Author Roger William Maraist never knew his father, Lt. Roger Jamison, nor until recently, the remarkable story of his service as a B-25 pilot.  Roger will be our special guest speaker next Wednesday and you will be riveted at the account he gives on his path of discovery of a fallen hero - the father he never knew. On the day B-25 pilot Lt. Roger Jamison learned his son Roger Jr. was born, his plane was shot down on a mission over Tunisia and crashed in flames in the Mediterranean.

Roger grew up believing all crewmen perished. Seventy years later, a series of uncanny circumstances, in a short period of time, across half the country, led son Roger to personal encounters with veterans or their families that flew with his father with the "Earthquakers" of the 12th Bomb Group in North Africa. Their recollections and written accounts along with memorabilia, his father's letters, eyewitness accounts and even a War Department film showing his dad the day he died and chilling captivation of his plane on fire as it dropped from the echelon were all part of the puzzle to at last reveal his father, his love for Roger's mother, his strong belief in God and his reflections of a young man in harm's way. The recounting of this search offers universal appeal of unraveling mysteries and discovering one's past. Not only did the author find answers, but perplexing questions arose that convince him there is yet more to the story. Could his father have lived? There are conflicting eyewitness accounts of the crash and circumstances that add to the puzzle. Illustrations, photos, personal anecdotes, eyewitness accounts by WW ll airmen, as well as historical events occurring at this time plus history of the 12th Bomb Group "Earthquakers" provide a valuable reference to the Army Air Force in the North African Theater. Rich in detail, history and emotion, Roger's book, Letters Home From a Fallen Hero is totally engrossing.

 

For more information about Robert William Mariast and for pictures from previous dinners click here.