USS Laffey & the American Flag
Bill Kelly keeps a photograph in his room at the Claremont Center nursing home where he lives. The picture is of him in a football uniform on Thanksgiving Day, 1942 at Manasquan High School where he was an outstanding football. He says that the very day after the picture was taken, he went to New York and enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17.
A few years later, Kelly was photographed holding the tattered remnants of a flag. The flag is the US flag that flew over the USS Laffey during the Battle of Okinawa. It is tattered because of the damage received from the kamikaze attacks, some of the worst in history, that took place on April 16, 1945.
Kelly says that the Japanese “knocked the hell out of it,” but the ship stayed afloat.
Now 94-years-old, Kelly sits in a wheelchair, but his mind is still sharp. While some details of that fateful day have faded from his memory, his bravery has been chronicled by historians. Last month, he received a flag that had flown over the US Capitol from US Representative Chris Smith.
“Bill Kelly’s brave, selfless and outstanding service to this nation aboard the U.S.S. Laffey stands as a shining example of the best our country has to offer,” Smith stated
Kelly worked as a signalman, with expertise in Morse code, on the starboard side of the ship.
Ship historian Sonny Walker said that a Japanese plane flew into the mast and knocked down the American flag. Kelly went out and retrieved the flag from the main deck and headed back to the signal room with it.
On the way back, he found a sailor with his leg missing. It turned out to be Kelly’s good friend, Fred Burgess. He was leaning against a gun mount on his good leg with blood pouring out his missing leg. He cried for Kelly to help him, so Kelly and some other men rushed Burgess to the sick bay.
Once there, Burgess asked Kelly for the flag and Kelly gave it to him. He died, still clutching the flag, before a doctor had a chance to see him.
The Laffey was attacked by 22 Japanese planes that day. She was struck by six planes and four 400-pound bombs. Kelly narrowly missed being crushed by a falling 2-ton antenna. Another blast tossed him fifteen feet in the air.
A shipmate hung a new flag on the deck – “so the Japanese knew who they were fighting,” Kelly remembered, 32 men were killed on the Laffey that day and 71 were wounded. Kelly is amazed that anyone was able to walk away from that attack.
After the war, Kelly worked as a milkman and started a cleaning service while raising five children. He never spoke of the war. His daughter, Margie Moore, only learned of his bravery five or six years ago.
Today, there are just four surviving crewmen from the Laffey. The ship, known as “the ship that would not die,” is a floating museum off the coast of South Carolina.
Kelly was just 20 years old when the attack occurred but he remembers it like yesterday. His room holds mementos of that day: the tattered second flag raised by the shipmate, a photo of the Laffey badly damaged after the attack, his medals which include the Purple Heart.
And now the folded congressional flag. When asked about what this flag meant to him, he was humble. “I take this for my shipmates, not me,” he said.
The USS Laffey was present at the D-Day invasions of Normandy where she fired on shore defense locations with her two five-inch gun turrets. She was then moved to the Pacific to help with the attacks on the Japanese where she provided support for the US troops in the Battle of Okinawa, which is when the kamikaze attacks took place.
After the war, the ship was repaired and went on to serve in the Korean War and the Cold War before being turned into a museum. It rests at Patriot’s Point, South Carolina next to the aircraft carrier Yorktown and the submarine Clamagore.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Clifford Black Sr. – Commerce, GA; US Army, WWII, Korea, Bronze Star
Kern Lum Chew – Courtland, CA; US Army, WWII, PTO, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
William Donnellan – Massapequa, NY; US Army, WWII, PTO, Bronze Star
Tony Duva – Lake Worth, FL; US Army, WWII
William Harth Jr. – Columbia, SC; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, 2nd Lt., 329th Bomber Squadron/93rd Bombardment Group, KIA
Fred “Dipper 19” Kovaleski – NYC, NY; Cold War, CIA
Randall Mosher – Bolivar, MO; US Army, Vietnam
Jimmy Simoneaux – LA; US Navy, WWII, USS Spearfish & Snook
Ray Smith – RI; US Navy, WWII & Korea
Arthur Wells – Paw Paw, IL; US Army, Vietnam, Col. (Ret.), 1st Armored Div., 11th Airborne Div., 24th Div.,& 1st Div. District Adviser, West Point grad, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
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Posted on May 31, 2018, in First-hand Accounts, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, History, Military, Military History, Navy, Pacific, Pacific War, USS Laffey, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 108 Comments.
