Crane Army and Navy hosts POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony

CRANE, Ind. - Crane Army Ammunition Activity joined with Naval Support Activity Crane, and Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, in hosting the annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day Ceremony here Sept. 17.

During the ceremony, held at the site of Crane's POW Tree and Monument, the Army and Navy took time to honor more than 20 former POWs and families of deceased former POWs.

Former World War II POW and retired Indiana University professor Gene Lawlis served as the ceremony's guest speaker. Lawlis, who wrote "Winking at Death: Memoir of a World War II POW," was an Army Air Corps navigator whose B-25 bomber was shot down in the Pacific Ocean. His book details his accounts as a POW in a Japanese prisoner camp.

Lawlis recalled for the audience how his bomber was shot down over the Pacific Ocean and his initial interrogation by the Japanese who captured him. In his tale, he related that he learned how to laugh, even if only internally, in order to survive.

He explained how he nearly was executed by the sword of a Japanese officer and about how he discovered humor the night after he realized they wanted to execute him. He said, "I realized for the first of many times of my long life that I must laugh at anything that seemed at all laughable. Above all, I resolved to laugh at myself - my puny self in the vast conflict taking place all over the world - and thereby preserve at least a portion of my sanity."

Lawlis was spared from execution and survived being a prisoner, taking with him a mixture of memories in captivity. "I hope that I managed to convey the utter bitter sweetness of POW life. The insufferable mixture of joy and sadness," he said to the audience. "I do not know why I survived while others did not, but I give my thanks to those who died for our country and I am thankful to everyone who now is serving in our military."

Representing the Army, Deborah Delaney, CAAA Director of Depot Operations, told the crowd that the importance of POW-MIA Recognition Day can never be overstated. She highlighted the need to honor the promise that the United States will never forget them.

"This year that commitment rang true when they announced that they had found the remains of Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher, "Delaney said, "It is a moment of mixed emotions for all of us in the military, as we are sad to learn he is not alive, but relieved to finally be able to bring his remains back to the United States.."

Representing the Navy Capt. Dianne Archer, Director of Supply Management Department Midwest, echoed the idea of never forgetting in her speech. "We must never forget Americans from all wars that have been stripped of their dignity and freedoms. We must never forget their treatment at the hands of their captors, the physical and mental abuse that they suffered in our defense. We pray for those who are still missing in action and we feel the despair of their families."

Employees, veterans and service members also took part in the ceremony. Army and Navy employees Grant Riggins and Edward Kidwell laid a wreath at the POW Monument and Courtney Hasler and Teresa Reed placed a yellow ribbon on the POW Tree. During the ceremony, a new POW/MIA flag was raised and an empty chair draped in black representing those prisoners who died was placed on the speaker's platform. A seven man firing party from a local Veterans of Foreign Wars posts Crane 9297 and Odon 9627 fired three volleys and Taps played to honor those who are missing and who died in action. The Bloomfield High School choir group, Center Stage, performed during the ceremony.

Each of the former POWs was presented with an appreciation gift for their sacrifices to the country. Following the ceremony, Crane honored the guests at a luncheon where many of the veterans provided testimonials of their experiences as POWs.

CAAA was established in Oct. 1977 and is a tenant of the Navy Region Midwest, Naval Support Activity Crane. The Army activity maintains ordnance professionals and infrastructure to receive, store, ship, produce, renovate and demilitarize conventional ammunition, missiles and related components.