Vincent Stefanek could not have anticipated the life-changing events that occurred when he decided to drop out of the University of Dayton and enlist in the armed forces during World War II.
A shy 19-year-old from a Catholic Slovak family, Stefanek enlisted in the Army Air Forces, which trained him as an aerial gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress at Drew Field, Florida.
He immediately became aware that his crewmates were a microcosm of American society. They came from various parts of the country. Their family backgrounds and religions were also different. Yet, when the young men met in Florida to train as a heavy bombardment unit, they forged a bond that transcended their differences.
Francis Akins, the pilot of the crew, was the highly respected leader. Only 23, Akins had a quiet authority and seriousness that stemmed from the time he studied to become a Catholic priest. While studying for the priesthood, he realized that he did not have a religious vocation and left the seminary to join the Army Air Forces.
Stefanek had a close friendship with Marcus Shook, affectionately called “Shooky,” who had deep roots in Appalachia and was a consummate Southern gentleman. As shy as Stefanek,