Poor Burgess! And this is what we do to one another.
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Humans don’t exactly fit into the Nature of planet Earth, do they?!
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I must say…I am so delighted to see your posts. This one just made me proud. I’m sure the old veteran Bill Kelly is pleased as punch!💖
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The more I learn about that generation, the more amazed I become!!
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Excellent post gp, great story, these are the type of story’s that really bring heroic deeds of Wartime to life.
Kelly was certainly a great heroic warrior.
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I think stories such as this “bring it home” to some people as to what each person involved in war go through. It might explain why their dad was tough on them or why grandpa cried at a movie one day… you know what I mean? I’m sure you do. I’m trying to get others to ‘get a grip’ on reality.
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This is so moving: “A shipmate hung a new flag on the deck – “so the Japanese knew who they were fighting.” He certainly is quite a man, and to have survived to such an age must amaze him a bit, too. I have a dear friend in South Carolina who’s a bit of a history buff. I forwarded this on to her. Perhaps she knows of the ship, but if not, I know this will stir her interest.
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It’s always great to hear that there’s another history buff out there. If she hasn’t heard of the Laffey, hopefully she’ll get to see it one day! Thanks, Linda.
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Reblogged this on Give Me Liberty.
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I wasn’t able to locate it, but thanks.
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Beyond outstanding.
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Quite a ship – carrying quite a crew!!
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A great post GP, thank you.
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Quite a ship with an equally impressive crew!! Thanks.
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Always a pleasure GP.
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A moving story. How greatly this nation has been blessed by the sacrifices of those who went before us.
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Yes we have and that is a wonderful way to put it. I’m certain each veteran appreciates your sentiment.
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Another great story! It always impresses me how these units felt like a team or even family. They really cared about the welfare of the other members of their company.
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It is how the soldiers survive, plus when you go through the rigors of basic, then whatever specialty you’re assigned to (MOS), the bonds get stronger and stronger. By the time they hit combat – they were family. Thank you for another wonderful comment, Bev.
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How awful it must have been to see his friend mortally wounded like that and suffering. So sad. I am glad he survived to tell the tale.
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There is so much in that book that I just don’t dare put down here, I have far too many young readers. Seeing their buddies killed happened most every day I’m afraid.
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Just terrible in so many ways.
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Indeed.
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Inspiring. I think it is rather a pity that so many heroes, out of modesty or reluctance to recall those horrific times, didn’t even confide in their own nearest and dearest about them.
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I agree with you. For many though it was a method for coping all they saw and did.
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Indeed; as with the more recent Rhodesian bush war, those involved could unburden to those who had gone through it with them, but to nobody else.
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Most certainly.
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Whenever I drop by your blog GP, I’m reminded of the efforts my own parents made to help keep Britain free during WW2. My father was in the Royal Artillery and my mom had several roles first as a nurse and later she inspected guns. I often tell my own daughter of my late parents efforts for freedom and the hardships they endured so she knows her roots and the sacrifices made by Britain and her Allies.
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I am very happy to hear that you have taught your daughter of the family connection. Too often parents neglect to give their children the additional education that school systems ‘drop the ball’ on. This year your RAF has its 100th Anniversary – Congrats to all the vets!!
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Great story.
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A reader asked if I had anything on the Laffey and I only had mention of her in one post. I was lucky to come across this interview.
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Very well done !
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Thank you.
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you’re welcome 🙂
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How could a ship of just 2200 long tons take such punishment and survive?
