Ex-POWs Meet Anonymous Benefactor

Ex-POWs Meet Anonymous Benefactor

NORFOLK, Virginia - A small group of former prisoners of war finally came face to face Wednesday with an anonymous benefactor who has been paying their monthly restaurant tab for the last several years.


Five of the men, all in their 80s and prisoners of war in the Pacific during World War II, met William Blair, an Army veteran and businessman from Suffolk, Virginia. They presented him with an American flag aboard the USS Bataan Naval ship.

"Mr. Blair, it's nice to finally meet you," said David Topping, 84, of Chesapeake, Virginia, who has been meeting with fellow POWs for breakfast for about 30 years. Topping survived the Bataan Death March and was held by the Japanese for three years and four months.

Blair said the men were his heroes and that he was happy to have been able to do something for them because Pacific POWs "have never been honored like European POWs."

He said he couldn't recall exactly how long he's been paying the tab and that he's never bothered to add up how much he's spent over the years.

Blair said he pulled up into the parking lot at Bunny's Restaurant in Suffolk, Virginia one day and was touched by the sight of several cars with POW license plates. Inside, he noticed a group of men at a table and asked the restaurant owner about them.

Told they were Pacific POWs, Blair said he wanted to pick up their check anonymously. Blair, 69, said he's just a very private person.

About a year ago, though, a waitress accidentally let the secret slip, said Donna House, a Navy veteran who began attending the breakfasts after befriending one of the POWs. The group had been trying, unsuccessfully, since then to meet Blair.

Last week, House contacted the USS Bataan in Norfolk to ask about flying a flag over the ship to present to Blair. The ship's commanding officer agreed to the request and also invited the whole group - and Blair - to have breakfast on the ship.

Blair said he intends to keep paying for the group's breakfasts at the restaurant.

Asked whether he might start eating with the men, he smiled and said, "I probably will, now that I've been found out."

[USMC Chuter]

That's excellent! It's a small gesture, but sincere. A good friend of mine recently noticed a group of older men eating together at a restaurant. While walking to the bathroom he made a point to read their veteran ballcaps.. Two said "combat wounded, Korea". One said, "Medal of Honor Recipient." Turns out it was Ed "Too Tall" Freeman, a helicoptor pilot profiled in the book and movie We Were Soldiers. Freeman lives in the area here. My buddy walked his 6 year-old son to their table and introduced them as men deserving of thanks for their service; then bought their lunch. What a great example to a kid, eh?

- USMC Chuter excellent addition about meeting Ed "Too Tall" Freeman,not sure if you are aware but on the cover of the book " We Were Soldiers One and Young
" is a photo of Lt. Rick Rescorla, Platoon Leader, B Co 2/7 Cav became KIA 9/11 WTC Tower 2 , after saving 2700 employees and going back in to save others. Rick's body was never recovered. He was featured the other night on A&E under the story " The man who predicted 9-11.

Rick is in for the Medal of FReedom the petition can be signed at http://www.petitiononline.com/pmfrick/petition.html

a good write up on Rick is at http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/000307.html

[SGRock]

Originally Posted by USMC Chuter

That's excellent! It's a small gesture, but sincere. A good friend of mine recently noticed a group of older men eating together at a restaurant. While walking to the bathroom he made a point to read their veteran ballcaps.. Two said "combat wounded, Korea". One said, "Medal of Honor Recipient." Turns out it was Ed "Too Tall" Freeman, a helicoptor pilot profiled in the book and movie We Were Soldiers. Freeman lives in the area here. My buddy walked his 6 year-old son to their table and introduced them as men deserving of thanks for their service; then bought their lunch. What a great example to a kid, eh?

This reminded me of when I was in Atlanta a couple of years ago.
My family and I were in the Coca-Cola Center and I saw this gentleman sitting on a bench wearing a ball cap that read "WWII Veteran" and had the old style EGA pin on it. I took my daughters with me and introduced them to the gentleman, and thanked him for his service. He just looked at me and said "Thank you so much." I thanked him again for the honor to meet him and explained to my daughters over lunch the reason I introduced them and how not many of these veterans are still alive. It really made them feel good when I explained it to them; but it made that gentleman feel even better to be thanked.