I answered Pierre Baudier on the 20th of May 1989:
El Paso,Texas, May, 20,1989
Dear Monsieur Baudier,
I am in receipt of a letter dated March 1989 that you wrote to my brother-in-law Joe Pino of El Paso, Texas in the United States.
On behalf of my bother-in-law, I am very grateful that you have taken the time to write and tell us of your experience with the crewmen aboard the B-17 on that day in 1944, In talking to my brother-in-law, he wishes to acknowledge your concern and has asked me to convey the following message.
My dear friend,
Yes, you have found the lone survivor of that airplane that crashed in your village during the war. No, you are not reminding me of a bad event in my life because often, I remind myself and give thanks to the good Lord that he chose to spare me and keep me alive up to now. I was 19 years old at the time it happened and as I recall, we were shot in midair and the plane exploded before it hit the ground. I remained a Prisoner of War until the end of the war in which time I returned to my home town of El Paso in Texas, USA. As you know, I was severely injured in the crash and remember only vaguely of the subsequent events, until I woke up in a hospital ward. I was very lucky that I came out of it alive.
Throughout the years, I have had my share of good and bad fortune. I started my sign painting business and am still working at it. I married and have a grown son. A few years ago, I lost my wife and have remained single to this date. I am in average health and hope that the Lord grants me a few more years.
I have asked my brother-in-law, Pete G. Flores, to write you with my permission, and to send you a short scenario of what I remember transpired that fateful day. lt is a great honor to hear from you and know that somebody out there cared. If I may be of any help in the future, please write to my brother-in-law at his address.
May God bless you and your family,
_ Joe Pino |