There isn't a lot on line or anywhere about the 868th Snoopers because they were "secret". There is one book that I have somewhere around here. I have a CD with the records of each aircraft, it's called MACRS or something like that. It's somewhere too. Some stuff disappeared in our move. Mostly I have my memories of my Dad's stories which he would get into on rare occasions when I was 10 or so and thought war was a glorious affair like the movies.
I came across on line the nephew of Lt. Lamica in 2005 and was exchanging information with him. He was a Navy Commander about to retire and said the family knew nothing beyond that his uncle was KIA in the war, not even which theater. I had a lively discussion going with him but that was July 2005 and August of that year hit me pretty hard.
My Dad talked about Lamica more than anyone else. My impression is the gulf between officers and enlisted was nonexistent on a bomber crew aside from on a mission, my Dad was a Tech Sergeant (an E7 I think, maybe E6). Lamica tried to talk my Dad into going on leave with him in 1944 to NZ and my Dad was still limping around and didn't go. The bird Lamica flew out on was lost and never heard from again. I think they were back on Guadalcanal at that point at a hospital, I'm not sure. My Dad mentioned Noemfore a few times but I'm not clear if they flew out of there or not. I believe the plane went down June 1944, it may have been March. I need to find my files on it all.
So, I am in possession of two Purple Hearts. When I was in college I mentioned possibly doing AROTC to my Dad and he was emphatically against it. I wanted to save him some money. That was circa 1973. I was a bit nervous telling him when Chris enlisted in the Marine Corps, but he was surprisingly positive about it. He apparently thought highly of Marines. I have some photos of my son in his Deltas just out of recruit training with my Dad and Mom, both have passed on now.
I guess I am suitably digressing. My other two kids are doing very well for which I am very thankful. Seeing your kids grow up to be pretty happy is a good thing. And I have "step kids" now who are close to me as well. They are all grown too.