European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 12 b the stars and stripes saturday May 25,1991 comrades for reunion Washington a in a nostalgic reunion president Bush met Friday with former aircraft Carrier buddies from world War ii and received a flying Salute from the bomber plane he piloted Over the Pacific. A this is the Best thing that a happened to my thyroid in weeks Bush told some 250 veterans of the aircraft Carrier san Jacinto and their family members who gathered at Andrews fab md., for the reunion. Bush who has been diagnosed with an Over Active thyroid that recently caused him to lose weight and suffer an irregular heartbeat spoke about a How nostalgic this is for the onetime Navy Ensign who was shot Down in his Avenger bomber Over the Pacific in 1944. Shook hands and chatted with his former shipmates and flying pals for about 20 minutes before boarding air Force one and flying to a speech in Boston. As he spoke from a portable megaphone four avengers flew overhead. Gesturing toward the giant jumbo Jet he now flies Bush said a this thing beats the hell out of the Tbs that a for the Tbs is the Navy name for the Avenger. Bush was Given several mementos including a Model of the Blue Avenger while Bush was greeted by onetime gunner Leo Nadeau the president told another Veteran a you saved my life plenty of Bob Stinnett another one who served with Bush said he never dreamed when he said goodbye to Bush that he. Would Ever see him again. Stinnett was a ships photographer aboard the Carrier and Bush led a torpedo bomber Squadron with the additional Mission of photographing beaches to help president Bush and onlookers react to a Fly Over by Wii Cra aircraft. Pave the Way for Marine corps landings on japanese held islands. A the was really dedicated to the photography a Stinnett said. A the would come Back immediately after the Mission and be there in the Darkroom As we were developing the film. He would have his nose literally in the Bush a plane was shot Down sept. 2, 1944, As he was on his Way to bomb a radio Tower on the volcanic Island of chichi Jima. He parachuted into the sea was rescued by a submarine and returned to the Carrier two months later. Then on nov. 30, he was sent Home and Stinnett bade him Farewell. A when he became vice president it did no to Dawn on me that this was the Bush i had served in 1984, Stinnett then a photographer with the Oakland Calif Tribune read a Story mentioning that Bush had served on the san Jacinto. He did some checking wrote a letter and received a reply typed by the vice president. A a he also began working on a Book a George Bush his world War ii he met with Bush nov. 16 for the first time since their shipboard leave taking. He brought with him to the Oval office a manuscript of the Book and an Aerial camera of the kind that was used aboard Bush a Avenger plane. A the started clicking it a Stinnett re called. A the remembered exactly How it a unfortunately Kodak does no to make any film for it any More so we can to take pictures a he said. Since then the Book has been published by pictorial histories publishing co. Of Missoula Mont. For a second Oval office meeting with Bush on thursday Stinnett brought along a special boxed hard bound copy that he inscribed for the president. Also in the private meeting was Nadeau a gunner who had flown on Bush a plane but was not on the fateful sept. 2 flight in which the gunner and radioman Tail gunner died. Parachutist in failed fall ready to try again Cleveland up a fledgling parachutist who survived a 10,500-foot free fall into a swamp with Only a few broken Bones said Friday she wants to jump again a but doctors arc advising otherwise. Jill Shields 31, blamed her own errors for getting tangled in her Parachute and then failing to release a Reserve Parachute on iter 34th jump since taking up. The sport about one year ago. A a Why did t i die i done to know a. Shields said with a smile from her wheelchair at the Cleveland Clr Oheath medical Center. She was wearing a Back Brace. A a. She broke two ribs and three Bones in the spine and suffered bruises but doctors said no other injuries have been detected. A i am a Novice. I Don t have a lot of experience. I was getting to the Point where it was really starting to be fun Quot Shields said in her first Public comments since sundays jump. A i would do it her injuries arc not expected to require surgery but she will spend months recovering and doctors say they would advise against future jumps. A instructor and Friend Don Schwab who has made 2,200 jumps was air with Shields at the time of the Accident. Schwab said she had about 18 seconds from the Lime she pulled her Cord at a 3,000 feet until she hit the ground. A i would have liked a Little More Lime to panic. I started to do the right stuff and Cut away from the first Parachute ill Shields Speaks to reporters Friday at Matrol health medical Center in Cleveland. But it did no to work a she said a by the time i realized it Wasny to going to work. I had Only about two seconds. A when they say you done to have a Lobo time they re not kidding a Shields said. A it scared the hell out of me to be honest with a a. A a a. She does no to recall the final moments before Landing at a Speed estimated to be close to 100 Mph. 1 Quot a i. Probably done to remember anything past 500 or 1,000 feet a she said. A my mind probably said a you can to handle this so we re not going to let you see Schwab and another jumper Doug Sayre landed near Shields moments she raid a get me she wanted to be moved a Sayre said. Shields was flown from near Burton 20 Miles East of Cleveland to the medical Center where tests found no paralysis. A when one looks at the physics of this woman a descent even with the Cushion of the mud we have to look at it As a Miracle a said or. Robert White director of neurosurgery at the Hospital. A the spinal Cord which really counts was not injured. A a we re advising that for at least the next couple of months she do Little or nothing a White said. A a she a pretty Tough but there a no Way i can recommend her to sky dive Lauren Shields 33, a Veteran of about 220 jumps said she too will continue parachuting despite her Sisters Accident. A i am aware of the dangers. Jill is aware of the dangers. But it is a very Safe sport a Lauren Shields said
