Barksdale hosts WWII vet luncheon

Published Feb. 17, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Andrea F. Liechti
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- An abundance of stories from World War II experiences will be shared with people attending the WWII veterans' luncheon at Hoban Hall Feb. 24.

The luncheon is hosted by the Barksdale retiree office and the 2nd Bomb Wing, and is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

"This will be one of the largest World War II luncheons of our nation," said retired Col. Steve dePyssler, retiree activities office director. "Veterans will be traveling from Georgia, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana."

Organizers expect more than 600 total attendees including 225 WWII veterans. Twenty of those veterans were prisoners of war, four of whom marched in the Bataan Death March.

Guest speaker for the event will be Col. Tim Fay, 2 BW commander, and entertainment will include a bag-piper and a live band.

"All of the World War II veterans will pass through the Barksdale Air Force Base cordon of swords and greeted by a bevy of general officers and the Bossier City Mayor Lorenz Walker," dePyssler said. "Of the 16.5 million veterans who served, less than two million are still alive."

Each veteran will be individually recognized by distinguished guests and presented a specially designed WWII coin, cap and t-shirt, he said.

The WWII veterans fought for the United States from 1939 to 1945. According to history.com, this war took the lives of an estimated 45-60 million people making it more devastating than any other war.

For more information about the event, contact dePyssler at 456-5976.