Friday, 11/10

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Most people only think about the day when they realize there won’t be any mail delivery, but in living with a World War II researcher, I’ve come into a whole new appreciation of the day, especially when I hear the stories of people for whom the day honors, both those still with us and those never came home from their service.

People like THIS one--

Lawrence Ryan was born in Ishpeming on November 9^th, 1921. He was the oldest of three children; their parents died when they were all young, and the Ryan siblings were split up. Lawrence and his sister Helen were placed in the Holy Name Orphanage in Marquette, while their brother Bob stayed with an aunt in Ishpeming. The siblings remained close, especially after Lawrence and his sister moved back to Ishpeming to live with other relatives. He was a very talented musician and had an aptitude for science, graduating from Ishpeming High School in 1939 and, thanks to an uncle, enrolling in Michigan State for two years. Like many men of his generation, though, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he joined the military, becoming a fighter pilot cadet.

After two years of aviation training, Ryan made a short trip home to see his brother and sister, and then went overseas with his unit, the 509th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, 84th Fighter Wing, U.S. 9th Air Force. Stationed in England, Ryan’s squadron escorted bombers as they attacked military installations, factories, and other important targets in Germany. Like all pilots in the war, Ryan just had to fly 50 missions, and then he could go home and finish out the war with non-hazardous duties. But because he was single, with no wife or children, he decided to stay on with his unit after his 50^th mission, allowing someone in his squadron who WAS married to head home in his place.

15 missions later--on his 65^th flight--Ryan was shot down over Uelversheim, Germany. He was 23 years old when he was killed.

After he died, Ryan's body was temporarily buried in this cemetery in Uelversheim, which we visited a few months ago--

Then he was brought back home, and buried next to his parents in the Ishpeming Cemetery. His brother and sister, when we met with them a few years ago, still talk about their big brother in fond and slightly melancholy terms. His name is on the Veterans’ Memorial next to the Ishpeming Post Office, and is also listed on a plaque on the Michigan State University campus, honoring the 300-plus students and alumni who died during the conflict.

So tomorrow, when you realize you’re not getting any mail, and you then realize that it's Veterans Day, think about all the people who’ve served their country, and, in cases like that of Lt. Ryan, made the ultimate sacrifice, as well.

(jim@wmqt.com)