Army Air Corps veteran, 105, was stationed at Scott before WWII Published Nov. 6, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Kiana Brothers 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- With help of 375th Operations Group Airmen, Ralph Gregory got to relive the glory days of his World War II military experience and celebrate his 105th birthday Sept. 30. "Mr. Gregory was surprised and honored by the invitation to visit Scott AFB," said Nancy Kimball, Gregory's daughter. "Due to his age and age related impairments, a visit was not an option at this time; however, the invitation provided a catalyst for him to reminisce about when he was stationed at Scott and his various war experiences." In 1941, after the events of Pearl Harbor, Gregory enlisted in the Navy, but was rejected due to poor eyesight. However, on April 9, 1942, he was recruited by the Army Air Corps because of his skills in radio transmission. He was then sent by train to Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas, where he received his job training. His first duty station was Scott Air Force Base where he was trained to be one of the "best radio operators in the world." "Members of Team Scott were excited about an opportunity to honor a military veteran, who not only willingly fought an enemy with superior numbers and equipment, but did so without question," said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Mellan, 375th Operations Group. After spending a few months at Scott, in 1943 Gregory was told to report to "The Saint" for combat duty. The Saint required him to go on bombing missions. After an uneventful raid near Mt. Etna in Sicily, he was attacked on an air base near Palermo, Sicily. This was his first experience in war in which he feared for his life. Gregory lived through this first attack only to later become a prisoner of war. After an aircraft crash, during which he was injured, Turkish soldiers arrived and surrounded Gregory and his crew before they could react. The Turkish soldiers took them to a hotel and held them captive as POWs. After almost six months of being a POW, Gregory was released and sent back to North Africa. From there, he was able to go back to home to Missouri. "Due to his openness about those experiences, many young men returning from Vietnam sought him out to share their stories with someone who understood service in combat," said Kimball. "I am thrilled that his experiences and involvement can remain relevant to current military members. I am humbled by the respect shown to our veterans and by the willingness of young men and women to continue to serve our country." Back home, after 40 months of service to his country, Gregory decided to leave the Army Air Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1945 at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Following his discharge Gregory bought a 68 acre farm in Tennessee and became his own boss. At the age of 65, Gregory became an employee of the Missouri State Parks. He is the founder of, and is still associated with, three historical societies. He also continues to serve on the board of the Washington Historical Society and attends monthly meetings. Mellan, learning about Gregory, was impressed by his service and what he still contributes to his community. "These brave men and women [of WWII] toed the line to defend the freedom and lives of not only American citizens, but for the people of Europe and the Pacific as well," said Mellan. Besides the noted accomplishments, Gregory has authored dozens of books on local history in Missouri and has taught himself German, French, Italian and Arabic. "My father's stories of his military service were always a source of amazement and inspiration as I was growing up," said Kimball. "My father's passion for what he believes in, his continuous curiosity, and his willingness to do what is right and to make things better have been a great inspiration to me and I hope will those qualities will continue to inspire others."