From Mercury News.com: Oakley Vietnam veteran shares war stories
While some veterans consider their war experiences too painful to share with the public, Vietnam War veteran Phil Ehrhorn is open about his past as an Air Force staff sergeant who flew in fighter jets and survived a crash.
The Oakley resident especially likes to share his stories with inquisitive elementary school children who ask lots of questions. Ehrhorn has spoken at several public and private schools, and is a regular guest speaker at East Contra Costa County libraries during Veterans Day activities.
"I tell the kids what I did over there. The kids just love it," he said.
At two upcoming events hosted by the Contra Costa County library system, Ehrhorn will share details about April 22, 1970, when the EC-47 surveillance plane that he was aboard as a radio operator was hit and crash-landed into a tree while flying a mission over South Vietnam. He will speak in Pittsburg on Friday and in Brentwood on Tuesday.
"I was working on equipment in the back of the plane when it happened," Ehrhorn said.
Two of the eight crew members were killed, according to Ehrhorn. The aircraft was seriously damaged, and Ehrhorn broke his back.
"A lot of the children want to know more about it because their uncles or grandpas were in the war, too," said Ehrhorn, who served eight years and was assigned to Detachment 2 of the 6994th Security Squadron from October 1967 to June 1970.
Ehrhorn, 68, said he doesn't go into too much detail about the crash, but he does field a lot of detailed questions from students in the third, fourth and fifth grades.
"The kids and I get along great," Ehrhorn said. "I have them on the floor laughing."
During the presentation, Ehrhorn will share photos of war-era aircraft and the medals he earned. For the past few years, he has been speaking to East Contra Costa residents in observance of Veterans Day at both the Oakley and Brentwood libraries.
Youth services librarian Lindsay Dupont said the hourlong Veterans Day event featuring Ehrhorn is designed for children in elementary and middle school, but their parents will enjoy it just as much.
"He loves children, and he has a great story," she said.
IF YOU GO
What: Vietnam War veteran and Oakley resident Phil Ehrhorn presents "Combat Missions in the Sky" in honor of Veterans Day.
When: 4 p.m. Friday at the Pittsburg Library, 80 Power Ave., and 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Brentwood Library, 104 Oak St.
Details: For more information, call the Pittsburg Library at 925-427-8390 or the Brentwood Library at 925-516-5290.
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