Veterans, authors come together for White
By Jennifer Roblez
Originally published 02:21 p.m., October 1, 2007
Updated 02:21 p.m., October 1, 2007
Photo by Carly Pearson
WAW Book Awards
Saturday was devoted to books — award winners, those given and received and bought and sold — in the memory of Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Allen White, the Gazette editor.
Some who came to the auditorium named after his son, William Lindsay White, were no more than 8 years old like Sam Hudson from Osage City; others were in their 80s like World War II veterans Jim Meeks of Florida, Gin Wong of California and Karl Samuels of Louisiana.
Photo by Carly Pearson
WAW Book Awards
The veterans were in Wichita for a reunion of the 9th Bombardment Group and made a whirlwind trip to the 55th annual William Allen White Children’s Book Awards at the auditorium and the William Allen White House State Historic Site. Emporia’s mayor had Saturday proclaimed “WAW B-29 Crew Reunion Day in Emporia.”
The children attending the book awards must have known they were in the presence of history because 900 of them stood as one and clapped for the veterans.
“They won that war for us,” Sam shouted.
Photo by Carly Pearson
WAW Book Awards
Meeks, Wong and Samuels were three of the 11 crewmen on the B-29 Flying Superfortress named after White. They flew missions over the Japanese island of Tinian, which, once secured, became an important base for more Allied operations in the Pacific Campaign.
They gave a book to the White house visitor’s center on the history of the 9th Bombardment Group and received a few in turn like Beverly Buller’s “From Emporia: The Story of William Allen White,” a newly published children’s biography.
Photo by Carly Pearson
WAW Book Awards
“So much time has passed, yet I can still see Emporia how it was in ’45,” Meeks said. “It’s really special to be here today.”
The three were part of the original crew that visited Emporia in 1945 before flying the B-29 to the Pacific Theater. During that visit, they visited Sallie White, William Allen White’s widow in her home, and appeared at a War Bond Carnival at the Civic Auditorium.
During the book awards at the same auditorium Saturday, author Andrew Clements picked up his third White award, winning the third- through fifth-grade prize for “The Report Card.” The sixth- through eighth-grade award was received by first-time winner Sara Weeks for “So B. It.” They also earned the bronze White medal and a check for $2,500.
Both writers encouraged the children to continue to read, every day if possible.
“I hope they know books can take them anywhere,” said Weeks. “It’s really inspiring.”
Josie Reilly from the Cherryvale school district presented the award to Clements and Jillian Johnson from Fredonia Middle School gave Weeks her award.
The focus kept coming back to the veterans, who were invited to Emporia by the William Allen White Community Partnership, Inc.
Wong said the visit brought closure to his military service and a chance to thank Emporia residents for the opportunity to represent White during World War II.
The men talked about running short on fuel during the missions over Japan.
White, who died in 1944, never met the 11-member crew. Before the war, White chaired the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies, which lobbied for Lend Lease and Bundles for Britain in an effort to avoid America’s entry into the European conflict.
After Dec. 7, 1941, White, like most Americans, favored U.S. entry into the war. White’s death on Kansas Day, Jan. 29, 1944, moved most Kansans and many Americans to think of ways to honor his contribution to American discourse. The war effort became one avenue. A Liberty Ship and the B-29 Flying Superfortress were named in his honor.
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