By Shawn Wyant (Sawyant) on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 07:57 am:
Pearl Harbor hero comes home at last
By Kelly Fosness, DMG Writer
CALUMET - Sixty-nine years after U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd Class Gerald George Lehman was killed in action aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, he's finally coming home.
On June 12, Lehman will be laid to rest at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton, where he will reunite with his family once again.
"I always knew we'd get him back," said Peggy Germain, Lehman's niece, who made it her mission after her mother's passing in December of 2005 to have "Uncle Gerry's" remains identified and returned for burial. "I think she's whispering in God's ear because I was just so devastated after she passed that I needed something that I could really lose myself in and this turned out to be a really big mystery."
During an "I.D. visit" at Germain's Calumet home March 3, government representatives presented a report of their findings, showing evidence supporting the remains in grave P-1002 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) were that of Lehman's.
As it turned out, it was the letters Lehman sent home that helped to identify him.
"The scientist became very animated when he talked about the envelopes because he said there was no contamination on them," Germain said of their visit. "Because grandma opened the envelope down the side, there was no contamination on the flap where Gerry had licked it. So, his own nuclear DNA was on the flap."
Along with Lehman, preliminary findings suggested grave P-1002 contained the remains of four others - Lawrence Boxrucker, Irvin Thompson, Eldon Wyman and Charles Swanson. Each of the four were identified and returned to their families.
Through additional DNA testing, Germain learned the number grew from five to more than 100 different sets of remains in the same casket. Lehman was the last of the original five to be returned.
"It was the skull that they identified," she said, pointing to the report's illustration.
Comparing a photo of Lehman, smiling and dressed in a sailor's uniform to that of the report's illustration of his skull, Germain observed, "this is how Gerry looked when he left Hancock, and this is how he's coming back. War is ••••."
Bringing her uncle home for burial has been a tireless journey for Germain, who along the way kept in constant contact with several key supporters from Pearl Harbor survivors and relatives of war dead to officials at the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.
More recently, however, Germain crossed paths with one of Lehman's former classmates from Hancock schools.
Having interviewed Everett Symons over the telephone, Germain learned he had an old class photo from graduation in 1940 and would make a copy for her. Symons invited her to a dinner he was attending May 3.
"I dropped by the Irish Times to pick them up and when I said, 'You must let me pay for this,' Everett replied, pointing at Gerald George's picture, and tapping his finger about three times, 'He already paid,'" Germain said. "I asked if he'd be an honorary pallbearer and he said he wouldn't miss it for the world."
Symons said Lehman sat directly behind him in English class.
"He immediately impressed me," he said of Lehman. "He was very friendly and a little on the quiet side, but just a really nice guy. You couldn't help but like him."
After graduation, Symons said he never saw Lehman again, and is honored to be a part of his memorial service.
"He gave his life for the country," he said. "I think it's great that he is coming home."
Both Calumet village and Hancock city councils have designated June 12, 2010 as Gerald George Lehman Day, an honor Germain requested.
And, while plans for the memorial are still coming together, Germain said she cannot wait for the arrival of her "Triumvirate" who will share in the welcoming home of her late uncle.
"It's a name I assigned to three fabulous, powerful men that have supported this endeavor," she said, listing Ray Emmory, Paul Goodyear and Bob Valley.
Emmory, a Pearl Harbor survivor, is an independent researcher and historian for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Germain said.
Goodyear was on the Oklahoma with Gerry and serves as president of the USS Oklahoma Family, Inc; and Valley is a volunteer coordinator for the USS Oklahoma Unknowns.
Valley's brother, Lowell, was killed in action aboard the Oklahoma, Germain said.
"Those three have really been the mainstays," she said. "They're like the spine of this for me."
Germain said Lehman's remains will arrive in Minneapolis Friday morning and from there will be escorted to Hancock by motorcycle Patriot Guard riders.
Several local organizations are participating in Lehman's memorial service, including a number of VFW and American Legion posts, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, fire and police departments, Michigan State Police and Mercy EMS, among others.
"It's really touching that so many of the veterans want to come to honor one of their own," Germain said. "They don't care how long he's been gone. He's one of them. The respect is overwhelming."
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. June 12 at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.
Kelly Fosness can be reached at kfosness@mininggazette.com.
By FJL (Langoman) on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 08:07 am:
The Edgar B. Speer is going thru the Soo Locks.........
By JARMO ITÄNIEMI (Japei) on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 02:09 pm:
NEW PRIME MINISTER IN FINLAND -- MAYBE !!
She is this;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Kiviniemi
By Yooperguide (Huntandfish) on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 05:37 pm:
Went to Marquette today, going through Negaunee, saw a sign at a boat dealer that read;
"Wife For Sale---Take Over Payments".
Didn't pull over but got the phone number. :)
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