Autobiography of Jerome "Jerry" Ivice - A True American Hero

The Early Years

Born in Chicago on Sept. 5, 1918, I grew up during the Depression, as most of us did. My father was a Russian immigrant, started out as a tailor. He opened a restaurant when I was 5. My mother was the cook. They were in the restaurant business in various parts of Chicago for many years.

My father was a cigarette smoker for many years and died of lung cancer at age 58. My mother lived to about 80. My sister, Isabelle, is five years older. My brother, Sy, is seven years younger than me. Things were pretty rough and none of us had the opportunity for a college education. My parents worked in the restaurant from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., making it difficult to raise a family. My sister acted the mother and saw that our needs were taken care of. She went to work after she graduated high school. I quit high school after two years and went to work. My first job was a delivery boy for a grocery store for $1 a day and I had to join the union. The minimum wage was either 15 or 20 cents per hour. I don't remember, maybe it was 10 cents.

My brother enlisted in the Marines when he was 16. He was 17 when he invaded Guadalcanal with the 1st Marines. He contracted malaria and was sent home to sell war bonds before he was 18. He was then reassigned to an intelligence group that landed on Okinawa. He served with the famous author William Manchester, who wrote stories of their experiences in the Pacific. Sy is mentioned in some of his books. Manchester wrote biographies of both J. F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill.

Other than work, baseball was my life. I played ball almost every day. My ambition was to be a big league ballplayer. I feel I might have had a chance but along came the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Joined the Air Force

I enlisted as an aviation cadet in November 1942. Fortunately, you did not need a college degree to qualify if you could pass a written entrance exam. I passed and was accepted. I was told I wouldn't be called for six months, so Lynne and I decided to get married that December. Less than a month later, I received the telegram ordering me to report for duty in 24 hours. It was quite a hassle giving up our apartment and moving Lynne back to her mother's in 24 hours.

When I took the train to Miami for basic training, it was the first time I left Chicago. Not a bad place to go in January. I was then shipped to Maxwell Field for assignment. I was sent to Gettysburg College for CTD (college training detachment). I formed a baseball team for the three months we were there. I was the bass drummer in a marching band we formed in Gettysburg. We led the parade on the Gettysburg battlefield celebrating the 80th anniversary of that Civil War battle.

I had my primary training flying a Fairchild PT21 at the Embry-Riddle Field in Union City, TN. It was winter and it was cold flying an open cockpit monoplane. Basic was at Newport, TN; and advanced in AT10 twin-engine at Blytheville, AK., where I graduated and received my commission.
A funny thing happened during basic training at Newport. This was where we flew in the BT13 Basic Trainer. The Army sent an officer to check flight the cadets. I was selected to take him up. My instructor gave me the following instructions. "When he instructs you to give him a 3-turn spin, I want you to be very precise in your actions. At 2½ spins, I want you to hit the instrument panel with that stick; at 2¾ kick that rudder and come out at precisely 3 turns."

After the usual check flight maneuvers, the check pilot said to give him a 3-turn spin. After 2½ turns, I really pushed the stick forward trying to hit the instrument panel. At that point I heard a loud thud. I then completed the pull out. The check pilot said, "Take me home." It sounded like I didn't do too well and I was concerned. After a while, my instructor came to me and said, "You did a great job; he has a knot on his head about two inches high." I didn't realize my maneuver caused him to hit his head on the canopy.

Baseball Deferral

After graduation, I was transferred to Smyrna, TN, for transition in the B-24. I arrived there in time for the start of their baseball season. I approached the manager of the team, who was a captain, asking if I could try out for the team. He asked if I was a pilot in training. When I replied in the affirmative, he said they did not take transitions that would be transferred in a few weeks. I then asked if I could work out with the team. He said OK.

