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January 25, 2013 edition of the Whidbey Crosswind
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Behind the bars of Hỏa Lò
Serving WHiDBeY iSLAnD’S veTerAnS, reTireD miLiTArY perSonneL AnD fAmiLieS
CrosswindWhidbey
Former POWs to share memories of the Hanoi Hilton z pg. 8
The puget Sound veterans’ monthly | february, 2013
CHECKING | INVESTMENTS | LOANS | INSURANCE
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over three generations ago. And our members are still living it today,
many in branches near you. Don’t you belong here?
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VETERAN PROFILE
MEET MIKE
WELDING
By Kathy Reed
Mike Welding may be new to the
Pacific Northwest, but he is no stranger to the tasks awaiting him as the new Public affairs Officer at Naval air Station Whidbey Island.
Welding took over the post in January, filling a position left vacant by longtime base spokes-person, Kimberly Martin, who retired Nov. 30. Martin’s suc-cessor is a 26-year veteran of the Navy, retiring in 2004 as a Senior Chief.
Raised in West Point Iowa, Welding had three younger brothers. The Navy fit with his desire to explore more than the Midwest.
“I wanted to see the world,” he said during a conversation over a cup of plain, black coffee. “I guess I was searching for something and bought into the slogan ‘Join
the Navy and see the world.’”
Starting as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler), Welding began to look for other challenges.
“I wanted to stay in the Navy but I was looking for something else to do,” he said. “I liked to write, so I cross-rated (changed jobs) to journalist.”
Welding’s first assignment as a journalist was aboard the USS Midway (CV-41). From there he worked as the broadcast operations supervisor and news director a the Far East Network at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. He served in Hawaii with U.S. Pacific Command, then went back to Japan to serve as the PAO aboard the USS Belleau Wood/USS Essex. He also served as the offi-cer in charge, FSD Yokosuaka, Japan.
Following his retirement, Welding took a break from pub-lic affairs by working as the Naval Science instructor for the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Seaford High School in Seaford, Del.
“Working with the kids was rewarding,” he said. “The impact you can make on kids is tremen-dous.”
Armed with his easy-going, friendly style, he found his way back into public affairs when he took a job at U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Md. From there, Welding moved to a position as PAO for Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division, in Indian Head, Md. While there, he worked mostly with scien-tists and researchers, which is one reason the position at NAS Whidbey appealed to him.
“I’m looking forward to work-ing with the active duty commu-nity,” he said. The transition for Welding has overall been an easy one, he said, with the possible exception of the cross-country move.
Married since 1985, Welding and his wife, Kiyomi, have three children — two sons and one daughter. Their eldest son is in the Air Force, their daughter is in the Coast Guard and their youngest son has transferred to Skagit Valley College in Oak Harbor. He, too, has plans for a military career after school.
Welding said he is looking for-ward to enhancing communica-tion with the local community
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Liberating MeMoriesWhidbey Island Army veteran Leo Hymas was just 19 when he and his unit liberated Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany during World War II. Discover his compelling story.8
behind the prison barsOn the 40th anniversary of the liberation of American POWs from the “Hanoi Hilton” in North Vietnam, several former POWs will gather to share their experiences. 9Change, though not always easy, is
inevitable. For those who
don’t know, this is the last issue of the Whidbey Crosswind with me at the helm, and it is bittersweet. I have loved my time at the Crosswind. I loved what we were able to achieve as a weekly newspaper when we first began publishing on April 1, 2011. I was sad to let the weekly publication go, but I bore the change to a monthly magazine with a stiff upper lip and have been rewarded with an abundance of professional joy.
I knew next to nothing about the Navy when I took the job. I still know next to noth-ing, but at least I can tell a Prowler from a Growler when they fly over my house or I see them streaking across the sky.
It has been a joy to experience the military pomp and circumstance that goes with changes of command and it has been a thrill to be able to share the homecoming experience with Navy families. It has been an honor to meet some of the men and women who serve our country and share their stories.
I have also had the opportunity to get to know some of Whidbey Island’s veterans and
retirees. What a pleasure it has been over the past year to learn more about these organiza-tions and get to know their heart for service to other veterans and to their communities. I have been able to cover stories all over Whidbey Island and have had the honor to talk to so many wonderful, kind-hearted people and to give our veterans a voice.
There have been countless challenges along the way as I’ve watched the Crosswind evolve. As a monthly publication, the Crosswind was nearly invisible to some of my superiors, but still we published 7,000 issues a month and watched them fly off the racks. Many of you are familiar with my struggle to maintain a quality publication in just 10 hours a week. I thank those of you who have put in a good word on my behalf.
But alas, it is a season of change. It’s really hard to say goodbye.
So, I won’t. My new position as Executive Director of the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce may take me on a different course, but I’ll still be around. I consider it my chance to take a page from the books of the many wonderful people here on Whidbey Island and begin to write my own story of service to my community.
Cheers!
To everything, there is a season
CeLebrate the season of LoveMarriage can be difficult, especially for those in a military marriage. Get inspired by two couples who found the secret to marital happiness, even in the military.6
Whidbey CrossWind staff
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360-675-6611 | fax 360-679-2695 | www.whidbeycrosswind.comThe Whidbey Crosswind is published monthly by Sound Publishing on the last Friday
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Copyright © 2013, Sound PublishingvoL. 2, no. 10
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About the cover: An iron door with bars visible at the top is one of the few parts of Hoa Lo Prison still remaining. Known by American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton,” very little of the actual prison remains and what is left has been turned into a museum.
