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Former WW II POW Robert Ryan Remains An Alton Treasure At Age 99

3 years ago
ALTON - Robert Ryan of Alton is not an everyday 99-year-old. Ryan, truly a River Bend treasure, recently appeared on C.J. Nasello’s Our Daily Show on Riverbender.com. Nasello has guests every day Monday through Friday on Riverbender.com . During the program, Ryan was asked about his capture as a POW in May 1944 when his B17 4-Engine Bomber was hit head-on by an enemy air attack, damaging engine No. 2 of four engines. Ryan said he was a navigator on the plane, and he said they discovered they were 200 miles from Switzerland and Sweden, but also 200 miles from France, which was still occupied. “I knew we were in trouble,” Ryan said. “Because I was the navigator, I parachuted out of the plane first. It took a while to land. I thought to myself, ‘how am I going to get back to Illinois.'" As soon as Ryan hit the ground, he said: “A guy was aiming a rifle at me. He had been firing at me from about 1,000 feet down. Thank God he did not pull the trigger

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St. Louis Artist Raises Hell About Book Bans With New Mural

3 years ago
David Ruggeri admits he doesn’t read as much as he used to. When it comes to his personal rage about book bans, he brings up his kids. For his two sons who attend St. Louis Public Schools, “reading has always been important” he says.
Monica Obradovic

Lunchtime Photo

3 years ago
This is the Sandy Bottom Nature Park near Newport News, Virginia. I got out here to stretch my legs and got a couple of good pictures out of it. This one is an ordinary little marsh, but with lovely shadows because it was taken early in the morning.
Kevin Drum