Those in Congress seem more interested in bickering and conducting investigations and useless hearings than honoring fallen heroes. Seven years ago, the crash site of an American B-25 was found in the desolate region of India. It has been there since December 10, 1943, when during World War II it was shot down by Japanese warplanes. All members of the crew were killed. Two Marysville men, Captain John “Blackie” Porter, the pilot, and Sgt. Harold Neibler, the flight engineer, were among them. Unfortunately, they are all still there.
This is not a new story. Over the years, much has been written in the pages of the Marysville Journal-Tribune and other publications about the crash, the mission of its crew and the efforts to bring back their remains for the honors they deserve and proper burial. It is a record of heroism at its finest, yet it is also underscored by the disappointment and travesty of a government that has refused to help or spend one dime in the effort and cost of recovery.
Both Porter and Neibler were graduates of Marysville High School, Porter in 1934 and Neibler in 1936. While members of the Army Air Corps, Porter formed a unit called “Blackie’s Gang” to rescue downed pilots and airmen in the rugged area of the China-Burma-India Theater of the war called the “Hump.” Dozens were rescued, some of whom would likely have died but for the bravery of Porter and his crew.
After discovery of the crash site, efforts intensified to bring them back. Much help has come from a woman named Ellen Vinson who is not a direct relative of Porter, but is the daughter of Porter’s wife who remarried after his death. She lives in Florida and has been relentless in her quest to have the remains of her now-deceased mother’s first husband and the others brought home. Articles have appeared in Florida newspapers as well as the J-T about the plight to bring back these heroes. Recently, other news media outlets have picked up on the story.
The tragedy of the deaths of men like Captain Porter and Sgt. Neibler should never be forgotten. But the real tragedy here is the fact that Uncle Sam has ignored their heroic deeds by refusing any assistance in bringing their remains home. Mrs. Vinson commented in one of her emails, “I have given up on the government bringing back their remains …”
These men gave their lives for this country. They died in their efforts to save others. And for the last seven years, those in power in Washington have turned their backs on these heroes. Mrs. Vinson has been forced to seek money from the private sector to pay for the recovery cost. We are not talking about a huge sum of money. Estimates to accomplish this are less than $100,000. Congress wastes that amount every minute of every day.
We encourage our readers and the citizens of Marysville and Union County to contact our Congressman, Jim Jordan, and Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, and urge them to initiate legislation in Congress to resolve this travesty and implement and pay for immediate efforts to bring home the remains of our Marysville heroes and other members of their crew.