Bill Laubenstein waited more than 60 years to share stories about his tour in World War II.
How he lost half his crew when his B-17 crashed in France. How he survived a German prisoner-of-war camp. The way he trudged 1,000 miles in a forced march, dropping down to 95 pounds.
As his family listened to his stories last year, they also learned for the first time that he was injured in the plane crash — but never received the Purple Heart.
More than 64 years after the crash, the 90- year-old Laubenstein finally received the Purple Heart on Monday at the Air Force Academy. He also received three other medals, including one for being a prisoner of war.
Laubenstein, who lives in Little Falls, N.Y., said he should have received the medals after his tour, but he wasn’t worried about getting awards.
“When I was discharged, they asked me if I had wounds to report. Most of us did,” he said. “But we just wanted to get home.”
German anti-aircraft shot down Laubenstein’s B-17, called the “Little Barney,” over occupied France in May 1944. Five of nine crew members died. But Laubenstein, a mechanic and gunner, parachuted near French resistance forces, where they nursed his hip wound from the flak.
Just days after the crash, German forces captured Tech. Sgt. Laubenstein and put him in a prison camp in Poland.
But as Soviet forces neared the camp almost one year later, the German military forced its prisoners of war to march 1,000 miles to another camp.
On May 1, 1945, the German military left the camp, and the prisoners of war met with British forces days later.
It was more than a year ago that Laubenstein finally told his story to Jake Thompson, who is now married to Laubenstein’s great niece, Erin Dowd. Thompson, retired from the military, said they were having a soldier-to-soldier talk.
“It took him (63) years to share it with somebody — and it was me,” he said. “And I feel honored. He’s a true American hero.”
Shortly after hearing about Laubenstein’s injuries, Thompson and Dowd found out he was still eligible to receive the Purple Heart — along with three other medals.
Family members said Laubenstein is a true member of the Greatest Generation. He is humble, always crediting his survival to his crew.
“What my dad did — words cannot explain,” Joe Laubenstein said. “Everything he talks about is his crew. It took years before he could talk about his crew. And still, after 60-some-odd years, you can feel that emotion.”
Laubenstein said he was honored to receive the medals. But he said he wished his fallen crew members were alive to receive the same honors.
“The only thing that really stuck with me was the crew members. They were a great bunch of people. We looked out for each other,” he said, his voice shaking. “These men were great.”
Christopher Sanchez: 303-954-1698 or csanchez@denverpost.com