NW Navigator to cease publicatioN
Navy Region Northwest is pulling the plug on the “Northwest Navigator.”
The paper will print its final weekly edition March 29, according to a press release. After that, there will no longer be an official or authorized Navy print news-paper for Commander, Navy Region Northwest or its installations, which include Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Naval Station Everett, Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Magazine Indian Island.
The decision to stop pub-lication was made as a Navy-wide cost-savings measure.
“This was a tough head-quarters decision in a belt-tightening world,” said Sean Hughes, public affairs officer at Navy Region Northwest. “This is the end of an era, but
we still have Navy informa-tion to share and stories to tell. … We will continue to explore new ways to commu-nicate in this fast-changing media landscape.”
Official Northwest Navy news and information will still be available in many for-mats, including Navy social media pages (Facebook and Twitter), websites and in internal command employee newsletters.
Contact Navy Region Northwest Public Affairs Office at 360-396-1644 for information.
ruN With your sWeetheart
There will be a Sweetheart Run at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
The 5K run/walk and 10K run will begin at the NASWI gym and run along the Seaview Trail on base.
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WELDINGFROM PAGE 2
The Buzz
The event is open to all ages and there will be singles and couples divisions. It is free to participate and T-shirts will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those interested are encouraged to register by Feb. 4, but registration can be com-pleted at the front desk of the NASWI gym up until 10:45 a.m. on the day of the run. Race-day check in begins at 10 a.m.
Register online via MyFFR# on navylifepnw.com or call 360-257-2433.
Dav meets at NeW locatioN
Disabled American Veterans Chapter 47 has changed the location of its monthly meeting.
The group’s regular meet-ing will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge, located behind Flyers restaurant on Highway 20 in Oak Harbor.
Meetings are open to all veterans. Call the DAV office at 360-257-4801 for informa-tion.
pbymF meetiNgs set
The PBY Memorial Foundation board meet-
ing will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Flyers res-taurant in Oak Harbor. This is a change from its regular time.
The group’s regular no host luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 at the CPO Club on Ault Field Road in Oak Harbor. The guest speaker will be Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley, who will discuss the coopera-tion between the city and the Navy in matters of security and safety.
This is an open luncheon — anyone interested may attend.
The PBYMF Naval Heritage Center is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 360-240-9500 for information.
class’s missioN is NutritioN
A two-day class, Mission Nutrition, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 26-27 at the Naval Operational Support Center on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
The free class is open to all active duty, retirees, DoD civilians and active duty/retiree family members age 13 and older. Learn how to shop wisely, build meals and under-
stand external factors that affect eating habits as well as information on fad diets, sports nutrition and supple-ments.
Attendance both days is required. Open to the first 25 people to sign up. Registration deadline is Feb. 22. Call 360-257-6936 or register online via myFFR #610021 on navylifepnw.com.
get your ham raDio liceNse
Anyone who’s ever thought of becoming a ham radio operator has a chance to make it happen.
The Island County Amateur Radio Club is offer-ing a two-day class on the federal rules and information necessary to pass the entry level Federal Communications Commission license exam. The class will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on two con-secutive Saturday, Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, at the Island County Commissioner’s hearing room, 1 NE Sixth St., Coupeville.
The course instructor will provide training on how to be a successful hame radio operator and how to operate a shortwave radio transmitter safely and legally. The course prepares students to take the federal radio exam, which is offered regularly.
“There is no requirement to learn Morse code any longer, so becoming licensed is easier now for young or old,” said instructor Ken Sousa.
Cost of the course is $30, which includes class materials and a license manual.
Ham radio operators throughout the U.S. commu-nicate with other operators around the world and assist with emergency responses to local, national, natural and man-made disasters.
Registration is required. Call Sousa at 360-675-4867 or email him at [email protected].
vFW serves breakFast
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7392 in Oak Harbor will be holding two breakfast fundraisers this month.
The Men’s Auxiliary will serve breakfast from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 10. Dine on French toast, eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage and toast for $6.50 a plate. Proceeds benefit programs of the Men’s Auxiliary.
The Post will cook breakfast from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 24, serving pancakes, eggs, hash browns, breakfast meats and biscuits and gravy. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors over 62 and children under 12. A chicken-fried steak breakfast is available for $9. All are welcome.
The Post is located at 3037 N. Goldie Road. Call 360-675-4048 or go to vfw post7392.org for informa-tion.
Tickets $20 in advance / $25 day of event
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Ticket includes a souvenir glass,wine tastes & chocolate treats.
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Red Wine & Chocolate TourWhidbey Island Vintners Association presents
In this column we often celebrate the joys of “com-ing home”.
One of the saddest experi-ences a person can have in life involves “leaving home,” especially those times when a person has to leave a home they have come to enjoy and are not interested in leaving.
Last fall this happened to a veteran in our community. To add to the challenge of this move, it was a cloudy day on the verge of raining and the veteran was unable to lift the furniture or help with carrying the boxes because of debilitating chronic pain that was limiting his mobility.
Despite not having control over this exodus, this veteran was extremely positive. He greeted each of us, learning our names. He shook our hands, extending the hand that was working, his left hand, in a welcoming gesture.
He smiled all of the way through the move asking each of us to note a particular task or special personal collector’s item from an era in his life. He was at the center of the move, reluctantly ensconced in his
“Archie Bunker”-type chair. He thanked us profusely for our help in his relocation.
The moving crew on this particular day consisted of six veterans, the wife of a deceased veteran and three friends of one veteran who attend the same church. (We maintain that with 10 of us we have one good body, but in actual-ity we are a smooth-running machine once the coffee and bagels kick in.) We had four pick up trucks and four cars for the mission.
