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Show Volume XXV Issue VII The Ogden Valley news Page 7 June 1, 2018 Return to Pearl Harbor 75 Years Later: A WWII Veteran’s Story - Part Two Note: This is part two of a two part series. By Rick Golde Hal’s father Fred was a huge supporter of “Mack” and was very proud that his oldest son was serving with the famous 5 star General. Fred would pass away while Hal was still serving in the South Pacific and would not get to see his son in the background of the famous “I Have Returned” photo. When MacArthur stood on the deck of the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945 and accepted the surrender of Japan, it made a lasting impression on Hal, still in the Army but finally heading home. Hal would return to New York and marry Harold Golde his high school sweetheart Mary Patricia Zarth, who he had promised to wed if he survived the war. Two daughters and twin sons later, Hal moved his family to California and began the rest of his life as husband and father. Years later, Hal and Mary retired to the mountains near Lake Tahoe and later settled in Ogden, Utah near his son Rick, who had settled here decades earlier. In January, 2013, Mary passed away and shortly after, Hal found out about the new Treeo retirement community being built in South Ogden and was one of the first residents to move in. Treeo has a very active events program, keeping the residents busy and engaged. The chance to take a cruise back to the Hawaiian Islands came up and Hal jumped at the chance to go back to where he had been during the war. He also wanted to pay his respects too his comrades who had perished at Pearl Harbor, especially those entombed in the sunken USS Arizona. Hal had been invited by Utah Honor Flight (https://www.utahhonorflight.org/) a few years earlier to visit the WW II Memorial in Washington, DC and accompanied by oldest son Rick (who won the coin toss to be his “guardian” during the visit). Hal had been presented with a special baseball cap prominently emblazoned with “World War II Veteran” on that trip. It is a cap he has worn proudly since and it figured significantly in his return to Hawaii 75 years later. No coin toss needed this time as Hal’s youngest son (Rick’s identical twin Paul) made claim to accompany Hal on his own “I shall return” to Hawaii, as it was on Hal’s short Bucket List for a long time. After a short flight to Los Angeles, boarding the Pride of America and settling in for a sevenday luxury cruise was kind of surreal for Hal. He had made this voyage 75 years earlier under much more humble conditions in a hot, humid, and crowded transport ship. After a week of island hopping, Hal found himself on the deck of the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. Hal is almost 95 years old and nearly blind from macular degeneration but that doesn’t stop him from living independently at Treeo. He can still stand and walk just fine, albeit sometimes with a cane for assurance and for short distances (after all, he did smoke cigarettes for 60 years, starting with the Chesterfields he found supplied in his K rations). But the walk from the USS Missouri to the boat launch dock that would take Hal and the other visitors in their group to the USS Arizona Memorial was several football fields away—a little too much for a 95-year-old. No wheelchairs were made available by the US Park Service. And to top it off, it began raining . . . HARD! So after all this time, and all the planning and travelling and anticipation, Hal missed his opportunity to say “goodbye” to his fellow servicemen. Did I mention this was on Memorial Day? (Note: A letter was written to the National Park Service and the Pearl Harbor Memorial management complaining on how poorly equipped the park is to accommodate veterans. Especially those from WWII. An apology and commitment to resolve the wheelchair issue was received. If Hal lives long enough, he will make another attempt to visit the USS Arizona Memorial . . . and this time actually make it). Travelling with my father is always interesting in that the reactions from people range from absolute indifference to weeping pleas to just hug him. It is this observation that stayed with me the most as I stood next to this man who was Corporal Harold W. Golde in 1942 at the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. When Baby Boomers saw Dad with one of his hats on, they would almost reverently approach and quietly say “thank you for your service,” then take their leave. Sometimes Dad might not hear them (damn hearing aid batteries!) but if he did, he would mostly reply, “We did what we had to do . . . and I would do it again if I had to!” Some would ask what branch of service and when Dad