For My Brother - Missing In Action 1943

March 29, 2009 - this post originally juxtaposed Thomas Merton's poem For My Brother - Reported Missing In Action, 1943 with the photographs taken by me of the USAAF 389th Bomb Group base at Hethel which can be seen above. This article, which was linked to by several USAAF veteran's websites, has now been removed following receipt of an email, extract below, from the composer Francis Pott. Yes, technically I wrong to use the text of the 1943 poem. But in this instance I have a feeling that Thomas Merton himself would have agreed that it's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.

... I don't see any acknowledgment ... for the Thomas Merton poem. I have set other text by Merton in the past and went through an arduous process to clear permission and pay for the privilege. Can you assure me that you have done the same thing? If not, you will presumably be in breach of intellectual property law and Merton's executors should be aware.

Regards, Francis Pott

All the photos show Station 114 at Hethel, which was the home base for the 389th Bomb Group of the 2nd Air Division of the USAAF from June 1943 to May 1945. The crucifixion was painted in the chapel by the assistant to the Roman Catholic chaplain and remains in good condition today. Details for visitors on the 389th Memorial Exhibition Museum website. More memories of Hethel here. The memorial stone is in the churchyard of All Saints, Hethel.

All photos of Hethel are (c) On An Overgrown Path 2008. Report broken links, missing images and errors to - overgrownpath at hotmail dot co dot uk