After we loaded up the trucks, vacuumed up the house, and tied down the loads, we left the pick-up zone for the last time in a trail for-mation (one car behind the other). The landing zone was about five clicks (kilometers) away.
The new rental house was, in short, amazing. The LZ was a very nice neighborhood with families and neat, well-maintained houses. The house was all on one level (perfect for someone with limited mobility), nice landscaping, large recreation room, bright kitchen, bathroom, and bed-
rooms for father and daugh-ter. The big chair went near the window in the front room and across from the TV and stereo.
We had completed anoth-er mission in less than two hours. There were no WIAs (wounded in action) because we were careful and there were lots of good feelings for helping one of our own. At this point, we all realize that one day it could be us that could use a little help . . . and here on Whidbey Island that’s what we do . . . we help each other.
The VRC is a nongovernmen-tal, charitable, tax-deductible Veteran Service Organization made up of volunteers. We are supported by donations.
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Coming homeBy Dr. Fred mcCarthy
Residents of Western Washington have the opportunity to hear the United States Navy Band, Washington, D.C. perform a free concert in Puyallup.
The event will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Rogers High School, 12801 86th Ave. E., Puyallup.
Under the baton of Capt. Brian Walden, the band will present a variety of popular and clas-sical favorites. This special performance by the Navy’s premier musical organization is part of the Navy Band’s national tour, and will be the closest performance to Whidbey Island. The band performs frequently at the White House and the U.S. Capitol building and has partici-pated in 21 presidential inaugurals.
The concert is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Navy Band Tickets, c/o Patriots Landing, 1600 Marshall Circle, DuPont, WA, 98327. You may also call 253-964-4900 or email [email protected]. All unclaimed seats will be available to non-ticket holders just prior to concert time.
US Navy Band to play in Puyallup
An amendment aimed at curbing the rise of military suicide has been signed into law by President Obama.
The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is part of the National Defense Authorization Act and requires the Pentagon to implement a standardized and comprehensive suicide prevention program.
“This law is another step forward in our efforts to ensure that servicemembers aren’t slipping through the cracks,” said Murray. “It will help to not only standardize suicide prevention efforts, but also contains provi-sions to reduce wait times, ensure proper diagnoses and achieve true coordination of care and information between the Pentagon and the VA.”
Murray drafted the amendment after a
major study by the RAND Corporation showed there are serious gaps and a lack of consistency in military services’ suicide prevention programs. The number of active duty suicides has continued to rise, with the Pentagon reporting 154 suicides in the first 155 days of 2012.
“We cannot afford to be passive about the military suicide epidemic we face,” Murray said.
The amendment will expand eligibility for VA mental health services to family mem-bers; strengthen oversight of the DoD Mental Health Care and Integrated Disabillity Evaluation system; improve training and edu-cation for health care providers; create more peer-to-peer counseling opportunities; and require VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental health services.
Suicide prevention program signed into law
Celebrate the season of loveLongtime military spouses
share stories and secrets
Ah, l’amour. This time of year we are awash in the Cupids,
the bouquets of roses and the heart-shaped boxes of chocolates that have become synony-mous with Valentine’s Day.
What the young know is that love is exciting, new and invincible. What the older, and wiser, know is that love, especially when it comes to marriage and relationships, can be compli-cated. Add the military into the mix and it’s more complicated still.Challenges await
There are all kinds of statistics available that cite divorce rates among those in the military. In general, the rate has risen over the course of
the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. For instance, in the Air Force, the divorce rate among airmen is 64 percent higher than it was in 2001 — the highest in the military.
In general, the divorce rate is higher among women in the military, at 7.8 percent compared to 3 percent for military men.
When a member of the military is going through the emotional upheaval and stress of a divorce, it can affect their performance on the job, making it more difficult to focus, which in turn can affect the people they work with. To combat this, the military has fought back, add-ing marriage education classes and other things to support healthy relationships.
In the article “Military Marriages Can - And Do - Work,” author Julia Pfaff writes, “Successful marriages don’t just happen — they require constant commitment. Military mar-
By KATHY REED
riages include difficult challenges and unusual pressures, but happiness and fulfillment cer-tainly are possible.”
inspiration
We found two examples of marriage success right in Oak Harbor.
Jean Hayden and her husband, Dick, have been married 68 years — 69 in August. It was a romance most people only see in the movies.
“It was during World War II,” Hayden described. “My friend and I lived in Seattle and we decided to move to San Diego to work. The first week I was there I met my husband.
“We went to one of the USO dances,” she continued. “My husband walked across the crowded dance floor and asked me to dance, which wasn’t the proper way. But he was tall, dark and handsome.”
The couple dated a year before they tied the knot in 1944. Jean was 20, Dick was 21. They had three children — two sons and a daughter. Dick, who retired as a Master Chief, served 28 years in the Navy. They settled on Whidbey Island and Jean actually worked on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island before her husband retired. Today, the couple live across the street from one another, Dick in a care facility in Oak Harbor, Jean in an assisted living facility while she recuperates from a fall. They still see each other every day and for them, the initial attrac-tion they felt at that dance has never waned.
“From the day I saw him and met him, there was no other man that ever attracted me,”
Hayden said. That’s not to say their 68 years together were
easy. “One time he was gone a year. It got to where
I couldn’t remember what he looked like,” Hayden said. “If we’d had what they have now, it would have been fantastic. Back then, when you were out on the South Pacific, you didn’t get mail very often.”
