Sign in
  • Home
  • OUR Breaking News
  • OUR Community
  • OUR Businesses
  • OUR Schools
  • OUR Environment
  • OUR Seniors
  • OUR Events
  • Subscribe For Free
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
52.6 F
Chula Vista
Sunday, January 24, 2021
  • Sign in / Join
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Archive
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
OUR hometown OUR hometown Our Hometown Online
  • Home
  • OUR Breaking News
  • OUR Community
  • OUR Businesses
  • OUR Schools
  • OUR Environment
  • OUR Seniors
  • OUR Events
  • Subscribe For Free
  • Human Interest
  • Inter-Generational Engagement
  • OUR Breaking News

From Foes to Friends, A Memorial Day Tribute

By
Our Hometown
-
May 25, 2020
296
Hands of Forgiveness

“This is a reprint of a story we published in May 2014. It is one of the most touching Memorial Day stories we have ever written. This story not only pays tribute to our heroes, it also paints them in a light of grace and forgiveness”.

-Michael Monaco, Publisher-

By Amber Weber

Most Americans have heard of the legendary American heroism and unfortunate horrors of World War II.  But have they heard of unexpected blessings wrought from the tragedy of war?

Hans Busch was a WWII fighter pilot in the Nazi regime. He trained in the Flying Hitler Youth and later piloted one of the first jets that Germany built as part of the elite Luftwaffe. Today he’s as much a member of Chula Vista’s WWII veterans group as any of the American vets. He’s even featured in an exhibit about German troops at the home of Jesse Thompson, a Pearl Harbor survivor.

Hans Busch left Germany and settled in the United States in 1951.  He became a U.S. citizen not long after, putting memories of Hitler’s Third Reich behind him. Some 10 years ago, a mutual friend introduced Hans to Jesse. Ever since then, Hans has routinely joined American WWII veterans and friends for a time of fellowship.

“Didn’t anyone in the group protest?”  I asked Jesse, surprised that forgiveness could be so forthcoming.  “No,” answered Jesse.  “We don’t have any rules, and it just didn’t matter.”  In this house, it is evident that war is not carried out by men, but by governments.

Jesse Thompson was only 13 years old when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. He had just moved to Honolulu with his family a month earlier.  After school one Friday, he went to a friend’s place on Pearl Harbor to spend the weekend. Sunday morning, he woke to torpedoes being fired on Battleship Row, within a stone’s throw from where he stood, wide-eyed.

Stuart Hedley, better known as Stu, was stationed on the USS West Virginia on that fateful day. His ship was heavily damaged, but he survived. He jumped off the ship, into the ocean, and escaped the flames caused by the burning oil on the water’s surface.

These men, and about 30 others, get together every Wednesday morning to share stories about Pearl Harbor, tell jokes and even watch a John Wayne movie now and then. The WWII vets are almost all in their 90s, but there are spatterings of men and women of all ages. Some are Vietnam vets and others are simply retired from military service. A handful of people have never been in the Armed Forces. They attend each week because they’re grateful for the service these heroes have offered and because, simply, it’s fun. They meet at Jesse’s house, which is part home, part museum.

On a recent Wednesday, Stu gave me a tour of the exhibits in Jesse’s home with as much pride as though he were the homeowner and museum curator. He pointed out framed photos of battleships that were signed by men who served on them, written histories of late Pearl Harbor survivors, models of planes, various weapons, helmets and even enemy artifacts.

It is clear that this group of WWII survivors and their friends care about one another. It doesn’t matter whether they fought in the Pacific theatre or the European theatre. It doesn’t even matter whether they fought as Allies or Axis. In the most extreme circumstances, despite the tragedy of war, men found each other, forgave each other and now support one another.  Grace was extended, and grace was received.

Share
Facebook
    Previous articleThe Chula Vista Charitable Foundation Awards a Record $101,203
    Next articleMayor Mary Casillas Salas Speaks to the Death of George Floyd
    Our Hometown
    Sharing What's Good About Chula Vista

    RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

    CHULA VISTA APPOINTS HARRY MUNS AS NEW FIRE CHIEF

    Second Round is Sure to be a Knockout

    Meet the artist: Seasonal Decorator Gabriela Ferrara

    LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

    Log in to leave a comment

    Recent Posts

    Chula Vista Takes Steps to Address Coronavirus Pandemic

    Our Hometown - March 13, 2020
    0

    Funding Opportunities and Resources Available for Chula Vista Businesses and Employees

    Our Hometown - March 20, 2020
    0

    Second Round is Sure to be a Knockout

    Our Hometown - December 24, 2020
    0

    Chula Vista Board and Commission Openings

    Our Hometown - July 6, 2020
    0

    Local Singer Makes Her Debut

    Our Hometown - July 28, 2020
    0

    Don’t Get Scammed out of Your Stimulus Check

    Our Hometown - May 19, 2020
    0

    Barons Markets Hiring, Including Otay Ranch Town Center Location

    Our Hometown - April 3, 2020
    0

    Chula Vista Brush Clearance Project Begins

    Our Hometown - December 1, 2019
    0

    Mayor Mary Casillas Salas Speaks to the Death of George Floyd

    Our Hometown - June 1, 2020
    0

    POPULAR CATEGORIES

    • Human Interest56
    • OUR Breaking News52
    • City of Chula Vista38
    • OUR Community36
    • Public Safety20
    • Chula Vista Mayor's Office18
    • Human Impact17
    • Neighborhoods15
    • Human Interest Emergency11

    POPULAR POSTS

    Kindness Never Tasted So Good

    April 6, 2020

    What the CARES Act Can Do For You

    April 6, 2020

    Man of the Year, A Lifetime of Service – Greg Cox,...

    July 2, 2020

    Subscribe to Our Hometown Online

    To be updated with all the latest news, events and special announcements from Chula Vista.
    * indicates required
    Your Interests
    OUR hometown
    ABOUT US
    Sharing what's good about Chula Vista and Bonita
    FOLLOW US
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Archive
    © OUR HOMETOWN | CHULA VISTA - BONITA | 2009-2021
    MORE STORIES

    Chula Vista Fire Station 5 Gets New Location and New Look

    March 16, 2020

    Chula Vista Leads $550 Million Resolution of Environmental PCB Claims

    June 25, 2020

    Republic Services to offer Recycling 101 Badge to Girl Scouts

    March 13, 2020

    Republic Services – Business as Usual

    March 16, 2020

    Barons Markets Hiring, Including Otay Ranch Town Center Location

    April 3, 2020
    Edit with Live CSS
    Save
    Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete.