was in the 101st Airborn during WWII, I always assumed it was a bunch of paratroopers on board, and that's why the survivors found themselves floating through a snowstorm after the plane broke up. I hads heard that my uncle made sure everyone had their parachutes on, and was preparing to evacuate the plane just before it broke up. Your book explains no one on the plane had any jump experience, but USAF regulations required all passengers to wear parachutes. Flying must have been pretty interesting back then. And making your first jump in a blinding snowstorm into a boulder strewn glacial landscape has to top just about anybody else's story of their first jump!

Thanks for taking the time to track down the families, and putting your memories into print.

Clint,

Glad you like the site. Although I get feedback about my book, I seldom get comments about the site itself. I often look at my administrator’s page, see the hits I get from all over the world, and wonder who they are and what they might think. Thanks for taking the time.

Rupert

As an aviation enthusiast, researcher and collector, I was fascinated with your website and the fitting tribute you have created for the crew of this aircraft. I spent quite some time here looking over the site and undoubtedly be back! Thank you for all the hard work, it's a terrific site.

Michelle,
And thanks to you for the kind words. Alaska is a quest for many, mine having begun back in the fifties and still progressing. Millie and I have covered many portions of the state in the past few years, but there is still much more to see and experience. Thanks again.

Rupert

Dear Mr. Pratt, I read your book when a friend named Libby (who reviewed it up here) let me and a coworker borrow it. I really enjoyed it and am going to buy a copy for my husband (a retired Air Guard KC135 jet engine mechanic) as well as one for my mother & father in-law. They live in Allegany NY.
There were so many things in the book that I enjoyed and you gave me a few more places to go see in the state I love. Thank you.
Michelle Blair

Sarah,

I love it when I hear stories like yours. Glad you and your friend enjoyed the book. As for signed copies ... yes, they are available. Several places in Alaska where I did signings last month had some copies left over, including the Veterans Memorial. I don’t know where you are located, so if you would send me email using the link in the sidebar I can give you more specific information. Thanks again.

Rupert