The HMS Hood pride of the RN a giant of a ship went down from 1 x 15″ shell, admittedly it was lucky enough to go straight down the smokestack and blow the ship apart, but even so how could the USS Laffey survive?.
The great pity is that they repaired the vessel, can you imagine the awe in which it would have been held had she have been left for the world to see the true horror or war?
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Too many wish to erase history, Beari. I sent a link to a reader just today proving our point that you need to know exactly what war is or it will remain part of our lives. Here’s the link I sent him….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts
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THAT would go right over his head and he’d think they are made up statistics and numbers.
I wonder what he’s think of the numbers killed & wounded both military and civilian in the two world wars.
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Probably just shrug his shoulders.
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, John!! Argus contributed a terrific video for the Laffey under fire too!!
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You are welcome as always.
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🙂
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Worth a viewing …
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Isn’t THAT an amazing video! You have to commend that photographer as well.
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Impressively put together.
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Indeed, Lloyd. Thank you for coming by!
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Amazing story, GP
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Thank you, John.
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So many stories that old grunts could tell.
Could … but mostly don’t, or won’t—communication works both ways and there has to be some foundation for understanding.
Thankfully for many people ‘war’ and combat and fear are simply academic terms—and long may it stay that way.
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I think if war becomes too distant and removed, them people won’t fear having another one. This war still affects the entire world even today, but people ignore it and hope history will fade into oblivion. And THIS proves my point…..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts
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The biggest threat is ‘uniqueness’. We all have it, that wonderful “It won’t happen to me” … when you look across at your buddies and pity them, all the while knowing that it won’t happen to YOU (even though you still hunker down that little bit further). Academically you know that it could, might … but emotionally you will live, for ever. (Hard to explain.)
This is why the kamikaze so intrigues me. I imagine that all the way down to the end he still knew that it would happen to anyone else but not to him. Somehow. So for as long as people—blatantly mistakenly—have that feeling we will have wars.
Again I say that people wanting wars should be the ones fighting them, as a grunt at the front. That ain’t gonna happen either …
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Unfortunately – I have to agree.
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Respect for such a great man
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Thank you very much, Mary Lou!
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What a brave man ! I really do wonder where people like him get it from!
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I sometimes think it is born out of necessity to survive and then other times I believe they were raised with a commitment to to do right by their parents. I’m sure there are many theories, but thank goodness we had them there!!
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How anyone got off that ship is a miracle in itself!
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Isn’t THAT the truth?!!!
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Through the years I’ve often been asked why I joined the Marines to fight as a “grunt” groundpounder. “Why not the Air Force, or the Navy?” was the usual sample question. My stock answer was always something like, “When the s**t hit the fan, I could go to ground, maybe dig-in, but there was still terra firma beneath me. If I’m in an aircraft that gets hit, there’s that long fall, and if I’m aboard a ship, well I can’t walk on water.” My cover is off to all those brave sailors and airmen who fought in all our wars. Semper Fidelis.
–Michael
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Good answers, Michael!! haha Do you ever get someone who still wishes to debate it?
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Not is several years. Most of the questions used to come from those who never served in any compacity. Those who have know the dangers involved whether air, land, or sea. There WERE those rickety helicopters we had to fly in at times– those old UH-34s were something to behold! The USMC during my combat tour (1967-68) only used Hueys as gunships. Otherwise, it was the ’34s or the CH-46s (Sea Knights). I always preferred to hump anywhere I went, if possible. 🙂
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You guys had an awful tough time (I know this is a gross understatement) in that hell hole, I thank you for being that dedicated.
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Looking at the Laffey after the attack it is indeed a miracle that anyone, our hero included, on that ship walked away unscathed.
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I can’t imagine being attacked by one plane – but 22!! I would probably be a candidate for the “Rubber-Ramada Inn”!!!
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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I greatly appreciate the sharing you do for these stories, Dave.
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What a story. That flag–I get it.
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I know what you mean, Jacqui!!
