Posted on 03/18/2021 7:08:42 AM PDT by mylife
You can find the most amazing things—from valuable artifacts to kitschy treasures—when you’re dumpster diving. But sometimes, trash trawling yields an heirloom that’s truly priceless—like the personal history of a hero.
U.S. Navy veteran Donald Helfer flew in 28 missions over enemy territory during WWII and was decorated for his bravery. Along with the Navy Flying Cross and a Bronze Star, Helfer even received a stirring letter from Harry Truman in which the President expressed his gratitude for helping “bring about the total defeat of the enemy” and offering the “heartfelt thanks of a grateful Nation.”
But Helfer was never one to seek glory. After leaving the military, he went on to become a police officer in upstate New York, eventually retiring to Florida. He passed away in 1993, taking the memories of his impressive military achievements with him—almost.
While Helfer’s children were aware of their dad’s stint in the navy, they never knew the true nature of his service. They were, however, about to make an incredible discovery concerning his forgotten legacy—all thanks to a serendipitous dumpster find in Hickory, North Carolina.
When a treasure trove of Helfer’s personal items—including medals, photos, identification, and military records—turned up in the Hickory dumpster, the man who found them immediately recognized their worth. (Helfer’s effects were likely discarded by whoever sorted through his late second wife’s Hickory estate and deemed them “not worth keeping.”)
The finder turned over the cache to Navy vet and American Legion Post 544 Commander Jeff Truitt for safekeeping until Helfer’s relatives could be found. Truitt was able to locate Helfer’s grown children in Rochester, New York, and his daughter, Linda Delorey, living in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
(Excerpt) Read more at goodnewsnetwork.org ...
That’s badass.
WWII had a lot of ‘badasses’!..................
The older ones. The ones that served in WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam, rarely spoke of anything unless they were with their boys.
Not to saying that all the folks that have served in the Global War on Terror are the same, but they aren’t these guys.
I knew Helfers in IL when I was growing up. I am pretty sure the dad was Don, but don’t think they had ties to NY. One daughter is a DVM in Pennsylvania, though.
Our American Legion Post receives calls all the time from families of WWII vets who have no idea what to do with Dad’s Stuff - including his uniform.
We could fill a large warehouse with all of the items from deceased Vets.
I wish I knew how to post pictures on here. There’s meme, back when they first started coming out:
That old man that shuffles around with the WW2 Veteran hat on, was more badass than you’ll ever be.....or something like that.
The picture was one guy, running with his buddy on his shoulders, while the guy being carried was shooting a .45 at the enemy.
Funny thing, I bought the Dress Cover used, and it was stamped ‘Owens’. Watch ‘The D.I.’, with Jack Webb, to see the significance.
I had heard thee was a fire in St Louis and records were lost. A sibling tried many years ago to get our Dad’s records (WWII navy) and was told that. Regarding what was in the dumpster, I hope whoever threw them away reads this article and is ashamed.
Bet this was done by either someone with a public school education (person did not know there was a WWII), or a liberal.
Nice story anyway.
We are all born killers in the deep down dark places we dont like to go. Malevolent and cruel and every one of us capable of Nazi era atrocities. We needed then (as we do now) GOOD men who can effectively and efficiently use violence to defeat the evil in our world. Good on ya, Donnald for dealing with it in your way that that caused no further harm.
Hand salute.
“My dad never talked about it and he was in some of the most heroic battles of the war.”
My dad too.
Through chance I met someone who served aboard the same destroyer as my dad in WW2. I finally found out why my dad got a battlefield commission. He was in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and engaged and sank the Japanese cruiser Chikuma, but not until after his ship took a shell from the Chikuma that killed everyone on the bridge. My dad went from Ensign to Lt Commander, because he was the second most senior officer surviving.
He never told us anything about his time during WW2. I had to learn it from a stranger.
Yes, there was a fire. Not all records were lost. I agree with your second sentence.
Don Eagle.! (maybe). Same thing I guess, he was a Mohawk.. :)
Thank you.
No, not at all.
Now that I think about it, that was before Don Eagle’s time...
My grandfather was a cook in the US Army in WWII and served in the CBI, my ahole brother says he was jus a damn cook.
Mom thinks he was sipping tropical drinks in the Phillipines..
Feh! they know nothing
They threw out all his military stuff. :(
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