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Story revives memories of general
McCOOK, Neb. -- Minutes before crashing to his death in a military plane near Minot, North Dakota, Major General Charles M. Eisenhart had made it a point to visit with an Air Force sergeant from Southwest Nebraska.
The general's meeting with the sergeant, which took place in 1968, was remembered this week by Bill Witt of McCook. The visit came to mind Wednesday after Bill read the newspaper article in the Gazette which told of Mary Lou Ross' encounter with Gen. Eisenhart at the Culbertson Bank.
Although he achieved one of the highest ranks in the military, General Eisenhart kept in close touch with his roots, seeking out people from Southwest Nebraska in his air travels around the world.
And so it was in 1968 during his inspection of the Air Force base in Minot, North Dakota. "One of Gen. Eisenhart's last living actions was to talk with my twin brother, Donald, who was stationed at the Minot base at the time," Bill Witt said.
As he did frequently during his Air Force service, Gen. Eisenhart asked to speak personally with the enlisted men who came from the area near the general's boyhood home in Culbertson, Nebraska.
Chief Master Sgt. Donald Witt fit that description as he and his twin brother Bill were raised in Elsie, Nebraska.
"Don called me right after the plane crash which claimed Gen. Eisenhart's life," Bill said. "He was horrified, hearing about the fatal crash only a short time after talking with the general in person."
Don died 14 years ago and is buried at Fort McPherson. Bill, a teacher and coach for many years, is spending his retirement years in McCook with his wife, Elaine. They live at 908 Missouri Ave.