Their inspection completed, Thompson told Charlie he was going to recommend medals for the entire crew, including Charlie. He said he had one last question. “Why didn’t you hit the silk over Germany?” “Sir, I had a man who was too injured to jump.” “So you and your crew stayed for just one man?” “Yes, sir,” Charlie said and nodded. To him it was that simple. They had fought for one another from a Texas bar to the skies of Bremen. They knew they were stronger together than apart.
