Saturday, April 21, 2007
Epilogue
Anything that is told about my life since December 25, 1949, will have to come from my Better Half, because it has been the better half of my life, without doubt. I could not have had a better lover and help mate; and it has been the greatest thing in my life, to have been able to play on the best team that was ever formed, "Our Marriage".
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Ed, Jim
Thanks for sharing this marvelous History. I was reading it at home yesterday and actually made notes so I could ask Jim all about his writings. Jack Nicholson came in while I was reading it and he asked what I was doing. I told him I was reading history about a real true to life war hero. I was reading about a person that got caught up in circumstances, (since you wanted to be on a submarine) and did what most of us can’t even fathom considering, let alone doing. I was reading a text that not once suggested the writer was ever frightened or that our country was in a war that he didn’t believe in. But yet he was serving for higher power for a higher purpose. Oh by the way I said; it’s about your Grandfather.
I have read so much about the war and the South Pacific Theatre and I couldn’t believe Jim was at all the places I have read about.
One question I was wondering is when Jim bombed Toyohashi Air Field he said the anti air craft flak was not as bad as other areas. It seems in the book FLYBOYS I remember reading that they had learned the flak was set to explode at a certain altitude and they had learned to lighten their loads and fly at a lower altitude to avoid being hit, at least over the mainland of Japan. I was wondering if Jim’s mission was before or after this learning.
I was also interested to read that after all the missions Jim flew in, he still had logged time in for water bombing tow targets. Was this just a Navy thing where there is nothing else to do so we might as well keep them busy, or were they trying to learn something? It just seemed odd that sandwiched right in the middle of all these serious missions, there would be a tow target run.
Another curiosity I had is about the friend that was on the INDIANA. Do you know if he happened to be on that ship when it went down? As I recall it was the last ship sunk by the Japanese and the war was already over. I believe that was the one that was not even noted as missing for quite some time.
Also, the Typhoon was interesting. I had read about the Typhoon, or “Devine Wind” that the Japanese had counted on saving them. I had no idea there was one so dangerous that close to the end of the war. I believe in October after the surrender is when the big Typhoon hit that destroyed most of our Navy. Isn’t that what the Japanese called the Kamikaze named after the Devine wind that destroyed Khans Mongol fleet? (Somewhere around 1200, I think)I believe they got their “Devine Wind a little late.
Of course I couldn’t help but notice the spelling of Krooked Kreek. I have seen that spelling a lot in the past, but not so much anymore. Again just curious if this is the way it was spelled. Or heck is it still spelled that way. At any rate, I know that Jim will know the history of the spelling as well.
And finally I had no idea how he felt about my dad….. He was a “90 day wonder”. Just kidding Jim.
And last but not least Ed, I think the only thing missing would be a listing of Jim's medals and of course for people like me, I would like a picture of them.
The mild mannered Jim Nicholson I grew up with is a true war hero. I can’t imagine the courage it took to fly those missions.
Your friend,
john
Ps. I did see that fighting spirit a few times when he was working cattle.
________________________________
From: Ed [mailto:ederdn@pgtc.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 12:03 PM
To: Hoffman, Mandy --- Project Coordinator Facility Design --- GO; Michael & Mandy Hoffman; Ginger Nicholson; Jim and Fern Nicholson; Julia Nicholson; Randy Nicholson; nicholsonjulia@tiger.nwsc.k12.ar.us; nicholsonwilliam; nicholsonthomas@tiger.nwsc.k12.ar.us; Steve Patrick; Dick Wasson; Berry, John --- VP - Risk Management --- GO; Frank Cox; Bobby Frederick; Patty Frederick; Becca Gibbons; Chip Gibbons; Don Milburn; Ken Milburn; David Morton
Subject: Blog site--Jim Nicholson autobiography
Some of you might be aware that about ten years ago, Dad wrote a memoir of his life--up to the time of his and Mom's marriage. Much of it concerns his experience in the Navy in WWII.
A reporter from the Harrison Times has recently been interviewing Dad about his Navy experiences, and has asked to see this memoir.
In getting it out, I re-read it, and found myself again humbled and awed by how little this generation started with, how much they sacrificed, and how incredibly strong they've been.
I've posted it online at http://jimnicholson.blogspot.com/ It's kind of long. When you get to the bottom of the page, you'll see an "Oder Posts" link that will take you to the subsequent posts.
For those of you who are family, re-read it. Show it to your kids. Like mine (and like I was), they won't appreciate it right now. But someday, they might.
I send it to you who are friends because you've grown up around Mom and Dad. It might give you a little insight you've not had into them, and maybe your folks, too.
Regards,
Ed
PS, all I had to work with was typewritten hard copy. I've tried to clean up the OCR artifacts, but there might be a typo or two still there.
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