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
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Courtesy photosAbove: According to Jean Hayden, the secret to a suc-cessful marriage is forgiveness and tolerance. The couple is shown on their 50th anniversary. Opposite page: Jean Hayden says she saw her husband, Dick, across a crowded USO dance floor and the rest is history. The couple married in 1944.
The toughest part of mili-tary life for Hayden, she said, were the homecomings.
“The coming home and the readjustment was always more difficult,” she said. “He is a meat and potatoes guy; I was a little more relaxed.”
True love
Trudy Sundberg and her husband, the late Capt. John Sundberg, have a similar love story. They met while Trudy was attending college at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The couple dated for a bit, but Trudy said she was very serious about her studies and actually introduced John to a friend of hers.
“Can you imagine that?” laughed Sundberg.
The two lost track of one another, until they met again four years later.
“Suddenly everything just clicked,” she said. The couple was planning a June wedding when John called Trudy one day in April and asked her if she’d like to get married that week instead.
She threw a simple ceremo-ny together, at which she wore a green dress set the stage for a 56-year romance, despite the fact they had different hob-bies.
“He loved to fish and play golf, I didn’t,” Sundberg said. “I like to swim, he didn’t.”
They went on to have four children, two boys and two girls. John had a long and successful Navy career, while Trudy enjoyed an equally suc-cessful career in education.
“Next to my husband and my family, teaching became my next love,” she said.
Both women have theories as to what made their mar-riages last.
“I think it’s different for everybody and I think it has to do with metaphysical attraction,” Sundberg said. “I don’t mean sexually, I mean appreciating and respecting your partner and admiring his character. When you have that, everything will work out.”
“I decided life would be better with him than without him, “ chuckled Hayden. You have to be tolerant, forgiving. Nobody’s perfect.”
Courtesy photoJohn and Trudy Sundberg in April, 1948, a week after they were married. Trudy said appreciation of her husband’s strong character helped them forge a happy, 56-year union.
LOVEFROM PREVIOUS PAGE
LIBERATING MEMORIES
His story would make an
incredible movie.
Listening to World War II Army veteran Leo D. Hymas share the details of his mili-tary experience is riveting. The 87-year-old spoke Jan. 22 to members of the PBY Memorial Foundation and their guests. The room was enthralled.
Soft-spoken but steady, Hymas told his story, infus-ing a good bit of humor in the telling. He spoke of being taken from a small Utah dairy farm where caring for cows consumed all his free time, to surviving battlefields in Europe. He spoke of his trans-formation from a boy into a soldier, of enduring conditions no one in the military today can imagine. As a teenager, he said, he was aware there was a war going on, but not much more than that.
“I knew there was a mean old man with an ugly mous-tache who was invading near-by countries,” said Hymas.
Just 15 years old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, he watched young men he knew head off to war.
“They went away and came back on leave with the most beautiful uniforms, especially the Marines, with those red stripes down the sides,” he smiled. “And they got dates with all the pretty girls.”
At 18, he was drafted into the Army. It was a rude awak-
ening for a young man who had hoped for a pretty uni-form and a date with a pretty girl.
“We got ugly fatigues and a drill sergeant who was the meanest man I ever met,” he said. “I was homesick. I even missed those old cows.”
Hymas and the rest of his unit, who were preparing to go to the South Pacific, were told to change into winter uniforms and hop on a train. They wound up at Camp Kilmore, N.J. From there, they sailed on the USS Brazil, bound for La Havre, France. They pressed on toward Germany and were among the first American Forces to cross the German border. The ensu-ing battle was frightening.
“I was never so scared in my life,” Hymas said. “The Germans were using anti-air-craft shells on people. I lost my dear friend Jimmy DeMarco in the first 30 minutes.”
The Americans fought their way across Germany from house to house, village to vil-lage. Hymas’ commander was preparing an attack when they saw an enclosure surrounded by barbed wire. Hymas was one of the men ordered to check it out.
“When we got to the fence it was at least 14 feet high, with barbed wire at the top and electric wire with insula-tors too, so we knew not to touch it,” he said. “There were these ugly little white build-ings that looked like barns and a lookout tower, but it appeared to be empty.”
In the direction opposite of the tower, Hymas said there
was a large brick structure with a smoke stack.
“And the smell,” he said. “I cannot begin to describe the smell, except that it was human flesh.”
The Americans blew a hole in the fence and entered the compound. They were about to liberate Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He described telling the prison-ers to come out, telling them they were free, but they didn’t understand. Finally, the real-ization that the Americans
had come to rescue them began to sink in. But the con-ditions at the camp and the condition of the prisoners is something that still brings tears to Hymas’ eyes, even after nearly 70 years.
“There were stacks of naked, rotting bodies stacked like cordwood,” he said, chok-ing back tears. “So many were so far gone already we couldn’t save them.”
A f ter l iberating Buchenwald, Hymas’ Army unit moved on to Czechoslovakia. In Prague, Hymas said he caught some-thing out of the corner of his eye. He and his partner
tracked a German soldier to a nearby building and the two of them ambushed him.
“What we found was a building filled with German SS men, officers, soldiers, all in the process of changing into civilian clothing,” he said.
“We caught ‘em in the very act. One officer told me in perfect English ‘American uniforms are not very pret-ty.’ I took his arm band and stripped off his medals to show you,” he said, holding them up for the audience to see.
Hymas and his partner cap-tured 91 prisoners that day.
He was awarded the Bronze Star.
