Aleksandra's Note: Curtis "Bud" Diles, 87, is one of the "Forgotten 500" - an American Army Air Force WWII veteran that flew bombing missions over Nazi targets in the war, who was shot down by the enemy, and who was saved by the Mihailovich Serbs in Nazi-occupied Serbia. He was born in July of 1925 and though he may have forgotten many things through the course of his long life, he has never forgotten the 9 days he spent with the Serbs and how they saved his life, took care of him, and got him back to his home base only 10 days after he had fallen out of the sky over Yugoslavia.
Curtis Diles has led a rich life. After the war he was discharged from the Army Air Force in November of 1945, returned to Ohio, and married Inez Pruitt of Kentucky in 1948. Together, he and his wife had three daughters and one son, 15 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
His beautiful daughter Diane Diles Hammond has been kind enough to share images of her beloved father, home for Easter Sunday, sharing the story of his 9 days with the Mihailovich Serbs with his grandchildren. On the wall hangs a collage of photos, all of them of General Draza Mihailovich, the man he credits with saving his life and making it possible for him to have the life and family that he has had.
I treasure men like Curtis "Bud" Diles. He is truly "the greatest generation."
Sincerely,
Aleksandra Rebic
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Curtis Diles, 87, sharing his WWII Serbian rescue story
with his grandchildren on Easter, March 31, 2013 (1)
Photo courtesy of Diane Diles Hammond
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Curtis Diles, 87, sharing his WWII Serbian rescue story
with his grandchildren on Easter, March 31, 2013 (2)
Photo courtesy of Diane Diles Hammond
Curtis Diles with his daughter, Diane Diles Hammond,
on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CURTIS DILES AND HIS WARTIME EXPERIENCE
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
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If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra,
please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com
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