He then told of his treatment at being captured in April of 1945, through his confinement and his eventual liberation in August of that year. He sustained broken ribs and a broken collarbone when he was captured and was knocked unconscious several times during captivity.

Introducing Price and welcoming him back to Dobbins ARB was Col. Heath Nucholls, 94th Operations Group commander (Now the 94th Wing Commander). Libby Scarberry, who coordinated the event, reminded the audience of the importance of not forgetting our missing in action and Betty Thomason, president of AFSA Chapter 452 Auxiliary, read the names of those Georgians still missing in action. Also part of the ceremony was a 700th Airlift Squadron C-130 flyby.

 

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From the Annual Tree Planting Ceremony in October 2003, Mr. William Price, a prisoner of war from World War II, described his capture and captivity. A crew member onboard a B-29 aircraft, Mr. Price was one of three who survived when a Japanese Kamikaze pilot rammed their plane over Japan. Losing its left wing and spiraling down, Mr. Price managed to escape the aircraft.

"When I gained consciousness, my parachute had opened," said Mr. Price. "It was a lovely day, just like today and I thought how nice it was... until I realized where I was." Mr. Price said that as he came down, he saw about 200 Japanese farmers, police, and soldiers coming for him.

"I landed about 300 yards away from then just on the other side of a small knoll," he continued. I pulled out my service revolver, placed a round in the chamber... then, I asked myself, 'What are you doing?' I threw that pistol into the water and threw my hands up." Mr. Price admitted that it was hard to hit the side of a barn with those pistols.