After a couple of days working out, he asked when I had arrived. I just got there that week, so he said that I would be his first baseman. I had a wonderful few weeks flying and playing ball. Lynne was traveling with me and when the other pilots had the weekend off with their wives, I had a ball game. In those days, Lynne often accused me of loving baseball more than her. My orders came out in June ordering me to Westover Field, MA, to pick up a crew and get ready for combat. The captain insisted I stay. He called a colonel and had my orders canceled.

My Courageous Crew

I was there until September, when I was transferred to Lemoore, CA. Then to Walla Walla, WA, where I met my co-pilot, Jim Campbell, and the rest of a great bunch of guys. Jim and Thelma were married in Walla Walla and I was honored to be Jim's best man. This wonderful couple is still married.

Then we went to McChord Field in Tacoma, WA for crew training. After completing our training at McChord, we were shipped to Randolph Field in Universal City, TX. We were sure we would be going to the Pacific Theater, but we were put on a train for a cross-country trip to Camp Kilmer, N.J. A couple of days' wait and we boarded the Neu Amsterdam for a boat ride across the Atlantic to England. We arrived at RAF North Pickenham shortly after the Missburg raid.

18 Missions

I flew 18 missions, mostly with few incidents. On one mission we were carrying 100 bombs. After bombs-away, we discovered the bottom station didn't release and we had bombs stacked in the bomb bay. Ed Dutkavitch, my armor gunner, put on a portable oxygen mask, walked in the bomb bay at 20,000 feet and released the bombs. That was a brave thing to do.

The bad one was the March 24, 1945, Operation Varsity supply mission over the Rhine. Our three-ship echelon came in directly over Wessel and we were hit with 20mm and machine gun fire. Paul Fox, flying what was to be his last mission before going home, was on my right. He got hit and come right over us and went in. At less than 100 feet, no one had a chance to bail out. Paul and I bunked in the same Quonset hut.

Paul had a wife and a child he had never seen. He was very excited about going home to his family.

Our superchargers were hit and shorted out, so we had fire and smoke in the cockpit. Irvin Quick, my engineer, put out the fire with an extinguisher. Dutkavitch and my navigator, Wally Roberts, were wounded. Wally's injuries were superficial, but Dutch was hit in the right arm. I put out a mayday call and was directed to the airfield in Brussels. We landed and left Dutch in the hospital there. His injury was permanent -- he lost the use of his right hand. Dutch died last year (2003). Emergency repairs were made and we flew back to our base the same day.

Flak Leave in Scotland

We were given a flak leave to Scotland. It was cold and the only heat was a fireplace. I got pneumonia and was hospitalized when I returned to base. I don't remember how long I was in the Hospital but long enough that we flew two more missions when the war ended.

Flying Home and Onward to the Pacific?

I flew my B24 home from England with my crew and some ground crew. We landed in Iceland and Goose Bay, Labrador, New Foundland before landing at Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, CT. Back to McCord Field for reassignment to B29s.

We were preparing to go to the Pacific, but then the atomic bomb was dropped and the war ended. I was discharged at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois in September 1945.

Back to Civilian Life

It was nice to get back to civilian life and my family. My daughter, Moreen, was born in 1948 and Roger was born in 1950. My youngest, Paul, came in 1954. Lynne and I were very happy with a nice family.

I returned to my job with an auto parts jobber from 1945 to 1954, when the company was sold to a large distributing company in Chicago. I went along as the general manager. I could not agree with the business practices of the owners and canceled my contract after one year.

The Start of a Lifetime of Entrepreneurship

I then decided to go into business for myself as a manufacturers representative in automotive parts. My buddy and I drove to New York for an automotive parts show to try to pick up a couple of lines. I wasn't too successful but did get a couple of small lines. I worked hard trying to make enough to support my family.

Medical Challenges

Two weeks after I started selling, I got a sore throat. I kept going in spite of feeling lousy. It turned into a strep infection that settled in my kidneys and I had both pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis. In those days the only cure was bed rest. I was in the hospital for 36 days, taking penicillin. It was bad times for the Ivices. It took a couple of months to gain enough strength to work a full day, but we survived.

The House of Representatives

My brother, Sy, joined me and we developed a nice business. We merged with another company in 1962 and called our company "The House of Representatives." We hired additional salespersons and covered the entire Midwest.

"The Good Lord Must have Sent you to Me"

Thinking about the rest of the crew and the group, I remember that one day a representative for the VFW called to solicit my joining the VFW. When he came to my office to sign me up, I mentioned that I was trying to find certain people from my service days. He had a copy of the VFW magazine and told me of various organization reunions listed in their magazine. Checking this out, I found the 491st Bomb Group's 1989 reunion listing for Savannah and Hilton Head. I remember saying to him, "The good Lord must have sent you to me with this information, thank you."

Jimmy Campbell and I attended this reunion. The next one was in Colorado Springs and we had Dutkavitch and Roberts join us. It was the first time I had seen either of them since 1945. Attending reunions means more than just seeing my crew. Once a year we have a reunion where we meet old buddies and meet new ones who served in the 491st as well as their spouses.

Losing Lynne

Lynne had various illnesses for several years before she passed away suddenly in February 1994 from a ruptured aorta. We were married for 51 beautiful years. In May 1998 my older son, Roger, also died of a ruptured aorta.

Finding Penny

How lucky can you be? Another wonderful woman entered my life. I was introduced to a widow, Penny Smith. She is someone special. She is concerned for everyone. She is a person who gives of herself and asks for nothing in return. We were married on Valentine's Day 2000. I am blessed to have such wonderful women in my life.

Still Busy in Retirement

After my retirement, I had plenty of time to play golf and do stained glass as a hobby. I enjoy designing and making windows and various gift items.

I copied our group's logos such as the Ringmaster, the four- squadron insignias, the 8th Air Force insignia and a few others. I have several pieces in our display booth at the Savannah museum as well as the 8th Air Force insignia above the main entrance.

Finally Ready to Retire from Baseball

My final baseball story: When I was 75 years old, I read in the newspaper they were forming a local senior softball team. This was a slow pitch using a 12-inch softball with mostly 50-year- olds. I got very excited, went out and bought a first baseman's mitt. Went out to join the team. They already had a guy who could only play first base because he weighed about 300 pounds and couldn't run. They said I could play the outfield. So I went out and bought a fielder's glove. In the first game, I played right field. The batter hit a fly to right center. I was never too speedy when I was young, so by the time I got to the ball, the batter had rounded the bases for a home run. Now my turn came to bat. The pitcher threw soft high lobs and I swung at the first three pitches, missing them all and struck out. Not even a foul ball. I left the field in embarrassment. That was the end of my baseball career.
I now have a slightly used left-handed first baseman's mitt and a fielder's mitt for sale very cheap or best offer.

Duty Calls Again - My Efforts to Help Fight the War on Terror

My retirement did not last very long. The middle of Penny's three sons owns the rights to a new kind of floating breakwater that reduces wave action by more than 90%. It is designed to protect marinas and shorelines from waves, wake damage and erosion. After the bombing of the USS Cole and the 9/11disaster, we designed an anti-terrorist barrier to protect Navy bases, dams, bridges, nuclear plants and any facility on the water that needs protection. The company is Wave Dispersion Technologies Inc.

Still Connected Today

As vice president of operations of the 491st, my name is listed on the group web site. In August 2003, I received a call from my engineer, Irvin Quick. I had been trying to find him for several years without success, but he saw my name on our web site and called me.

We saw each other for the first time since 1945 at our 2003 reunion in St. Louis. Irvin met a nice English girl while stationed there. He went back after the war and brought his English bride to the States. Irvin, Jimmy Campbell and I with our wives had a wonderful get-together in St. Louis.

We are looking forward to many more 491st reunions with all my very good friends and compatriots.

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Jerome "Jerry" Ivice

Jerome "Jerry" Ivice & Crew