1st LT. and Mrs Charles L (Glenna Green) Gempel

This was in the mid 40's before Uncle Charles was shipped overseas. Photo Courtesy of Cassandra Lake Collection--Her Mother is pictured her and was married to Charles before he passed away.  Her father Robert Lake was Uncle Charles Best Friend and he survived the war to find out the devastating news about uncle Charles---Because of the fellowship between the three of them Glenna (Green) Gempel and Robert Lake fell in love and married in the late 1940's. Cassandra was the oldest of her 4 children. Glenna lived till 2000 and passed away ---when I received the photo in 2010 Mr Lake was still living.

We Never Know what may

 come our way

a poem by Douglas Gempel

5-20-2013

AS summer approaches,

And a stray thought encroaches,

I view a photo of days gone by,

When friends ride side by side,

And heroes die,

I know the story of these folks,

And one that is difficult in all its spokes,

For in the days gone by,

I lost my uncle in unfriendly skies,

For as I think of his life,

I also remember his widows strife,

For in the center of a war,

He died in valor with the core (corp),

He once flew a mighty b24,

And attempted to settle a score,

On that fateful October day,

He lost the battle and could not stay,

When the war was won,

It was settled without his gun,

He flew his heart out this I know,

I wished it wasn’t so,

I see his story as its told,

And wish for victory as it unfolds,

But in the end I know the story,

He flew his plane to God’s glory,

Now I am just bitter sweet,

And wish I could meet and bow at his feet,

For in my mind,

As I unwind,

I see an American hero.

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