In all, Hymas served just two years. He received an honorable discharge, went home in a pretty uniform and got a date with a pretty girl to whom he’s been married for 65 years. He now lives on Whidbey Island and said those images of war, particu-larly of Buchenwald, are for-ever etched in his mind. But he wouldn’t trade his experi-ences, either, and shares them regularly with students and adults alike.
“What I did was the hard-est thing I ever did, but also the best,” he said.
By KatHy Reed
to learn more about Leo d. Hymas and the Holocaust
go to the Washington State Holocaust education Center
at www.wsherc.org.
Kathy Reed photoWorld War II Army veteran Leo Hymas addresses members of the PBY Memorial Foundation. In his hand is a knife given to young Nazi recruits, insribed with the words “Blood and honor.” “There is no honor connected to this,” Hymas told the group. Behind him hangs a Nazi banner he took as a souve-nir. Hymas was instrumental in liberating the Buchenwald Concentration Camp near the end of the war.
Leo Hymas in 1944
Courtesy photoHymas and squad members from the liberation of Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Hymas is in the back row, right.
“there were stacks of naked, rotting bodies stacked like cordwood. So many were so far gone already we couldn’t save them.”Leo Hymas, on the liberation of Buchenwald Concentration Camp
JOIN US INJJOIN US INJOIN US INJ
250 SW 3rd Avenue • Oak Harbor(Behind K-Mart)
Sunday Morning Services • 9:00am Traditional Worship • 10:00am Sunday School (All Ages) • 10:30am Contemporary Worship
Children and Worship675-4837
www.frcoh.org [email protected]
House of Prayer Faith Tabernacle of Praise
Monday Prayer Meeting - 6:00 P.M.Tuesday Night Bible Study- 6:30 P.M.Friday High Praise Service- 6:30 P.M.
Sunday Celebration/Children’s Ministry – 9:30 A.M.Sunday Morning Worship Service – 11:00 A.M.
Church Telephone Number (360)679-1003Bishop Charles And Pastor Effie Boyles (360)929-3127
620 A/B Erin Park DriveOak Harbor, WA 98277
(NEXT TO U-HAUL BLDG.)
490 NW Crosby Ave., Oak Harbor 675-5008
Sunday Services9:00, 10:30 & 11:45 am
Living Word Kids: 3 mos–5th grade all servicesMiddle School Youth: Sundays 4:00 PMHigh School Youth: Sundays 6:00 PM
Weekly Adult Groups
Russ Schlecht ~ Senior Pastorwww.elivingword.org
CALVARY APOSTOLIC TABERNACLE(The Pentecostals of Island County)
3143 Goldie Rd Unit B • Oak Harbor(behind Precision Tire)
SOULS HARBORA SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME
Sunday Morning...............10amSunday Evening ............ 6:30pmWednesday ..........................7pm
632-7243Pastor Greg Adkins
Word OfEverlastingLife & FaithChurch
721 S.E. Barrington • Oak Harbor360-632-3642Sunday
Bible Study 9:00amWorship Service 10:00amEvening Service 6:00pm
Come Worship With Us!Thursday Bible Study 7:00p.m.950 S.W. Upland Ct • Oak HarborPastor Dr. Thomas Stoneham Sr.,
Minister Donald Cole
679-1288
Whidbey IslandChurch of Christ
3143-G North Goldie RdOak Harbor
Sunday Worship ........9:00 a.m.Sunday Bible Study 10:00 a.m.Sunday Evening ........5:00 p.m.Wednesday Evening .6:00 p.m.
For more information call:Gary 675-5569Jerry 679-3986
Come Worship With Us.Promote Your Place Of Worship In
The Whidbey Crosswind for $10.00 per month, andThe Whidbey News-Times For Only $12.50/week.
Please Call 360-675-6611 Today!
Grace By The SeaAn Anglican Expression of Faith
The Rev. Paul OrrittSUNDAY SERVICE
8:00 AM TRADITIONAL
WORSHIP SERVICE9:15 AM
SUNDAY SCHOOL9:30 AM
FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICEwww.gracebythesea.org•
2 CHURCHES - 1 BUILDING555 SE Regatta Dr.
Oak Harbor679-3431
GR
AC
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Y T
HE S
EA
• A
N A
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LIC
AN
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PR
ESS
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OF F
AIT
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A Church, A FamilyA Spiritual Home
ISLA
ND
VIN
EYA
RD
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MM
UN
ITY
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Island Vineyard Community ChurchPastor James Gallagher
9:15 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL
10:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE
www.islandvineyard.org•Sundays at 9 & 11 am
Oak HarborChurch of Christ
1000 NE Koetje Street(Just North of Offi ce Max)
“To Know Christ & Make Him Known”
Sunday Morning:Worship Assembly .......................9:30 amBible Classes for all ages............11:00am
675-3441
Oak HarborLutheran ChurchNW 2nd Avenue & Heller RoadAcross the street from OHHS Staadium
Nursery Available
Sunday Evening Prayer 6:30 PM at St. Mary Catholic Church in Coupeville
Pastor Jeffrey SpencerPastor Marc Stroud, Caring Minstry
679-1561
Sunday Worship ......8:00 & 10:30 amSunday School ......................... 9:15 am
Get your religion updates noted in the Whidbey Crosswind
Vacation Bible School, Seasonal Hours Changing, Daycare Updates, Special
Holiday Presentations.
Only $10.00/monthFor A Single Size Ad.