answered, that often started a heartwarming chat about their father or uncle or husband. And if it was a fellow veteran that stood before us, Dad and I would respond, “and thank you for your service.” Teens and millennials rarely acknowledge Dad, being so self-absorbed with faces buried in their all-important electronic devices. It is definitely a generation gap but then again we have seen school children treat Dad like he was Justin Bieber while visiting the WW II Memorial. They obviously had a really great teacher who prepared them to properly visit this important place with reverence and respect. They crowded around Dad to pose for photos and, yes, they thanked him for his service! The last living U.S. World War I veteran was Frank Buckles who died in 2011 at age 110. Approximately 558,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive today, but they are dying at a rate of about 550 per day. That number goes up every year. It is estimated that by 2036, there will be no living veterans of World War II left to recount their experiences. The important historical experiences of our WW II veterans is being preserved by an excellent Library of Congress effort called Veterans History Project (https://www.loc.gov/vets/), of which Hal was a participant while visiting the Palms Springs Air Museum in 2016 for his 93rd birthday. Hal was honored again recently by being asked to be a part of the Utah’s’ Role in World War II exhibit presented by Weber State University. The exhibit entitled ““All Out for Uncle Sam: WWII in Northern Utah,” will run through June 2 in the Myra Powell Gallery at the Union Station. Don’t miss it! Heroes Rise Again Foundation Heroes Rise Again is a new foundation that takes in Veteran’s Funeral Flags from families that need a place to preserve them to Never Be Forgotten. This Foundation was created by Chris and Michelle Sauers. Chris and Michelle have been working with Roger Graves and the Missing in America Project (MIAP). The Missing in America Project purpose is to locate, identify, and inter the unclaimed remains of American Veterans. For more information on the Missing in America Project, please visit <www.MIAP.us> Unclaimed remains are put into custody of MIAP. Then Roger provides full Military Honors. If families cannot be located, the MIAP Foundation presents Funeral Flags to Heroes Rise Again Foundation. They then find a permanent home for them so they can be proudly displayed in participating American Legions and VFW posts to be honored and respected forever. The 1st wall has been started at American Legion Post 129 in Huntsville, Utah. Please stop in and pay your respect to our heroes. A list of Veteran’s who have had flags presented to Heroes Rise again will be listed on their website. If anyone knows a family that would like to take possession of a flag, or needs a home for a funeral flag, please contact Chris and Michele through the website or Facebook page, <www.herosriseagain.com> American Legion Post 129 in Huntsville Announces New Mess Hall Hey Valley Peeps! Have you tried our new “mess hall” at the American Legion Post 129 in Huntsville? We now have a great menu with appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Our kitchen is open every day. While some things change—like an expanded Legion meal menu—the Legion’s Taco Wednesday hasn’t; we’re still serving up tacos each Wednesday! What’s new? We’ve started serving Sunday brunch. The Legion is still working out permanent summer hours; however, as of now, the kitchen opens at 5:00 p m. on weekdays, and at noon on Sundays. Summer hours will be announced soon, so stay tuned! Questions? Stop in or call American Legion Post 129 at 801-745-3802. MEMORIAL cont. from page 1 Ogden Ranger District Campgrounds All campgrounds are open with fees, except Monte Cristo and Jefferson Hunt. All boat ramps and picnic areas around Pineview Reservoir are open with fees. State Highway 39 is also open. Access to the undeveloped areas beyond the Monte Cristo gate will be limited due to snow in higher elevations. Lower elevation roads and trails are open. Please tread lightly and avoid traveling on roads and trails when muddy. For more information, contact the Ogden Ranger District at 801-625-5112. Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM’s) that display the roads and trails currently open to motorized vehicles at <www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf> When hiking, always carry extra water, food, and outer wear. Let someone know where you are hiking, approximately what time you will return, and avoid hiking alone. Be prepared for a change in weather conditions. Also, make sure campfires are completely extinguished. Most importantly, enjoy your national forests this summer! |