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Well done!
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It was they who did all the work, James. Thanks for taking the time to visit today!
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>He died, still clutching the flag
I’m deeply touched by this phrase.
My late father was conferred decorations(medal) from his majesty the Emperor.
My father was proud and crying.
It is Important that Praise the service of Ppl who Fought(Defence) for own Nation.
In deepest sympathy.
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I knew you would understand as your own flag is so important to your people. Far too many died in those years, imagine what advances we might have accomplished without a war!!
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>imagine what advances we might have ~
I agreed with you,but…
Now…POTUS is walking on air,He is susceptible to flattery(by N korea).
It rests on the Judgment ability and Coolness, such as Matisse Secretary etc…I think.:D
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I just hope they ALL stay calm and speak logically and truthfully.
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After we moved to Charleston in 2011, my husband being a Navy veteran, he wanted to see ‘Yorktown’ and ‘Laffey’ at Patriots’ Point and so we went to see them. They are both awesome ships. As I understand, there were 34 sailors who were killed and the 71 injured during that World War II attack on Laffey. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and earned five battle stars for service during World War II. It also was awarded two battle stars for service during the Korean War.
I saw this link on Post and Courier https://www.postandcourier.com/business/world-war-ii-veterans-recall-their-experiences-at-battle-of/article_d7f34c0a-4e96-5272-af00-72c338dd4f3f.html.
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Your story and the link are both wonderful additions to this post, Rose. I thank you so much!
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What a great story and beautiful tribute!
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Thank you very much for coming by and letting me know how you feel.
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This one made me tear up. The flag meant something back then, didn’t it? Bill Kelly’s story is amazing. I’ve heard so many stories about soldiers who didn’t make a fuss out of their bravery. What character!
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Each story in some ways sounds a lot like another, but each one with their own eyes. I know what you mean about tearing-up, there are time I think Puffs stays in business because of me!!
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You never seem to run out of inspiration and stories. You’re the king of WWII.
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Oh, how I wish that were true, Cindy!! but thanks for saying so!
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That Bill Kelly is one tough son-of-a-gun!
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I completely agree!
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These men and women …. where would we be without them? Thank you.
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Wow, that has been up for debate ever since we won I think. I’m just glad we never had to find out for real!!
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I second that GP.
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Had the tissues ready this time! Great post GP, that ship and her crew had a lot of heart.
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Hey, I now have help keeping Puffs in business, eh? or are you a Kleenex person? Just kidding, but a lot of these stories really get to me.
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🙂
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What a nice, humble man. I love the first hand accounts. That ship has an amazing history. I’m glad it’s still floating.
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It sure would have been a shame if they had scuttled it after she survived so much, eh?!! I’m with you on this!
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What a lovely story of a brave war hero. He is so modest and maybe his children would have liked to hear him speak about his experiences during the war. It’s not too late as he is still alive
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I agree, Maria. I’m sure they’ll be pressing him from now on though!!
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Heartbreaking and joyful, at the same time. Thank you for posting this.
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Thank you. There are so many stories, I wish we could chronicle them all.
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Great story. I read the book written by the skipper of the USS Laffey and visitedcPatriot Point. Amazing!
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I was lucky to find this story after you reminded me about her, and I only had a small passage in a previous post. Thanks.
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A snapshot of history which you personalised with some wonderful photographs – thank you. Young Bill Kelly was a good looking lad. It is so easy to forget that they were once so young…….
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Isn’t that true. We pass by these people in the grocery store and don’t think twice, but each one has a story.
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Wonderful account.
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Thank you. Eye witness memories give us some real perspective.
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What a great story, and a much deserved tribute to Bill, and his shipmates.
I am sure that his humility and endurance will be an inspiration to many.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I hope so, Pete!! I think kids today could use honorable role models.
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The Burgess cameo is such a poignant detail
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Isn’t it though! Thank you for dropping by, Derrick.
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Thanks for spending time in the Archives!
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