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News
Tickets for Veterans
Recognizing Those Who Serve Our Country
Lincoln, Nebraska
December 5, 2006
The sacrifices of men and women who have, and continue to, serve our country are great. One small way to say thank you, is remembering veterans and celebrating their contribution during this holiday season.
The following is taken from an interview conducted by Beverly J. Lydick with Bob Chatt, Tekamah, Nebraska native. Mr. Chatt was a B-25 bomber pilot with the 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group, Army Air Corps. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for services performed during World War II. He was stationed July 1941–June 1942 at 17-Mile Field, New Guinea.
"It was a terrible place. The trees were full of rats and snakes. We slept three to a tent and our shower was a barrel overhead ... the Japs were within nine miles of us there."
"Our shoes would mold green overnight. We went over there without any uniforms, so we wore Aussie uniforms and fleece-lined boots - in the tropics. We had a general who came out there one time and he said, 'You people have got to start wearing insignias. We can't tell who the officers are.' So we started pinning them on our shorts."
"Twelve of us went out in the Bismarck Sea battle and we got 11 ships, one for every plane except one whose bombs wouldn't release ... We had it all arranged with my crew that we were going to attack a troop ship. We didn't want to attack a warship, but we were going in, I was leading a formation, and we were peeling off and taking each boat we went. It came my turn and it was a cruiser. I remember the co-pilot looking over at me and saying, 'Captain, you know that's a warship.' We didn't expect to come back. We didn't think there was any way we could go into that ship, right against all those guns. We smoked in the planes - they didn't allow it - but they had ashtrays. You were supposed to keep cotton in them for your ears. I gave my co-pilot a cigarette and started in for a run, and after we got done, he held out his hand and there was this black cigarette. He'd held it in his hand and sweated clear through it. This mission took two and a half hours, but you're only in combat about 30 seconds. You're just scared to death. The Japanese said there were 40 ships and we got them all."
This story and additional veteran stories can be found in "A Time To Speak," written in 1995 by Beverly J. Lydick and Janell R. Carson.
Nebraska Bookstore is pleased to host “Tickets for Veterans.” The “Tickets for Veterans” program provides an opportunity to recognize and thank our brave veterans by providing veterans with tickets to the Nebraska vs. Colorado basketball game this January.
"During this holiday season, we believe it is important to take a moment to thank veterans," said Barry Major, chief operating officer of Nebraska Book Company. "Tickets for Veterans is one small way Nebraska Book employees can say 'thank you' to those who have, and continue, to serve our country," said Major.
The "Tickets for Veterans" program includes the following:
- Two tickets to the January 20th Nebraska/Colorado basketball game
- A pre-game luncheon at the Nebraska Bookstore
- A 50% discount on all merchandise at the store on game day
The Nebraska Bookstore is donating 500 tickets to the game and sponsoring the pre-game event. Omaha Steaks is donating hamburgers and hotdogs for the celebration. Anyone wishing to help send a veteran to the game can do so by buying tickets to the game and donating them. Simply stop by the store with the tickets.
Veterans who are interested in taking part in the program can register for tickets in several ways:
- Go to www.nebraskabookstore.com and click on the "Tickets for Veterans" icon
- Go to the Nebraska Bookstore at 13th & Q
- Call the store at 1-800-627-0047
Nebraska Bookstore is also accepting ticket donations. Donations can be made in the same manner as outlined above.
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