When a man lives to see his 101st birthday one might think his opportunities are limited. Not so for Ralph Gregory of Marthasville. Still driving, walking his dog, living on his own and serving on several historical societies, Gregory’s mind is sharp and his contributions are still many. In addition to receiving a prestigious Missouri Preservation Award on Oct. 21, Gregory became the oldest World War II veteran to be part of a recent Greater St. Louis Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Founded in 2005, the group is committed to flying as many World War II veterans as possible to the memorial erected to honor them. Honor Flight reports that more than 1,000 World War II veterans die each day, adding a sense of expediency to its mission. When the organization discovered Gregory was 101 years old, they moved him to the top of the list. A little hesitant to go, Gregory shared the opinion of most veterans of “the Greatest Generation” — they were just doing their job. While Gregory is regarded for his extensive knowledge of local history, having authored 12 books, his experience as an American airman who flew 29 combat missions is less well-known. Gregory enlisted in the Army Air Corps in May 1942 at the age of 32. Although turned down at an earlier age, his knowledge of radio equipment made him a sought-after commodity. “I got together with other young men in the 1920s and built radios,” said Gregory. “When I was a boy I was avidly interested. Three to 4 a.m. is the best time to communicate. I spoke to folks with the Byrd Expedition at the South Pole and folks in Australia.” After completing his initial training with the Army Air Corps, Gregory, because of his skills, was moved to radar school. “During that time, that was secret stuff,” he said. “We used English equipment. There was no American equipment then.” Serving as a radio observer, or technical sergeant, with the 351st Army Air Forces Base Unit, Gregory remembers Oct. 26, 1943, clearly. It was the day his B-25 was shot down over the Aegean Sea near Greece. Coincidentally, his Honor Flight took place exactly 67 years later to the day. “They hit our engine and we flew down close to the water all the way across the Aegean Sea. We flew all the way up to the Dardanelles to find a place to land. Somebody shot at us there,” said Gregory. “We finally landed in a field near a knoll, a place where Turks trained for field artillery. “It was a belly lander. No wheels, no flaps — one killed and one wounded,” Gregory recounts. “I had a facial cut from falling items in the plane. I’ve got quite a scar up there — and a Purple Heart.” Gregory said his six months as a prisoner of war were much better than most Americans encountered in enemy camps. He was allowed to roam freely in the town, working for the Turks in the area. His release was arranged and a train ticket provided. To this day, he is not quite sure of the details of his release. “I was one of the last ones to get out,” said Gregory. “I got a pass, got on a train and rode out to Syria where the English were in control. I had to check in at Cairo, Egypt.” Even then, Gregory was fascinated with historic places. He decided it would be a good time to do some sightseeing before returning to his base in North Africa. He left the group he was traveling with and visited the Sphinx and Great Pyramids to the consternation of his unit waiting for his arrival at the base. Gregory returned home in May 1944, where he taught at a radar school until the end of the war. “I was lucky to be able to do that,” he said. “The others that went back all got killed.” On Tuesday, Oct. 26, Gregory and 24 other World War II veterans boarded a Southwest Airlines flight to Baltimore/Washington International Airport. Guardians accompanied each veteran. Their job was to watch over the veterans and provide for their every need. All travel expenses are provided through donations to the Honor Flight organization. Guardians who accompany the veterans pay their own way. Most of the men felt like youngsters when they learned they were traveling with Gregory, who insisted on walking every step of the way. He told those who tried to provide him a wheelchair that he “walked his dog a mile every day whether she wanted to or not.” It was a fast-paced day for the veterans. They visited the Lincoln, Korean and Vietnam memorials; drove past the Pentagon and Iwo Jima Memorial; experienced the Changing of the Guard and a tram tour of Arlington Cemetery. The highlight for veterans, though, was the World War II Memorial, completed in 2004. The memorial honors the 16 million who served and the 400,000 who died. As Gregory looked at the 58,000 names on the Vietnam Wall, the stark, white tombstones covering 624 acres in Arlington Cemetery and the 4,000 gold stars commemorating the 400,000 who died during World War II, he was overwhelmed. “Look at all that,” he said. “We’ve lost so many to war.” The Honor Flight organization has found veterans are most touched by the recognition they receive during the trip. That also was true for Gregory’s group. Travelers lined the arrival gates at the airport, clapping and shaking the hands of veterans who were strangers to them. Often while visiting one of the memorial sites, veterans would be approached by people of all ages who asked to shake their hands and thank them for their service. When finding out Gregory had just celebrated his 101st birthday Sept. 27, he was surrounded and congratulated many times during the trip. The scene was repeated at Lambert Airport in St. Louis when the delayed flight was welcomed by local firefighters, who saluted the group by spraying the aircraft with water as it taxied to its gate. Inside the terminal, another welcoming party greeted the veterans with signs, balloons and a special presentation. Earlier in the day when the men boarded the bus for the last time, one of the veterans expressed his love for the men who served with him and shared the Honor Flight experience. “I’m very proud to have been with you for a day,” said Vince Krobath of St. Louis, his voice breaking. “I would pick any one of you or all of you to serve with me, any time, day or night.” To find out more about Honor Flight, visit gslhonorflight.org, e-mail gslhonorflight.com or call 636-230-2466. Applications for World War II veterans and guardians can be downloaded from the Web site. Donations also can be made to support the program. Gregory served from April 9, 1942, to Aug. 26, 1945. He was involved in battles in Naples, Foggia, Tunisia, Sicily and the Air Offensive in Europe. He was decorated with the Air Medal GO 20 321st Bomb Group 43 with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; the European/African/Middle East Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Stars; a Purple Heart; and a Distinguished Unit Badge.