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Carta de Ana Maria Ward a sus Primos |
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On Father’s Day I learned something about my father I didn’t know before. Let me go back to World War II – you know, the real war where Americans were respected for their participation. This was the war where Purple Hearts were given out for valid reason, and other honorary medals for the same values and deserved validity. My father, Gordon F. Ward, had enlisted in the Marine Corps to serve for his Country. When he was 21, he was sent to Iwo Jima where he was wounded his first day there. He almost died from the shrapnel that permanently damaged both of his legs and left one shorter than the other. He wears one shoe that is elevated. He earned a Purple Heart, and he’s proud of it. He has returned to Iwo Jima three times in the past 15 years, most recently taking with him my grandson, his first great grandchild, Anthony, in March 2004. He has been interviewed on CNN, three networks that were on Iwo this latter visit, and in June on Discovery. His memory is crystal clear, but he has an ailing heart. On Father’s Day he informed me that a man named Burke, who spent some time with him in a foxhole, had seen him on one of his interviews or documentaries when he was with Anthony. Mr. Burke looked him up on the web and called him on the telephone. My father has since then written to Mr. Burke, but has not heard from him since. Mr. Burke had told my father that he (my father) left the foxhole to pull about five American soldiers out of the water (presumably to safety). No one, according to Mr. Burke, would help my father on his mission because he was clearly visible and a good target for the enemy guns. My father kept four men from drowning, but the fifth one was shot as soon as he was placed on the beach. This means a Silver Star, doesn’t it? Like all great heroes, my father says he doesn’t care. It would, however, be such a deserved honor for him. There was another incident that isn’t as clear to me. He said he was with the first group of Marines that landed on the shores of Iwo Jima. There were no visible boats there, but further up the beach there was a partially hidden Japanese boat. He said he could see the smokestack with bullet holes all over it. He said he saw movement from the boat and fatally shot a Japanese soldier. On one of his trips to Iwo, another Japanese survivor told him he had had radio contact with the soldier on the boat. That means that my father killed another soldier, saving more American lives. Another act of heroism. Although my father will be 81 in November, he goes to the Iwo Jima Memorial (in Virginia) every Saturday – weather permitting. He gives tours of the famous statue and gives information to anyone who seeks it, usually school groups or church groups. His memory is incredible. He does this as an informal volunteer, and only for the sake of history. He has been asked to talk to school children in their classrooms, because he knows the history of World War II, specifically Iwo Jima. He is a true historian, and a true hero. Please consider helping to honor this man with the appropriate awards. He deserves the recognition. Thank you very much. Ana Maria (Ward) Perez
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