A Special Birthday

Today my Uncle Harold Lee Terwilliger would have turned 80 years old.  Next Monday, we will honor him in a service at Arlington National Cemetery with my family. Below is a note that my Dad sent to the Chaplain at Arlington that gives more detail of the history.

Dear Master Sergeant Dixon,

It was a pleasure visiting with you by telephone from Alaska last week.  We very much appreciate the thoughtful attention being given to the Memorial Service for our older brother Harold Lee Terwilliger by you and all of your associates at the Arlington National Cemetery.

As we discussed, I am sending along to you details of Harold’s disappearance while on a routine cross country flight from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Cherry Point,N.C.  Harold and others in his squadron had been practicing aircraft gunnery in Cuba for several weeks precedent to heading back to their home station. 

Harold departed the Naval Air Station,. Jacksonville, Florida at 5:59 p.m. on December 15, 1954.  It was reported that  prior to leaving Jacksonville  there had been difficulties getting his aircraft started; however, Harold reported all was well once he left Jacksonville.  His flight plan was filed to the Marine Air Station at Cherry Point, N.C. He was scheduled to arrive at Cherry Point by 6:;59 p.m.  Search and Rescue was notified at 7:25 p.m. that he was overdue at Cherry Point.

The air search commenced at 7:35 p.m. and continued until the night of December 20, 1954.  Our family was assured that the search was very thorough.  and covered the coastline from south of Jacksonville to north of Cherry Point as well as an area of sixty square miles inland and sixty miles out to sea.  The search was conducted by both military and civilian aircraft.

Harold was reported to have planned his own flight and was familiar with the current winds and weather at the time.  Further, our parents were assured that Harold was very well qualified to undertake such a flight.  In fact, they were also advised that he was the squadron leader and that the others accompanying him had used his flight plan as well for their respective flights.

Our parents were advised of Harold’s disappearance by telegram on the morning of December 16^th by his Commanding Officer, Col. C.E. McCulloch and were advised  in telegrams received on both the 17^th & 18^th  that the search was ongoing.  They received a final telegram on December 20^th saying that the search been concluded on that day with negative results.

Harold was subsequently declared dead in a letter received in mid-January.  A Memorial Service was held at our home church, the First Methodist Church inMadison, South Dakota on February 6, 1955.  Attached to this letter is a copy of the church bulletin from that servicer along with an editorial which appeared in the local newspaper, The Madison Daily Leader, the day following the Service.  I would be happy to provide you more biographical detail if you would like as Harold was a very athletic and talented young man who was quite popular and highly respected.

Needless to say, the death of our brother Harold was an extremely difficult event for our parents as well as my two other brothers and me as well as the larger community.  Harold was engaged to be married awaiting only the final date being set for the ceremony.  Ironically, the date was to be set when Harold was to return home for the Christmas Holidays in 1954 the week following the completion of his return to Cherry Point.

Our parents are both deceased having passed without ever having a closure to their loss of their oldest son.  Likewise, another brother-Dick, now deceased as well, our other brother, Don, and me as well always mourned the loss without knowing what had happened.  We have all taken comfort and solace over the years in the fact that Harold believed deeply in what he was doing for our Country and felt very privileged to be a Marine.  He was a dedicated pilot who had a very deep Christian Faith and was deeply loyal to the United States of America.

My Dad has talked about my Uncle for as long as I can remember.   My Dad taught us how to fold a flag properly and all of the details of patriotism at a very young age.  We weren't allowed to wear anything camouflage, he felt it disrespected those who earned the right to wear it.   We were raised with VERY strong ties to our country and to our respect of it.

  My Dad was the youngest of the 4 boys, Harold Lee (named after my G'pa Harold and my G'ma Alice Lee) was the oldest.  They had a very close relationship.  My Dad looked up to his brother.  Dad was only a sophomore in High School when this all happened.  It's amazing to me, I guarantee you not a DAY has past since December 16. 1955 that my Dad has not thought of his brother.  Max carries his name, Max Harold...his legacy will live on and we will keep his memory alive.  

It is a privilege that we will be able to honor him in a special service...I pray it gives my Dad, and his brother Don, the closure that has lacked for so many years.  Until we can all meet him in heaven...

Happy Birthday Uncle Harold Lee!

With Love and Appreciation for the life you gave our country and for the brother you were to my Dad....

P.S. A side note, December 20th is when they got the final word on Harold Lee not being found.  That is also my birthday.  Until I read this note from Dad I didn't realize my birthday held such STRONG ties to my Uncle.  And such STRONG memories for my Dad.  I wrote my Dad after I saw that and here was his response to my note...

Thank you Susan,

Yes, that was a significant date that only gained in real significance when you arrived and made it so much more memorable.

Max Harold I hope will be proud of his name when you reaches manhood and realizes its significance with both his great uncle Harold Lee as well as his Great Grandpa Harold.

Love you,

xoxoxo

Dad