World War II and Korean Veterans speak at luncheon

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  As the second Lunch with Legends began and attendees were seated, two very incredible men were introduced. 

Thurman Taylor retired Air Force after 21 years of service, and Ben Winser retired from the Army after 26 years of service. 

Mr. Taylor began his journey in the military at 21 years old, serving in the Army as a rifleman in World War II. He later joined the Air Force in October 1948. During the luncheon he explained how things have changed especially when it came to loading and dropping bombs out of airplanes. 

"We had to load them into the planes by hand and when it came time to drop them we would just push them out the back," Mr. Taylor said. "I think the heaviest one we dropped was about 500 pounds and we just shoved it out of the back of the plane." 

He said he also remembers the day he left to serve in the Korean War. 

"It was Christmas and my daughter took her first steps," he said. "My wife kept the Christmas tree up all year till I came back home." 

Mr. Taylor received the Air Medal for his devoted service of more than a year during the Korean War. He maintained various aircraft and completed 50 missions in only three months. 

Ben Winser enlisted in the Army at age 20 and began his 26 year career as a medic.
He said during one of his missions there was a Marine division that was surrounded by the Chinese in North Korea. He said the weather was really cold there and several men were taken to Japan because their frost bite was so bad. 

"When we created that path for the troops, a Marine said to me, 'this may be the only time I am glad to see the Army,'" he said. 

After the war Mr. Winser began doing what he really loved to do which was drawing. He was an illustrator for the Army recruiting program and the Defense Language Institute.
At the end of their speeches, Brig. Gen. O.G. Mannon, 82nd Training Wing commander, presented them with plaques as a thank you. 

"Not including their time in service these men represent 99 years of military service to our county," the general said. "The Airman's Creed talks about tradition and valor and these two sure are a representation of that freedom of our nation."