Touching the Ancient One

August 23, 2009

Friends die. It's a fact and we know it's going to happen sooner or later. But, it's never easy to accept. I've recorded several deaths in this journal. Nevertheless, the passing of Ed Olson on August 15 brings it home to me in a special way.

Our friendship had two phases. The first began on February 5, 1954 when we huddled together with Ed Fox on Alaska's Kesugi Ridge after being dumped from a disintegrating Air Force C-47. That bonding experience continued during our hospital stay. Then, we went our separate ways for many years.

The second phase began in 1996 when the six survivors of the C-47 crash decided to get together for a reunion. That led to other reunions, visits, and unbroken communication with the survivors bonding in a more mature and meaningful way.

I wrote in this journal last fall about the trip to Elkader that Millie and I took to visit with the Olsons. I'm glad we made that trip, for it was the last time we would see Ed. His health declined all this spring and summer. Millie and I were in West Virginia visiting relatives when Melissa, Ed's daughter informed us of his death. We drove to Elkader again, this time to attend a celebration of his life.

Ed Olson's life was one of service. The people of Elkader, Iowa turned out to show their love and appreciation. Millie summed it up pretty well when she said, "Ed made good use of his second chance."

Rupert

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I thought some of you would want to see the following:

Obituary

Order of Celebration - Life of Edward William Olson-page 1

Order of Celebration - Life of Edward William Olson-page 2

 

May 11, 2009

Recently, I learned of the passing of my friend, John Papp, of Fairbanks, Alaska. I spoke of John in an article on this website in 2007. Millie and I were in Fairbanks that summer and John, who had a booth at the Tanana Valley Farmers Market, let me occupy the space in front of his booth to sell my books. John and his wife, Jo visited with us in Scotia in the fall of 2007. Our friendship continued after that with phone calls and letters.

A geophysicist, John went to Alaska in 1958 to work for the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, and stayed. John and Jo carved out a special place for themselves in the Fairbanks community, among other things challenging themselves to farm in the harsh climate. Jo has even co-authored a book about farming there. The title is, "Like a Tree to the Soil: A History of Farming in Alaska’s Tanana Valley, 1903 to 1940."

I have to admit that most of my friendships are, and have been, long-term ones, with people I have known for years. Occasionally, however, I've met someone whose presence made me feel as though I had known them forever. John is one of those.

Rupert

September 30, 2008

Millie and I drove to Elkader, Iowa earlier this month to visit our friends, Ed and Ruth Mary Olson. We had not seen them since 1999. Ed is one of my fellow survivors of the 1954 crash of an Air Force  C-47 in Alaska.

 

The fact that we arrived in Elkader on 9-11 was accidental, but that “by chance” occurrence turned out to be fortunate for us. It was a day of Peace Celebration in the town, culminating in a dinner at Schera's Restaurant that evening. Featured guest speakers after the dinner were Bill and Joe Aossey from Cedar Rapids. The Aosseys are third generation Americans, and Muslims.

In the way of background, when Ed was mayor of Elkader he had, in 1984, made contact with Algerian officials concerning the fact that Elkader was named after Emir Abdel-Kader, the “George Washington” of Algeria. As I said in my book, Touching the Ancient One, the contact “ . . . led to a “sister city twinning, which in turn led to visits back and forth. It became an important public relations exchange . . . ”   

Elkader is still a part of the Sister Cities organization and as such is one of the communities leading efforts to foster understanding between people of different religions. I’m convinced that tolerance and understanding is something we all need to practice in dealing with one another. Programs like the Sister Cities Organization promote that.

I was scheduled to give a talk and book signing in the Elkader Library the day after our arrival. Ed joined me there and, as I’d hoped, it turned out to be more of a “discussion” session than a talk. Ed added information about our 1954 ordeal in the mountains of Alaska, things I had forgotten and some things I never knew. Melissa Patrick, Ed and Ruth Mary’s daughter, brought her book club members to the library, adding greatly to the discussion. Many thanks to the Elkader Library for giving us that opportunity.

We were in Elkader three nights, staying at the Elkader Jailhouse Inn, owned and run by Julie Carlisle-Kane & Tim Kane along with their pup, Merlin. That, alone, was a wonderful experience. The former jail has been converted, with the administrative area now forming living quarters and the cellblock serving as a greatroom and dining area where guests can mingle. The Kanes are gracious hosts. You can visit their website by clicking here.

One last thing I feel compelled to say: Millie and I live in an area that’s spread out, both politically and geographically. It’s refreshing to see a community such as Elkader where everyone knows everyone, where elbows are rubbed, and where folks feel accountable to one another. Ed and Ruth Mary Olson are prominent in the mix. Someone (sorry, I don’t remember who) told me that Ed was “Mr. Elkader.” I’d like to suggest that it might be “Mr. and Mrs. Elkader” for the Olsons.

Click here to see a few more of our Elkader photographs.

