A Soldier’s Death Far from the Field of Battle

By Andrew Carroll | HistoryNet  | 0 comments  |  Print This Post  |  Email This Post

The way they dipped, turned, first this way and that and the ability of the one behind to follow was amazing. After a few minutes it was difficult to tell just who the leaders had been and, fascinated, I continued to watch.
Finally each one in turn went into a dive. The last one didn’t come out.

I thought at first that he was more daring than the others but soon realized he was in trouble as the plane was so noticeably out of control. My anxiety grew when one of the planes dove and circled him trying so hard to help.
I’ll never forget those seconds that plane was falling. It is so difficult to describe. Everything seemed to stop. I could hear myself screaming. I tried to pray. Tried to ask God to stop it but I couldn’t.

He seemed to fall so long, although I feel quite certain it was not more than a minute of my life.

I shall always remember that night, that sunset. Twice since then I have seen the same glow in the eastern prairie sky and tears come awfully close. I can’t bear to look at it anymore.

As it struck there was a terrible explosion and a blast of black smoke followed by a burst of fire with flames shooting many feet into the air.

The rest of the family hurried to the car but I didn’t make it. Their concern was with the boy in that plane.

They thought at first that it had crashed just on the other side of the next field but found it was three and a half miles away….

When the family reached the scene of the crash the plane was completely ablaze, your son being barely outside the circle of fire and only a few feet from his plane.

My husband was first at his side, my mother making her way there a moment or two later. Having been a nurse in years past she was quick to adapt herself to circumstances and although as she knelt beside him searching for any sign of a pulse in his wrist, his throat, smoothing his hair, he was as she said, “So much like one of her own grandchildren, such a nice, fine looking boy,” it was very difficult for her.

She was terribly upset when she returned. All Mom could say was that he was so young, so very much like one of “our boys,” that although he was a stranger he seemed so dear. We do sympathize with you folks so very much.

He lay on his back, very natural, as one resting. His feet together, knees slightly bent, one hand over his breast and the other arm sort of bent with his hand up by the side of his face. He had no hat on, his parachute open and laying by his side. His tags were thrown out of his shirt and it was in examining it, my husband found his name was Anderson.

When they knew there was nothing else to be done my husband covered him with the parachute and checked the burning grass. His body didn’t appear to be broken which was very remarkable considering the distance he fell….

Opinions vary on whether he jumped or not but I did see something fall away from the plane and it went down just as fast.

The army claimed that the chute caught onto the plane. We hadn’t noticed but if such was the case that may be why the chute didn’t help.

The plane burned for hours. The next morning it was still smoldering. I am so thankful for you that your boy managed to free himself from the plane. It’s such a comfort to know you have him home there near you….

This whole world is nothing but sorrow it seems, but it does bring people closer together. It does help one to understand the sorrow and suffering of another and I sincerely hope I have helped you in some small way. I hope that your suffering has been eased just a little.

Hoping that some day we may have the opportunity of meeting you.

Sincerely

Mrs. Grigg

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