Tourism board hears story of the 'bomb'

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Tears flowed down the cheeks of long-time Greencastle resident Frank Durham as he talked of his World War II experience to members of the Putnam County Tourism Board this week.

Durham, a military veteran and published author, shared a plethora of memories -- many heartfelt and emotional -- of his duty as a bomb disposaleer and of his efforts to bring the now-famous buzz bomb to the Putnam County Courthouse grounds.

Durham, who penned the book "You Only Blow Up Once, " in 2003 stated, "To me, the monument is not only a tribute to the memory of the veterans but also to those who were responsible for constructing it."

In addition to memories, Durham shared with the board a photo of a grisly act of cannibalism and separate photos of him performing his duties as a bomb disposaleer.

Durham also recounted the efforts of many Greencastle residents and their unselfish attempts to honor those who gave their lives during wartime. He also recalled that nearly 5,000 people were in attendance for the dedication of the monument, including many high-ranking military dignitaries.

In other business, the board:

* Learned that nearly 10,000 brochures promoting Putnam County were distributed at a recent St. Louis travel show.

* Learned that the CVB's website is nearly complete and that patrons would be able to book lodging online.

* Learned that a checklist of necessary repairs was offered to the bureau to convert the miniature covered bridge -- located next to the Cloverdale Truck Stop on U.S. 231 -- from an information center to more of a three-dimensional billboard. No cost estimate for the repairs was provided. No action was taken on the specifics within the proposal.

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