I already wrote a letter for this week, but given that today is the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, I feel it’s important to say a few words about Tom Rice, one of the paratroopers who landed behind enemy lines on this day in 1944. There are over 200 veterans gathered there today to commemorate the date, with an average age of 100. I bet he knew most of them from prior gatherings. Tom isn’t with them this year; he would have been 103 today.
I met him inadvertantly in Coronado a few years back, when he was 99. I was just riding a borrowed bike, looking at all the bunting and flags which adorn the town, home of a naval base and one of two locations where ambitious personnel attempt to become Navy Seals. I had no idea there was a person named Tom Rice at the time. But cruising by, I saw his home and thought it was interesting, because it had a 2-story flagpole flying the Stars & Stripes, and it also had the word PEACE displayed in a picture window. That’s an unusual combination in our country, and I turned around and hopped off the bike. I saw a woman trimming a tree, and asked if she would like me to take her photograph.
She declined, and instead had me wait while she brought Tom out from inside the house. She was sure he’d like to speak with me.
He came out, chatted with me for a while, allowed me to make a photograph, and then gave me some apples from the tree behind him. He was deservedly proud of his delicious apples. He also invited me to see him jump out of a plane again for his 100th birthday, scheduled for the following year. Unfortunately I was unable to make the trip, but he made the jump as scheduled, the last time he parachuted out of a plane. Truly amazing.
You can read his story in a number of places, here is one. A kind and gentle man, he had no interest in fighting or conflict throughout most of his life, but faced with fascism and the war, he went all in.
We face fascism today in our country, and others face it around the globe. It’s up to us to prevent atrocities today, in memory of those who fought to defeat it yesterday.
In memory Tom, of my father (who also served in WWII), and everyone else who lived through it, or did not. May your sacrifices and contributions be remembered endlessly.
Until next time,
Limited Edition Prints for Sale
Another channel of my photography. Oof. But as promised, I’ve got this new set of Limited Edition prints available for purchase. Any unsold African wildlife images from last fall, as promised, have been retired from circulation.
Each edition consists of ten Numbered Prints and two Artists Prints, 16x24” silver halide, with certificate of authentication. As before, these are limited both by number and duration of the offer. If you’d like one or more for that special person, don’t hesitate. You wouldn't want to become he who is lost!
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Super good post, Donn.
The heroes from those apocalyptic times will all be gone.
Thanks for this.
This was terrific. Those guys that served our country in WWII were really special. True Heroes. It’s sad that not many of them are still with us. Thanks Donn.