Last week I talked to Ray "Ike" Eisenhauer and he told me the sad news
not only of Barney Armbruster but that Captain Joe Crilley died. So in a week,
two members of the 326th AEB, and people I considered as friends had passed on.
Joe would have turned 89 next month but cancer told him rather quickly. I
just got off the phone with his wife Sue and had a nice long talk. I had so
much fun being with these veterans at two reunions. They treated me like a
son and they were full of life-why not they went thru so much. Joe was no only
a great American for what he did during the war but a great artist and thinker.
I was so glad I met these people. Thank Joe for saving our country and thank
you for being a friend. We all that knew you, miss you!

Doug...how wonderful that you were able to meet and become friends with these two great patriots.  So sorry to hear of Mr. Crilley's passing as well.   I'm sure your meeting them was very gratifying to them both!

Judy

Thanks Judy. I met Joe and Sue Crilley three times. Once I drove down to his home in PA.
and twice at 326th AEB Reunions. They were a very pleasant couple and very smart and
caring people. I talked with Sue the other night and she is holding up well and fortunately
Joe went rather fast so there wasn't too much pain. Strangely Sue said Joe never thought about dying
until the very end. As you can see from his drawing he was an excellant artist. I look at Joe Crilley
like at the others and realize they were not only American heroes but world heroes. Just very great
people.