A KMHS Story, by Linda Cadden Gibson

After learning of the passing in 1990 of Len Trotta (co-pilot on the Krivik crew), co-pilot of the Krivik crew, my father John Cadden, radio operator of the Krivik crew, reached out to Len’s son, Dick Trotta.  My father invited Dick and his family to visit him and my mother in Avalon, NJ.  Dick, his wife, Vicki, and two sons (ages 10 & 6) came and stayed with my parents at their home near the beach. Over the years, Dick would call my parents here and there and catch up.  Eventually the communications became less and less which, as we all know, happens.

On December 6, 2018, during the funeral of George H.W. Bush, Dick was thinking about the "greatest generation."  He tried to contact my father, who had since died, as had my Mom. And so Dick hit a dead-end trying to reach them.  

Many years before, my father asked Dick to stay in touch with his (my father's) children. Dick searched the internet and came upon Dad’s interview with Aaron Elson.  Dick contacted Aaron to see if he could put him in touch with any of the children.

Aaron reached out to me to make sure I was agreeable to having him share my contact information which, of course, I was.

Dick called me December 16, 2018 and we spoke for hours.  He has since joined KMHS and signed up for the upcoming 75th Kassel Mission anniversary trip to Germany.   

Yesterday, on Dick and Vicki's drive back to New York from a winter break in Florida, they stopped by to see me and my husband.  We finally met, had a wonderful visit and look forward to seeing each other in Germany this September.  

There is an even more serendipitous link to the Kassel Mission for Dick.  30 years ago Dick and Vicki bought a weekend cottage on one of the NY Finger Lakes.  Dick became fast friends with his next door neighbor there – none other than Kassel Mission pilot Reg Miner. 

Small world.