Rupert

July 31, 2008

I was delighted to see a July 30 Guestbook entry from Dave Hill, the nephew of Capt. James Hill, the highly decorated soldier who served our country during two wars. Capt Hill died in the Alaskan C-47 crash of 1954, the tragedy that is the central focus of my book, Touching the Ancient One–A True Story of Tragedy and Reunion.

Since our 1996 initial reunion of survivors and family members of victims of the crash, many more relatives and friends have surfaced, and continue to do so. Some of that happened as a result of the magazine article that appeared in the September 23, 1996 issue of People. The process continues as my book circulates. There is also a wonderful thing that happens as connections are made and strengthened in and among families that had known nothing of one another just a few years ago. To cite just one: Keith Betscher, son of the pilot, and David West-Watson, son of a British doctor were both too young to remember their fathers. Now, more than fifty years later, they are fast friends and visit each other across the Atlantic Ocean. Both have visited the crash site on Kesugi Ridge, which is now within the boundaries of Denali State Park.

Another young man, whom I’ll not name at this time since I don’t have permission to do so, is right now on his way to Alaska to hike to the site of the crash. He’s also a nephew of another of the victims. He’s promised me an account of his trek for this website. I look forward to that.

And thanks to Dave Hill for posting his letter.

Rupert

June 12, 2008

The whole upper Mississippi River Valley and the tributaries that feed it are in great turmoil at this time. Sometimes, situations like this don’t become real until it strikes at something or someone we know. That’s the case here.

Elkader, in northeast Iowa and located on the Turkey River, is right now fighting to survive a record-breaking flood. In a message I just received from Ed Olson, friend, resident, and former Mayor, he briefly outlined the situation.

“Some 100 persons were forced from their homes when the 30.9 ft. high waters came rushing down the center of Elkader (flood stage is about 12 ft.). Some 30 businesses are trying to recover and business in the city is at a standstill.”

The Clayton County Register has pictures of the disaster.
You can see the pictures by clicking here:

Ed Olson is a fellow survivor of the 1954 C-47 crash in Alaska which is the event around which my book Touching the Ancient One is based. One of our several reunions was held in Elkader in 1999. It's a splendid little town.

If anyone would like to contact Ed, send me a note through this site to that affect and I’ll send along your address or phone number. They’re going to need some help.

Rupert

June 9, 2008

Even with the recent and beautifully done film about Cliff Hudson by Tom Staggs, I’ve missed not having more footage of Cliff in action “serving the people in the bush.” Ed Fox recently discovered just such a film on the DailyMotion website. It was made in 1992. The only difficulty is that the voiceover is in French. Several conversations between Cliff and others, however, are in English.

If you want a good overview of Cliff Hudson at work as one of Alaska’s premiere bush pilots, then click here to see the ten-minute film. Also, pass it along to others you know would appreciate it.

Rupert

June 4, 2008

Way back in 1996 when our C-47 Survivors Group had its first reunion in Dayton, Ohio, the magazine People sent writer Kate Klise (I misspelled her last name in my book, and for that I apologize) to cover it. Her article “After the Fall” appeared in the September 23, 1996 edition.

Just recently, I’ve discovered that the text portion of the article can be read on the People website. In fact, the whole issue, with pictures and all, can be downloaded from there as a PDF file. Should you wish to do that, be prepared for a long download. Even with my fast connection it took thirteen minutes.

Click here for People website and article download link.

If you don’t have Adobe Reader, which is necessary to read PDF files, you can download it from this site by clicking on Downloads in the sidebar or by clicking here.

Rupert

April 11, 2008

Recent entries on this site have told the story of how David West-Watson of Wales found the survivors of the airplane crash in Alaska that took the life of his father, William Ronald West-Watson in 1954. As one of the survivors of that crash, I related in my book, Touching the Ancient One: A True Story of Survival and Reunion, the details of my search for the West-Watson family and David’s subsequent finding of us. I also made available pdf files of magazine and newspaper articles that told David’s story. You can read them again by at easy download of RegisterArticle-West-Watson.pdf and REDISCOVERING.pdf.

Now, many years later, David and his wife Anne have started a fund that will benefit children of families devastated by accidents, as was his family in 1954. I believe the emphasis will be on children of men and women lost at sea, although I’m not yet certain of that. David is captain of the chemical tanker Stolt Cormorant which is owned and operated by the company, Stolt Nielsen. David and Anne are well acquainted with the dangers that accompany such work. They have named their project “Kesugi Children” which is apt, since David’s father died on Kesugi Ridge in Alaska. I believe that no money will go directly to the child or parent, but to support areas for the child’s benefit. David is running in the London Marathon this Sunday, April 18 to raise money for the fund.

When I get more details, including contacts, for this worthwhile project, I’ll publish them. I’m sure some of you will be interested in contributing. Stand by.

Rupert

February 14, 2008 

David West-Watson, about whom I have written in this journal, is not only the son of William Ronald West-Watson, a British military physician who died in the 1954 C-47 crash that six of us survived, he is also captain of the chemical tanker Stolt Cormorant. Click here to see a photograph of the Stolt Cormorant.

Rupert