Celebrating hard-fought independence

Deirdre Newman

Walker “Bud” Mahurin knows how precious the core American tenets of

freedom and democracy are. The Newport Beach resident and former Air

Force pilot has fought two wars to ensure their longevity.

Today, as many Americans celebrate the nation’s independence with a

vengeance following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mahurin also

celebrates the country’s defeat of the Axis powers during World War II

and the North Koreans during the Korean War.

For Mahurin, the terrorist attacks are just the latest threat to a

country that has weathered dangerous storms in the past. And he is

impressed by the intense level of patriotism that has taken over the

country in response to the latest risk.

“Patriotism is one giant motivating factor that we Americans really

have,” Mahurin said. “We need to exploit it with our children and

ourselves, and back democracy every way we can.”

Mahurin, 84, was a wily pilot who evaded death on numerous occasions

during both wars, was captured by the North Koreans and amassed nearly 30

medals for his valor. He has written two books -- one about his

experience as a prisoner of war and one about a group of German Luftwaffe

pilots, including those he fought against.

Mahurin was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., and joined the Air Force when he

was 20 to gain flying experience. Three months later, the Japanese bombed

Pearl Harbor, charting a course of combat for the young pilot and his

peers.

He was sent to London in 1943 to fly P-47s against the Luftwaffe, and

his group brought down more German aircraft than any other fighting

group, he said.

When his plane was shot and caught fire, he parachuted out and hid in

a haystack until he met up with members of the French Resistance. After a

month, he was airlifted out by the British Royal Air Force.

However, because of his knowledge about the French Resistance, he was

not allowed to return to combat in Europe because of the chance of being

captured and tortured for information.

Undeterred, the avid pilot found a group that was embarking for combat

in the Pacific Theater and left for Japan in January 1944. But he was bored there because he only had the opportunity to shoot down one

Japanese plane, said his wife, Joan. After returning to the United

States, he worked at the Pentagon, returned to Purdue University to earn

a degree in aeronautical engineering and then returned to the Pentagon.

But when the Korean War broke out, there was no way Mahurin was going

to stay behind a desk. Itching to return to air combat, he wangled a

temporary tour of duty out of the Air Force.

He flew with the 51st Fighter Wing and destroyed 3 1/2 enemy jets

before he was shot down by ground fire. This time, there were no

haystacks in sight -- only a North Korean and a Chinese soldier poised to

capture him.

Mahurin was taken to the Manchurian border and placed in solitary

confinement. He was the highest-ranking Air Force serviceman to be

captured at the time and was condemned as a war criminal. Because of the

brutal treatment, he tried to commit suicide but was stopped by his

captors.

But his luck had not run out. He was freed on the last day of the

prisoner-of-war exchange program and high-tailed it back to the United

States.

After the war, he remained active in the Air Force and the aerospace

industry until his retirement.

Mahurin said he was as shocked as everyone else when the terrorists

struck on Sept. 11. He said religious leaders wield too much power in the

Islamic world, which will continue to pose a threat to democracies around

the world.

“It’s so important to teach our children freedom because, ultimately,

that philosophy will encompass the world because it’s right,” Mahurin

said.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .