In June, my family gathered at Rosie The Riveter Park to celebrate what would have been my brother Bill "Jitterbug" Meshad's 90th birthday. Bill lost his life at 22 as a result of injuries he suffered in an Air Force training flight on August 1, 1943. The following letter, from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was delivered to my family at our Long Beach home:
In grateful memory of Lt. William M. Meshad Jr., who died in the service of his country at
Roswell Army Air Field, Roswell, New Mexico, August 1, 1943. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die. That freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.
Here I am holding the flag that was presented to my parents at the time of my brother's death. I have ordered a plaque in his memory through Gerrie Schipske's Rosie The Riveter Foundation Memorial Wall Project. I sang his favorite song, "Tangerine," and played Glenn Miller's, "In the Mood," in his memory.
While working as a "Rosie," at Douglas Aircraft during the War, I fondly remember my brother writing to me, "Sis, you build them and I'll fly them."
Bill was quite a fisherman. In his early teens, during the depression, he would fish off the rocks of Rainbow Pier and bring home gunny sacks full of fish to feed the neighborhood.
He was a member of the Long Beach Poly High Class of 1939 and earned a Life Pass as a member of the Poly High 1938 CIF State Championship Varsity Cross Country Team.While in high school, Bill had a paper route delivering The Long Beach Independent.
Submitted by Ceci Meshad Julian, sister
Leave a comment