107th Fighter Squadron Honors Veterans in Port Sanilac

Photo By Penelope Carroll | Air National Guard Pilot, Lt. Col. William "DISCO" Rundell, speaks at the Port Sanilac VFW Post 8872 during Veterans Day Nov. 11, 2022.  

PORT SANILAC, MI, UNITED STATES

11.11.2022

Story by Bruce Huffman 

127th Wing

Port Sanilac, Michigan—This story actually begins Sunday July 9, 2022 when members of the Port Sanilac VFW Post 8872 and the Croswell American Legion Post 255 were memorializing one of their beloved WWII comrades, Mr. Ed Bauer during a funeral ceremony at Harbor Park on the shore of Lake Huron in Port Sanilac.

At the family’s request the ceremony concluded with a 21-gun rifle salute and the playing of taps. As taps played, the roar of aircraft could be heard approaching from a distance causing everyone at the ceremony to look up as a four-ship flight of A-10 Thunderbolts from Selfridge Air National Guard Base approached. Those in attendance watched in disbelief as the formation flew overhead and one of the aircraft tipped its wing to the onlookers on the ground.

“The timing of the flyover was phenomenal, and its significance was profound, to say the least,” said VFW Post 8872 Commander Roger Bobby. Knowing that flyovers were hard to get, and to have one timed at such a meaningful moment was almost impossible; the family and veteran participants (approx. 50) were speechless.

Everyone at the ceremony kept asking, “Who set this up? Does someone know somebody?”, but it was just divine coincidence. According to R. Bobby, Ed Bauer was one of their last two WWII members. He loved his country and the flag and was very proud of his service in WWII. He was an active member of the VFW post, serving up to a week before his passing at age 94, said Bobby.

The impeccable timing of the flyover continued to mystify those who witnessed the final recognition of Bauer. What were the A-10’s doing that day when they happened to fly by, they wondered? Bobby sent a letter to the 127th Wing Commander thanking him and the squadron for this amazing display of respect and inviting them to attend the post’s 2022 Veteran’s Day celebration.

“The reason to invite someone from Selfridge was to thank them for the tip of the wing as they passed our funeral ceremony, and to find out just how those planes happened to be there,” said Bobby. “What are they involved in as they pass by this area regularly, and what is Selfridge’s role in the overall defense of the country?”

Lt. Col. William “DISCO” Rundell, commander of the 107th Fighter Squadron, that flew over the funeral ceremony that day, attended the Port Sanilac Veteran’s Day celebration Nov. 11 to answer those questions. “Our A-10’s were returning to Selfridge from a routine training mission that day,” said Rundell. He admits that four A-10 Thunderbolts were flying at 500’ when they saw the ceremony below, but he cannot explain the perfect timing of the flyover. “Some things are just meant to be,” he said.

“I have flown over this area hundreds of times, but today was my first time in Port Sanilac, said Rundell. Veteran’s Day was especially meaningful this year, he said. It’s important to come together as a community and honor those who served our country.”

• Date Taken: 11.11.2022
• Date Posted: 11.29.2022 11:32
• Story ID: 433937
• Location: PORT SANILAC, MI, US