~~ The Greatest Generation ~~~ An American Hero~~~~~~
After passing over the mountain pass from Southeast Oregon to Nevada I spotted this 87 man sitting in a chair in front of his pickup and camper with the hood up, a fan belt of some kind on the ground broken, so I stopped to to see if I could help. This road is a lonely one in the middle of nowhere for over a hundred miles. Lakeview is the nearest town in Oregon with services.
Rolled down my window and asked if I could help. "timing chain belt broke" he offered to me. I knew that was big trouble.
I got out to see what I could do. Noticed a bronze star hanging down from his WWII hat. I thanked him for his service in the war and we began to talk.
He went on and own and took me inside his trailer to get out his framed awards. Then the story he told me shook me. He was on a ship that had been struck by a kamikaze plane raid while on deck manning the arc lights.. The first plane that struck destroyed his hearing in his right ear.
He saw 5 more planes approaching in a line to hit the ship so he quickly tried to focus that arc beam into the cockpit of each approaching plane feeling helpless in the attack. The first plane he lit up crashed right in front of the ship into the sea. The next four did the same thing as he saved his ship from certain destruction. For this he received the Bronze Star and other awards.
We spent about a hour talking and I flagged down several cars going back to Oregon (only place with any services).
A lady and her daughter stopped and took the information and assured us they would sent a tow truck from Lakeview, Oregon.
I gave him my contact info and a big hug. Saluted him and hope to hear from this Hero again. Turns out he was prospecting in the hills and had a 1 once gold nugget and other gems he showed me.
God Bless America
Now for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would have it ~ this week I got a hand written letter from Ken that all was well and gratitude for all the nice folks that helped him out.
Comments
23 comments1944-1947 United States Navy
Ken told me that he had 7 other "buddies" on that ship who he kept in contact with and he was the "the only one left".
As Ken's letter ended ~"there are many fine people and I met some of the best".
God Bless this man and others from Our Greatest Generation...............
What an awesome story and no doubt an experience for you. A hero indeed - and this speaks to something else besides his service and your story. check out the letter. Wonderful penmanship, indented paragraphs, 2 spaces after the end of sentence, good grammar. Anyone here actually done a hand written letter on paper? I know I couldn't do it - years of keyboard destruction, I can barely sign my name....
Wonderful and touching story Rick. thanks for sharing it.
Lon
He told them that he was trying to blind the pilots so they could not hit and sink his ship. The Doctor on board said that in all likelihood he had fried the pilots like a hot dog with the intense focused light that can burn a hole in solid objects when focused correctly.
As Lon observed the penmanship is something to behold and this letter is a collected memory for me. He left me a return address and I will be penning a reply soon.
God Bless America
Sandy
Ken was a hearty 87 years old and looked very fit (my Mother is 91 so I have a perspective). He was an active prospector of gold and other precious stones in some tough environmental conditions. Thanks for the comments
Kent in SD
and congratulations to you and Jerry for the well deserved Weekly Pick . . .
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy
Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
"The 164th Infantry Regiment of the Americal Division went into action on Guadalcanal on 13 October 1942 alongside the 1st Marine Division as the first United States Army unit to conduct an offensive operation against the enemy in either the Pacific or European Theater of Operations. (Seven other U.S. Army divisions began offensive combat operations in late 1942: the 32nd and the 41st Infantry Divisions in the Pacific on New Guinea; and in North Africa, the 9th and 3rd Infantry Divisions, and the 2nd Armored Division.)
God Bless America