Wood carvers give WWII veteran some support - great article of human interest!
This article made me greatful for good people in this world today! So I thought I'd share it with you.:
Retired Lt. Col. Rod French flew 35 missions during World War II, including one when 60 of 75 squadrons did not survive.
But when the 96-year-old recently fell outside his home at the Colonnade Senior Living Center in O’Fallon and bruised the temple around his left eye, the decorated veteran started relying more on a cane. When a local wood carvers club caught wind of French’s fall, they decided to spring into action.
Jim Ross, president of the Belleville Wood Carvers Club, also known as the Belleville Area Holzschnitzers, enlisted their service.
“He said he was looking for a cane,” Ross said. “I said, ‘I can do that.’”
On Saturday at Public Square in downtown Belleville, Ross presented French with a basswood cane topped with a carved eagle head handle from sassafras.
“It’s beautiful,” French said, after Ross handed him his new walking stick.
The cane has French’s initials carved in calligraphy near the top with “WW II” etched down the side. Ross also painted a B-17 plane on the side along with reproductions of three medals French earned for his service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
“I am delighted to do this for this gentleman,” Ross said.
Ross recently visited French at French’s home. French talked about his missions and showed Ross the various medals he has earned for valor.
“I flew the B-17,” French said. “I had a few harrowing experiences. Some of them weren’t that bad, and some were worse.”
French was born in Saugatuck, Mich. He joined the military at 18 and flew his mission on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Of the 10 men from his air crew, he was only who was married and didn’t smoke.
“And I’m the only one still living,” he said.
He and his family settled in the metro-east after serving three different times at Scott Field, now known as Scott Air Force Base in 1947, again in 1952 and for a third time in 1966. He served for 27 years. He and his wife have remained in the metro-east, where they raised their family. They have been married for 71 years.
His new cane took about six weeks to make. And it turned out to be a perfect fit.
“That’s a piece of luck,” Ross said, “because I cut it off only a couple days ago. I thought he was about my height, but I knew he was just a little taller. It worked out great.”
“It’s beautiful,” French said. “Thank you.”
Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 618-239-2526.
Read more here: ‘It’s beautiful’: Wood carvers give WWII veteran some support | Metro-east news | News Democrat
