Embassy Press Release

Remarks of Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman on the Ocassion of World War II Veterans’ and POWs’ Ceremony

Bucharest, Cismigiu Park,
August 23, 2008

Ambassador Taubman (R) speaks at the World War II Veterans and POWs Ceremony at American Heroes Monument. Bucharest, August 23, 2008 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

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Welcome, Air Flotilla General Aurel Stanciu

Generals and Admirals of the General Forces Staff and Romanian Veteran’s Associations

And especially our veterans:

During the Second World War, thousands of brave young US airmen battled tyranny over Romania. Today we honor some of the men who fought here, and the many who gave their lives sixty-five years ago in the name of liberty.

On 1 August 1943, one-hundred and seventy-eight B-24 ‘LIBERATOR’ aircraft launched to conduct operation TIDALWAVE. Today this mission is often called “Black Sunday”. Only one-hundred and eleven of these B-24s would survive the mission. Many landed in places as far a-field as Sicily, Malta, Cyprus, Thrace, and Turkey. Overall, five-hundred and twenty-three US airmen were lost during TIDALWAVE. One-hundred and fifty became prisoners of war in Romania and Bulgaria.

Unfortunately, the toll was to grow even higher. US Army Air Forces returned for another twenty missions over Romania between April and August 1944. One-hundred and seven American airmen remain missing. Today, the US Embassy and the Secretary of Defense’s Joint Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing Personnel wish to thank the Romanian government for its continued efforts to learn their fate.

With us today are veterans of the 15th Army Air Force’s 98th Bomb Group:

Technical Sergeant Robert Rans was a Gunner and Radio-Operator. On Black Sunday, his aircraft was shot down and he remained at Sub-Lagarul #18, in Timisul de Jos, until August 31, 1944.

Technical Sergeant Herman Streitburger was a Gunner and Radio Operator. He became a POW in Germany – but escaped!

Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman and Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Jeri Guthrie-Corn, observes a moment of silence after laying a wreath at the American Heroes Monument in Bucharest, on the ocassion of the World War II Veterans and POWs Ceremony. Bucharest, August 23, 2008 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

Staff Sergeant Alexandro Tejeda was an Aerial Combat Photographer and Waist Gunner. He is credited with shooting down two German Folke-Wulf 190 aircraft and was wounded over Bucharest.

Staff Sergeant Philip Banks served as a Tail Gunner, and 1st Lieutenant Philip Tarpley served as a Navigator on board the 98th Bomb Group’s venerable B-24’s.

Earl Holmquist joined the 98th Bomb Group in 1951. He served as an Engine Mechanic, Flight Engineer, and Radar Mechanic in Korea, and later Vietnam.

These men have the pleasure to return to a free and democratic Romania. They had the opportunity to appreciate the peace and beauty of this nation as only those willing to die for freedom can understand. Now we have the honor of recognizing their service and of paying tribute to their fellow airmen.

Eventually, a total of three-hundred and seventy-eight airmen would pay the ultimate price in Romania alone to help liberate the nation. The monument you see before you, and its sister statue located in Sinaia, signify their accomplishment. The statues were designed by the sculptor Remus Botar-Botarro to remind us of those who answered the call to duty sixty-five years ago in the fight for democracy. May we never take their courage and sacrifice for granted – or of those who answer the call to serve our nations today.

The bonds between the United States and Romania are strong. It is fitting that both American and Romanian veterans now see our nations fighting shoulder-to-shoulder in order to further freedom. In Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans the need to support people and democratic principles is just as great as it was for Europe during the Second World War.

We humbly thank the men who gave their lives, those who fought along side them, and those who sacrifice and fight today in order to defend liberty not only for their own nations, but for others. I now ask our guests to please rise and join me in observing a moment of silence in their honor.

Thank you.

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