Please call 360-675-6611
WhidbeyPresbyterian
Church1148 SE 8th Ave
Oak Harbor 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship 9:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship
Dave Templin, PastorBethany Popkes, Youth DirectorKurt Imbach, Adult Facilitatorwww.whidbeypres.org
679-3579Child Care is available and Everyone Welcome
ConcordiaLutheranChurch
Missouri SynodWorship Service ......................Sunday 10:00amAdult Bible Study & Sunday School ...11:15am
Nursery Available
Pastor Noel Koss 360-675-2548
Preschool 360-679-1697590 N. Oak Harbor St • Oak Harborwww.concordialutheranwhidbey.org
Worship Hours:Prayer & Praise: 9:00 am
Blended Worship Service: 10:30 am
Everyone is welcome to join us!Youth Ministries-Choirs-Bible Studies
Dave Johnson ...............................PastorChet Hansen ..................Music MinisterLaura Kvam..Children & Youth Ministry
675-2441 • oakharborfumc.org1050 SE Ireland St • Oak Harbor
First UnitedMethodist Church
The nondescript entrance belies the atrocities committed at H�a Lò Prison in Hanoi, in North Vietnam.
The prison was built by the French, begin-ning in 1886, when Vietnam was part of French Indochina. The name over the door of the gatehouse, “Maison Centrale,” or Central House, is still visible , although the prison itself was demolished in the 1990s.
Built to house Vietnamese prisoners, its original capacity was 460. A renovation project in 1913 expanded the capacity to 600 inmates, but it was frequently grossly overcrowded, its
inmates held in horrendous conditions.
The prison came under the authority of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1954, where it was used as an education center for revolutionary doctine and activity and was kept because of its historical significance to the North Vietnamese. It was used once again to house prisoners during the Vietnam War — this time American prisoners of war.
The “Hanoi Hilton” as the facility was dubbed by American POWs, was used by the North Vietnamese Army to house, torture and interrogate servicemen, mostly American pilots
shot down during bombing raids. Despite the provisions of the Geneva Convention, more than 500 POWs were severely tortured, more to break their will than to acquire military information.
To mark the occasion of the freeing of the prisoners, the Association of Naval Aviation will hold two events on Tuesday, Feb. 12. The first, a luncheon at the Officers’ Club at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, will feature sev-eral former prisoners of war who will discuss the events of Operation Homecoming, which took place Feb. 18, 1973. The second presenta-tion will take place at 2 p.m. at the Skywarrior
Theater on NAS Whidbey and will focus on the Vietnam War and the guest speakers will share some aspect of their experience at H�a Lò Prison.
According to Joe Crecca, a former POW inmate at the “Hanoi Hilton,” and president of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, it’s an event that is commemorated every year, but with special consideration every five years. This year marks the 40th year of freedom for Crecca and many others.
BEYONDTHE PRISON BARS
Former prisoners of war to discuss their time at the “Hanoi Hilton,” and the importance of freedom
By KATHY REED
CONTINUED PAGE 12
COVER STORY
1 0 | W H I D B E Y C R O S S W I N D | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3
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Apartments for Rent Island County
Oak Harbor
1 BEDROOM, 1 Bath Upstairs Apartment with D e ck . L o c a t e d n e a r Penn Cove and West Beach . Ren t $700 a m o n t h a n d D e p o s i t $500. Please call for ap- pointment 360-914-1296
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WA Misc. RentalsGeneral Rentals
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Announcements
ADOPT: Adoring Family, S u c c e s s f u l Fa s h i o n Magazine Editor, LOVE & Laughter awaits 1st baby. Expenses paid. Samira 1-800-352-5741
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FOUND: PRESCRIP- TION Safety Glasses, January 3rd at the NAS Park & Ride in north Oak Harbor. Call to describe and claim, 360-678-5453
EmploymentComputer/Technology
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EmploymentGeneral
ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT - Do you l ike to sel l? Are you t ired of working retai l and on weekends? The Whidbey Island’s com- munity newspapers seek an enthusiastic, creative individual to sell adver- tising to local business- es. Successful candidate must be dependable, de- tai l-or iented and pos- sess exceptional cus- tomer se r v ice sk i l l s . Previous sales experi- ence required; media sales a plus! Reliable in- sured transportation and good driving record re- quired. We offer a base salary plus commission, expense reimbursement, excellent health benefits, paid vacation, sick and hol idays, 401K and a great work environment with opportunity to ad- vance. EOE.
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MOTOR ROUTE CARRIER NEEDED
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EmploymentMedia
REPORTERReporter sought for staff opening with the Penin- sula Daily News, a six- d a y n e w s p a p e r o n Washington’s beautiful North Olympic Peninsula that includes the cities of Por t Angeles, Sequim, Po r t To w n s e n d a n d Forks (yes, the “Twilight” Forks, but no vampires or werewolves). Br ing your experience from a weekly or small daily -- from the first day, you’ll be able to show off the writing and photography skills you’ve already ac- quired while sharpening your talent with the help o f veteran newsroom leaders. This is a gener- al assignment reporting position in our Port An- geles office in which be- ing a self-starter must be demonstrated through professional experience. Port Angeles-based Pe- ninsula Daily News, cir- culation 16,000 daily and 15,000 Sunday (plus a websi te gett ing up to o n e m i l l i o n h i t s a month), publishes separ- ate editions for Clallam and Jefferson counties. Check out the PDN at www.pen insu lada i l y - news.com and the beau- ty and recreational op- p o r t u n i t i e s a t http://www.peninsuladai- l y n e w s . c o m / s e c - tion/pdntabs#vizguide. In-person visit and tryout are required, so Wash- ington/Northwest appli- cants given preference. Send cover letter, re- sume and five best writ- ing and photography c l ips to Leah Leach, managing editor/news, P.O. Box 1330, 305 W. First St., Port Angeles, WA 98362 , o r ema i l leah.leach@peninsula- dailynews.com.
