1st Lt. Eugene A. Viehman, Sr.

by Janet V. Coombs
(Orr's Island, ME)

A young Lt. Eugene A. Viehman

My dad, 1st Lt. Eugene A. Viehman, Sr., was laid to rest in Fort Logan National Cemetery in March 2007. It is a beautiful place for a veteran to be.
Lt. Viehman was a B-17 pilot in WWII serving in the European Theatre, stationed in England, flew his missions over Germany. His B-17 plane was named "Be Comin' Back" and had a beautiful blonde sitting back to looking over her shoulder looking back at you.
Lt. Viehman's plane went down in Germany just short of the DMZ and he was taken prisoner. All of his crew had made it to safety, but he did not. So, he spent six months in the P.O.W. camps.
Just before the end of the war, the German soldiers knew the end of the war was coming and had plans to execute all the pilots that they had in prison. Lt. Viehman over heard these plans and was instrumental in the escape of many other pilots as well as himself before they could be executed.
Lt. Viehman was one who did not dwell on what he had done, he was just doing his job. Until his dying day, he would have proudly served his country again if the need be. He was proud to be an American and was proud to be of service to his country.