THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 27, 1996 TAG: 9601240017
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Staff writer Dale Eisman reported ``the death of the last hero of WWII'' (Jan. 5). True, a hero (Adm. Arleigh Burke) did die, but to say that he was the last hero of WWII is to demean thousands of heroes who are still very much alive.
Here in Hampton Roads, Mr. Eisman only has to visit any of the many veterans' organizations - Fleet Reserve, VFW, AMVETS, American Legion, DAV - to meet authentic, red-blooded WWII veterans, still alive and kicking, heroes all.
We have local citizens who have been decorated with the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and lesser medals.
What would Mr. Eisman call a group of men who climb out of a perfectly good submarine, jump into a rubber raft, row ashore on the Japanese seacoast, blow up a bridge and row back to the ship?
If Mr. Eisman would like to go to lunch with me some Friday, I will introduce him to a whole table full of heroes - U.S. submarine veterans of WWII. One of the men who was in that rubber raft lives in Virginia Beach.
PIERRE DISPENNETTE
Virginia Beach, Jan. 8, 1996 by CNB