REPORTERThe Whidbey Newspa- pers is seeking an ener- getic, detailed-oriented reporter to write quality s tor ies and features. Newspaper and layout experience using Adobe InDesign preferred. Ap- plicants must be able to work in a team-oriented, deadline-driven environ- ment, possess excellent wr i t ing sk i l ls, have a knowledge of community news and be able to write about multiple top- ics. Must re locate to Whidbey Is land, WA. This is a full-time posi- tion that includes excel- lent benefits: medical, dental, l i fe insurance, 401k, paid vacation, sick a n d h o l i d a y s . E O E P lease send resume with cover letter, 3 or more non- re tu r nable clips in PDF or Text for- mat and references to [email protected]
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Health Care EmploymentGeneral
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Dogs
BICHON FRISE pup- pies. AKC Registered. Tak ing depos i t s . For companion only! Will be vet checked and have first shots and be de- wormed. Call for infor- mation: 360-874-7771, 360-471-8621 or go to w e b s i t e t o s e e o u r adorable puppies!
www.bichonfrisepuppies4sale.com
www.bichonfrisepuppies4sale.com
GREAT DANE
AKC Great Dane Pups Health guarantee! Males / Females. Dreyrsdanes is Oregon state’s largest breeder of Great Danes and licensed since 2002. Super sweet, intelligent, lovable, gentle giants. Now offering Full-Euro’s, Half-Euro’s & Standard Great Danes. $500 & up (every color but Fawn). Also available, Standard Po o d l e s . C a l l To d ay 503-556-4190. www.dreyersdanes.comJ U S T I N T I M E F o r Christmas! Adorable Bi- chon / Minature poodle c r o s s . S u p e r s m a r t c r o s s b r e e d . W i l l b e 10-15 lbs. mature. First shots, worm negative, 1 year genetic health guar- antee. Excel lent wi th children, elderly and for apartment living. Picture doesn’t do them justice! $400. Call 360-697-9091 [email protected] Poulsbo
O N LY 2 L E F T ! A K C Golden Retriever Pup- pies. Champion Stock, Good Hunters, Extreme- l y In te l l i gen t . Sho ts, Wor med, Dew Claws Removed, Vet Checked. Mother’s Hips, Elbows and Heart Certified. Born October 15th, Ready NOW! $600 each. 360- 5 8 8 - 1 3 4 6 , m e r e - d i th . j ones1234@hot - mail.com (Skagit Valley)
Find your perfect pet in the Classifieds.www.nw-ads.com
Dogs
J U S T I N T I M E F o r Christmas! Adorable Bi- chon / Miniature poodle c r o s s . S u p e r s m a r t c r o s s b r e e d . W i l l b e 10-15 lbs. mature. First shots, worm negative, 1 year genetic health guar- antee. Excel lent wi th children, elderly and for apartment living. Picture doesn’t do them justice! $400. Call 360-697-9091 [email protected] Poulsbo
PURE BRED Saint Ber- nard Puppies. 3 Males and 2 Females. Ready January 12th. Will have 1st Shots. Mom On Site. Family Pampered Pup- pies. $450 to $550. Call For More Info: 360-895- 2634 Robyn (Por t Or- chard Area)
SOLD IT? FOUND IT? Let us know by calling 1-800-388-2527 so we can cancel your ad.
Dogs
OUR BEAUTIFUL AKC Golden Retriever pup- pies are ready to go to their new homes. They have been raised around young children and are well socialized. Both par- e n t s h ave ex c e l l e n t health, and the puppies have had their first well- ness vet check-ups and shots. The mother is a Light Golden and the fa- t h e r i s f u l l E n g l i s h Cream Golden. $800 each. For more pictures and information about the pupp ies and our home/ kennel please vis- it us at: www.mountain- s p r i n g s k e n n e l . w e e - bly.com or call Verity at 360-520-9196
Garage/Moving SalesKitsap County
BREMERTONWEST SIDE Improve- ment Club Annual Sale!! Warm, Dry & Inside! Sat- urday, February 2nd, 9am-3:30pm at 4109 “E” Street, off National Ave- nue West. Approximate- ly 50 tables planned. F u r n i t u r e , a n t i q u e s , too ls, f i sh ing tack le, books, clothes plus lots mo re ! Re f reshmen ts Available.
MarinePower
18’ STAR CRAFT 1963, 75hp Evenrude 2 cycle eng ine . Newer Merc k i c k e r . G r e a t f o r crabbing & shrimp. Lo- c a t e d i n F r e e l a n d . $3100. Call: (360)331- 2280 or (509)840-3243
AutomobilesChevrolet
CLASSIC CADILLAC 1991 silver Brougham with leather interior, all p o w e r a n d s u n r o o f . Good tires, original rims and only 66,680 miles. Or ig inal owner main- tained. Spacious cruiser! They don’t make them l ike this anymore! In- cludes records. Wonder- fu l cond i t ion! $4,000 obo. San Juan Is land Interior and exterior pho- tos available via email. 360-378-3186.
AutomobilesLexus
1997 LEXUS ES-300. Fully loaded, leather in- terior, Champaign color. Good shape. 127,000 miles. $4200 or best of- fer. 360-221-5538 Lang- ley area.
