There are moments that touch us so deeply that we believe
MUST be shared with our readers.
This is one of them....in response to the dedication Anthem Opinions has
made alongside The Vegas Voice in their "Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive" progam.
From a valued reader...
Nancy Ward
...who wanted to tell us about her mom.
We hope you will attend the show on Wednesday, April 16th at the
Henderson Pavilion...
...because if you do....
This is an example of those we wish to honor.
and we deeply thank Nancy for sending us the story of a hero !
...in order
that we too may honor her.
Naomi Flores
Dick Arendt
Anthem Opinons
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Remembering a Hero
Heroes: some are fictitious and seen on
television and then there are those who are ordinary people, saving the lives of
total strangers from burning buildings or automobiles. Some are servicemen and women, some
are publicly acknowledged and then there are those only known by close friends
and families.
I would
like to share with you the story of one such heroine, known to her close friends
and family and only one of many heroes/heroines who sacrificed more than one
should ever have to endure for freedom and one’s fellow man.
In
keeping with “the Spirit of ’45”, I would like to
share the story of a young Filipina, born in Baguio, Philippines in
1921.
Orphaned and according to her account,
adopted by an American Army officer, LTC Dawcer (who hailed from Tennessee) this
young Filipina played an important role in saving hundreds of lives of both
Americans and Filipinos interred in Japanese prisons in the Philippines during
WWII.
In
her capacity as a Filipino
guerilla, she covertly smuggled food and medicines into the prisons which
helped save the lives of many prisoners suffering from malnutrition, starvation,
beriberi, dysentery, etc.
She was
able to verify identifications and conditions on many prisoners which was passed
along to military and intelligence officials, as well as family
members.
Her
networking efforts enabled her to collect needed supplies and money from
donators which were used to buy needed medicines for those interred without
adequate medical care.
She
exchanged money for prisoners and helped smuggle out letters from the prisoners
to their loved ones.
Her
desire for freedom, her gratefulness to an American Army Officer who adopted her
and her sense of right and wrong all contributed to her decision to fight
Communism in her country and greatly aid the American war effort by becoming a
guerrilla.
It
was through her perseverance, sacrifice and truly heroic deeds that she was formally recognized by the U.S. Government and presented
the Medal of Freedom in 1948 at the age of 26.
This is the actual medal awarded.
This
young woman, captured on more than one occasion and tortured at the hands of
Japanese soldiers, was fighting for a cause she believed in, namely
Freedom. Freedom, a
simple word, whose meaning is literally unknown to millions of those who take it
for granted daily, yet so highly cherished by those who truly understand its
meaning or greatly sacrificed to attain
it.
And so it
is appropriate that this young woman was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the
country she swore allegiance to, and subsequently became a naturalized citizen
of, after the war.
This young woman was named
...
Naomi Flores
She
married an American Army officer, John Francis Jackson (whom she met in the
Philippines as he was assigned to investigate war crimes after
WWII). They married and
had four children.
Naomi
is just one of the many who exemplify the Spirit of ’45 and I hope the attached
affidavit describing her actions during the war as well as the attached photos
of her MOF can be useful in keeping the Spirit of ’45 alive.
(Note on
the backside of the medal on the right and left sides of the liberty bell, is
her name inscribed, although it not real visible in the photo).
Naomi passed in Feb 2013 but will always be remembered by
her family and friends and those who lives she
touched.
*The submitter is Naomi’s youngest child
and a resident of SCA (and the one referred to in the affidavit as joining the
Army.
That
handwritten comment was added by Johnny Mack, son of LTC Edward Mack, who was a
prisoner that Naomi worked closely with while gathering information and
distributing medicines.
Unfortunately, LTC Mack did not survive. While researching
his father’s life, Johnny found personal letters that his Mother had
kept. The affidavit was
one such letter and he provided it to the United States Military Academy so it
could be added to their archives; hence his added
comments.
(Anthem Opinions is unable to reprint the affidavit, but if
you send us an email
we will gladly send you a pdf you may
download)
* It is
also the submitter’s personal opinion that the Medal of Freedom presented to
individuals during the mid-1940s and early 1950s as a result of one’s
contribution to WWII is far
different from the medal (by the same
name) presented today.
Back
then it was presented to individuals whose courageous, selfless sacrifices
contributed to the war effort and it symbolized heroic actions taken without
regard of one’s personal dangers.
Most
recently the medal has been presented for humanitarian or liberal arts
achievement or political favors and denigrates the previous recipients who truly
earned this distinction.
From Rana Goodman...to...Anthem Opinions
ReplyDeleteSince we began the Spirit of 5 project we have received many really interesting letters, but the story of Naomi Flores is one that personifies what this project is all about; the amazing heroes of WWII.
Ms. Flores stands out like a shining beacon of what the women of that era did when push came to shove..... It was expected from the men, but in those days women were meant to stay home and care for the children, "barefoot and pregnant".
Ms. Flores, and "all the Rosie the Riveters" showed the world women were made of stronger stuff.
Vegas Voice will honor Ms. Flores and other women like her at our May event which is all about them