Our veterans know about patrolling land, sea, and air. Veterans in hospice are on their final fight and in their last patrol. Whether it goes by the name “battle buddy” or “shipmate” or “wingman” — all veterans understand that tough assignments are best faced together.
WWII veteran makes peace with the past
On Nov. 20, 1943, 18,000 marines and sailors attacked the Japanese-occupied island of Tarawa in the Pacific.
After several days of intense fighting, over 1,000 Marines were killed and 2,100 wounded, a fact that young sailor John Kuhn knew all too well.
John drove a Higgins boat full of Marines to the beaches of Tarawa during the battle and remembered how scared they were. Trying to reassure them, he told them, “It will be okay. I will be back to get you.”
Upon returning, John realized he would not get to bring them home as he promised, but instead was forced to bury them on the island.
Since that day, John had an overwhelming desire to return to Pearl Harbor to make peace with his “boys” that he left buried at Tarawa. He said he truly hadn’t been happy since he left them behind in November 1943.
Forever Young Veterans had no immediate plans for a trip to Hawaii, but since this wish was so important to John, they quickly decided to help him. When he arrived at the Punchbowl National Cemetery, no one knew John’s story.
The superintendent met him at the top of the landing called the “Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing,” which overlooks the beautiful and peaceful cemetery. He spoke about the history of this sacred place and those buried below.
During his talk, the superintendent mentioned that a section of the cemetery was currently in the process of burying Marines from WWII who had finally come home after 75 years … the fallen Marines from Tarawa.
John perked up and asked the superintendent about the location and manner of burial to see if perhaps those where his boys from years ago.
The superintendent asked, “How did you know?”
“I buried them,” replied John.
Immediately, he was taken to the place where they were being laid to rest. He left them at the beach, returned to bury them, and now he was with them when they finally arrived home to receive a hero’s burial.
This moment changed John’s life forever.
The photographs of John taken before and after this event are truly amazing. The “before” photos are sad, as one having no hope, but the “after” photos are of a free man, smiling and playful, even sticking his tongue out in one photo.
This was a side of him that no one had seen before.
John said over and over again, “I am the happiest I’ve been since coming home from the war. Who would imagine that my best days would be at the end of my life? I’m a different man.”
For more information about Veteran Last Patrol, visit www.veteranlastpatrol.org.
A special thanks to Mike Ware who was with John during the last days of his life and was able to share this incredible story with our members.