AutomobilesNissan
2 0 0 5 N I S S A N 3 5 0 Z Roadster. 1 owner, al- ways garaged. Beautiful car! $17,500. (360)929- 9046
AutomobilesVolkswagen
1974 SUN BEETLE. No rust!! Excellent condi- tion! Low miles!! Service records included. New upholstery and tires. Sun r o o f d o e s n o t l e a k . Sound engine, runs per- fec t ! Fun to dr ive ! 4 speed manual transmis- sion. $5,000. Vashon Is- land. Call 425-422-7752.
Tires & Wheels
4 STUDDED snow tires. 205/65-R15. Mounted on Ford wheels. Used only 20 days, sold car. Paid $850 , w i l l se l l $600 c a s h . C a l l C h a r l i e , (360)679-4873 Oak Har- bor.
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BAYWOODNew Homes in THE BAYWOOD COLLECTION.Make your new home a Landed Gentry home, in this beautiful neighborhood. These well-designed single and two-story homes range in size from 1300 to 2388 square feet, and feature spacious bonus rooms, 3-car garage options, gourmet kitchens, and access to a community park and numerous green belts. Homes are fully fenced & landscaped. Now Starting at $259,900!!!
New Homes in THE CASTLE PINES COLLECTION.Castle Pines is a neighborhood designed for all ages in Fairway Point, featuring single and two-story homes with spacious 1663 to 2779 square foot interiors, spacious master suites and gourmet kitchens. This collection is adjacent to Whidbey Golf and Country Club, with premium golf course sites available. Golf course frontage starting at $328,800.
CASTLE PINES
OAKMONTNew Homes in THE OAKMONT COLLECTION.Oakmont is an age-qualified (those 55 and better) enclave within the Fairway Point planned community. Home models are single story, ranging from 1328 to 2779 square feet and offer contemporary finishes such as granite countertops and natural wood trim. Starting at $259,900.
NEW LUXURY HOMES YOU CAN AFFORD!Showing Tuesday– Saturday 10-5 and by appointment. Contact Michelle Lehr for more information: [email protected]
www.landedgentryhomes.com • 360-661-3689
2642 SW Fairway Point Drive Oak Harbor, Wa. 98277
and hopes to be able to educate and inform people. He also knows there will be challenges ahead, such as dealing with the noise issue at Outlying Field south of Coupeville.
“Noise is something we’re going to con-stantly deal with,” he said. “But the airfield is significant for training requirements and any-thing I can do to educate and inform people is important.”
Another challenge will be disseminating information. With the recent announcement that Navy Region Northwest will cease publi-
cation of the Northwest Navigator at the end of March, Welding and other PAOs will be looking at different ways to get base news out.
“We’re going to be reaching out even more to the community and to Whidbey News Group to get the stories about the base and our personnel out there,” Welding said. “We’ll also be using social media like Facebook and our website to get the word out.”
All in all, it’s been a warm welcome for this former sailor.
“Everybody has been so helpful,” he said. “I jumped right in, which is OK with me.”“Everybody has been so helpful,” he said. “I jumped right in, which is OK with me.”
WELDINGFROM PAGE 2
“Can you imagine the feel-ings going through all of us when finally we were free?” asked Crecca. “It was just hys-terical happiness. You’ll never have those feelings again.”
Crecca, an Air Force Captain assigned to the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Da Nang, was shot down by a surface-to-air missile near Hanoi in November, 1966.
He was released Feb. 18, 1973 in the second group of POWs sometimes referred to as “Kissinger’s Twenty,” a group of men who hesitated to be released until sure the U.S. government had agreed to the terms of their release. Today Crecca believes it’s important to share details of the Vietnam War and his experiences as a POW to paint a picture for those too young to remember.
“It was seven Thanksgivings, seven Christmases, seven birth-days,” he said. “When I think about getting out of jail, it’s a euphoric feeling. So many [servicemen] weren’t even
born then. I want to tell them about Vietnam, about why we were there, what we tried to do, and about the sacrifices of 591 prisoners and the 58,272 names on the wall.”
While the day he was shot down and the day of his release are burned in Crecca’s memory, he said he remem-bers a lot of what happened during his six years and three months in captivity.
“Some POWs were only there a couple of months, some over six years. There were some Vietnamese that were held 18 to 20 years,” Crecca said. “I think it made me more determined to defend the United States against foreign enemies.”
Crecca said his elation at being freed was quickly tem-pered by the realization of events that had taken place at home during his captivity.
“When I got home I discov-ered I had been divorced and my father had died five years prior,” he said. “Homecoming was not happy for me.”
Five months after coming home, Crecca was back on active duty, flying F-4s once again.
“The reason I joined the military was to fight against Communism; that feeling hasn’t changed,” he said. “I couldn’t wait to get back in the fighter cockpit. I was full of fire and energy.”
Altogether Crecca spent 14 years in the Air Force. Today he is happy to share his story at schools, before veterans’ organizations or other groups.
“Vietnam is a big part of American history — cer-tainly the biggest part during the 1960s — and the con-troversy over the war lasted long beyond that,” he said. “Americans have a deep feel-ing for military men and the sacrifices we’ve all made, and that goes way, way back. It’s amazing what you can get a person to do when they love their country.”
Courtesy photoNorth Vietnamese guards patrol a courtyard area of H�a Lò prison in Hanoi during the Vietnam War, as POWs look out between the bars of the windows.
Joe Crecca and other former POWs will share their stories at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the Officers’ Club and the Skywarrior Theater, respectively, on NAS Whidbey Island.
PRISONFROM PAGE 9
