Historic Hood River
Lt. Lucian Carson
5-27-2013
Notes
This is an appropriate image to remind us that Memorial Day is not just another day off from work. It bears an inscription on the reverse from its appearance in the Hood River Glacier: “Lt. Lucian Carson, Hood River flyer, whose funeral will be held today.” The note is dated 1918.
Hood River’s first airport, on the west side near the current county public works area, was dedicated in Lt. Carson’s name on March 5, 1928. The airport is long gone, but we can honor Lt. Carson’s sacrifice with a visit to Overlook Memorial Park in downtown Hood River. His name is engraved on the monument honoring the sacrifice of local heroes since the Spanish-American War.
Bill Seaton
I also think of locals Keith Perkins and Baynes McSwain Jr., who died in the Viet Nam War.
l.e.
Lt. Carson’s brother Joseph, was mayor of Portland during the depression.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_K._Carson,_Jr.
Buzz
Standing tall and looking good. I salute you.
Lesa
I wish to remember, 2nd Lt. Joseph "Joe", "Peachy" Meyer, pilot of a p-47 Thunderbolt, in WWII, who crashed on his way back from a bombing run over Germany. He flew in the 389th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Group, based out of England. He is buried in France. He and his fellow pilots were variously known as the, "Vargas Squadron", for the pinup girls painted on their planes, and the "Hun Hunters." His parents were Joe and Erlene Meyer. His father, Mayor of Hood River, at that time. He and Mom, MaryAnn Scearce, later Hanners, were childhood sweethearts, and engaged at the time of his death. I know she carried the sorrow of his loss, for the rest of her life. His brother, James Meyer, posted previously here, was also a pilot, who survived the war, and returned to Hood River.
Lesa
William Lucian Carson was born August 5, 1894 in McKinnen Kentucky. He came with his parents, Joseph K. Carson and Sallie Elizabeth Johnson, to Hood River in 1903. His father worked in the mercantile business and was City Marshall in 1928. Sadly Lucian died during pilot training at Call Field, in Wichita, Texas, August 2, 1918, just three days prior to his 24th birthday. He is buried in Idlewilde Cemetery.
Lesa
Most of all I wish to remember Dad, Chief Warrant Carpenter, Daniel Autrey Hanners, who was a pillar of this community for many years. He was a Pearl Harbor Survivor, who served aboard the U.S.S. Ramsay DM16, and was serving as a shore patrolman, for the mine fleet, on the morning of the 7th of December 1941. He had arrested officers of the navy, for drunk and disorderly conduct, and was taking them to the brig, at the submarine base, at Pearl Harbor, when he saw the planes begin their attack. He dropped the men at HQ, and was sent immediately to aid in the rescue efforts. He took several men, and they quickly jumped into a twenty foot open whaleboat, which was tied to the harbor wall, across from HQ. During the entire attack, he and his crew worked tirelessly to pull men, and what was left of men, from the attack ravaged waters.
Dad would never speak of this, until just a few years prior to his passing. It was only after much repeated requests, that he finally told me of what part he played, during that dreadful day, and afterward. It was hard even then, and he teared up as he spoke of it, and told me he had spent his whole life, trying to forget it.
When I recall his stories, it makes me think of just how many unsung heroes there may be, who live among us. This day is rightly given, to those we know to be heroes, but also to those many more, we will never know about. So today I say, thank you Dad, and thank you to everyone else who has ever done their part, to bring honor to this country, who has never had fanfare, or trumpets, or chests full of medals, but were quiet hero’s, doing their part, to insure our freedom.
Judy
I attended the services at Idlewilde Cemetery this morning. It was raining, but still there was a good attendance. WE need to see more YOUNG people at an event like this so that they actually realize the sacrifices that were made for them so that they can live in the land of the free. Every day 1,000 WW II veterans are lost. God bless all of the Veterans’ families and of course ALL of our Veterans.
Norma Jubitz Simpson
For years I wondered why our family received a Christmas card from Mr. and Mrs. Meyer. Then I learned that in 1945 when my father was stationed in France he visited the grave site of Lt. Joseph Meyer and sent pictures back to the Meyer family.
An interesting side story is the plane that Lt. Meyer was flying was built in Evansville, Indiana, 40 miles from where I now live.
Arlen Sheldrake
Interesting bit of history Norma. Sure wish we could go back and ask our parents questions about that period of our history. While we were alive during those war years….for me anyway, very few memories. Bet your father Gilbert had some interesting experiences in France. What a nice thing for him to do Arlen.
Lesa
Norma what a wonderful story. When Mom was going into care, some years ago, she wanted to burn all of the things she had of Joe’s. Instead I convinced her to give them to me and I would lovingly care for them. However I was only able to save envelopes of most of their love letters, because she had burned the contents, before I could talk her out of it. I could have wept for the loss. She made me promise never to share the remaining contents until she died, which sadly she did, this past February.
Would you mind if I copy paste what you just told into my notes on Mother and Joe?