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 ...
Sadly, ask a Millennial today to recognize the name the melody of the "Stars & Stripes Forever". The majority will say, "That's the Bernstein Bear song".
“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.”
When I read this story, I was thinking, what are you supposed to do with them? I gave my father’s shadow box to my nephew because my father basically raised him. When my nephew is gone, that shadow box will have no value to anyone. My father’s been dead for 20 years.
It’s the Distinguished Flying Cross, or DFC, author.
Rammed screen is going blurry.
“You would be amazed how common it is for people to throw this stuff out”
_______________________________________________
My beloved husband (and myself) were active duty.
He’s got a medal that sounds really ‘fluffy.’
Because I can read between the lines, every few years I would ask him about the details and after being married 32 years he still won’t tell me what it was he did to earn that medal.
I like to look at older folks (even when younger) and imagine what they did in their youth/mid-age years. The oldest, bent over, slow moving folks really would stun folks, I think, if we could see their past.
I hope to have another 30 years of life with him; hopeful before he leaves this earthly realm he’ll tell me the story.
I am certain the author doesn’t know a lot of things.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_Expeditionary_Medal
A lot of guys would never speak of it, those who weren’t there could never really understand.
It’s was a trend I saw many boys in school in the 50’s had them it was more of a summer time hair cut most boy got a short cut for the summer.
We had the summer baldy haircuts! School’s out hair is gone!.................
Here in Lost Angeles most males have a butch or shaved head trend or just laziness who knows.
Here in the Deep South, it’s tradition...................
I understand. Realizing it is a stressful time for families......if they could think clearly at the time, perhaps they could bury the items with the Vet.
Your father may have been the one to ferry my grandfather onto Utah Beach. He was in the 8th infantry regiment 2nd wave. He was a 1st leuitenant in the regiments anti tank company. He never talked much about it. Did mention seeing other landing craft get hit on the way in. Also talked just briefly about the drive for Cherbourg.i know he was wounded twice. The second one may have been by our own air corp at the start of operation cobra.
YouTube and Rumble have interviews of vets, with the usual “I didn’t do much” self-effacing by them.
One interviewer posted that YouTube had banned some of his interviews because they were “too graphic”. What the Hell do they think war is?
‘Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?’ Grandpa said, ‘No, but I served in a company of heroes.’ “
Left off the quote at the end
-Captain Dick Winters
Back in early 2000 I requested a flag be flown over USS ARIZONA on my birthday. It is on the landing where anyone entering the house can see it.
My birthday is 07DEC1951.
“Sound like your Dad was most likely aboard the USS Heermann”
That was his ship. DD532, USS Heermann.
my father had one of those 48 star flags when i was a kid, flew it for years.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.