Well ... We Lost

another member of "America's Greatest Generation. We are losing this valuable part of our history at an alarming rate. If you have a loved one, friend, or neighbor that served proudly during WWII, tell them thanks for your freedom. They never discuss or hardly ever mention their service, just because it was the right thing to do.


Donald Dragoo and his daughter, Cindy Slone, attend the kick-off dinner at Memorial Stadium Monday for the second Heartland Honor Flight. Dragoo, 91, died Tuesday during the return flight from Washington, D.C.

BY JOE DUGGAN / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 - 12:28:49 am CDT
Donald Dragoo got a gift Tuesday when he saw the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

He didn’t have it for long. He died before the passenger jet returned him home to Lincoln.

And that’s when he gave his daughter a gift she will cherish for the rest of her life.

Cindy Slone knew her father served in World War II, but she never really knew. He was just the man who loved her and her brother.He was the man who truly enjoyed working six days a week on cars at his Crete repair shop.
And every day, he took a break to have lunch with his bookkeeper, Gertrude, who was also his wife. “There wasn't a person he ever met he couldn't talk to,” Slone said. “He was a great judge of people. I don’t mean he was judgmental — I guess what I mean is he could see the heart in people.”

Don Dragoo was one of 12 children. All four of his brothers served in the war and made it back home. They all acted like serving your country was ordinary, just a natural thing to do. “I had no clue how lucky we were,” Slone said. “He just didn’t talk about it.”

On Tuesday, she heard her dad and other veterans talk about it during the Heartland Honor Flight. She gained a better understanding of his experiences as a tank repairman for the Army’s 3rd Armored Division. They earned the nickname “Spearhead Division” as they fought in the Normandy invasion and pursued the Nazis across France, Belgium and Germany. Along the way, Dragoo earned a Bronze Star and was awarded a Purple Heart.

He lost his son four years ago to a brain tumor, and he lost his wife last year. But he still had his daughter, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson — and all four of his younger brothers.

The health problems that had plagued him for years really started wearing him down recently. He had heart disease, diabetes and vision problems. Pneumonia had infected his lungs four times since April.

Dragoo planned to go on the first Heartland Honor Flight in May, but he was in the hospital. The father and daughter talked it over with doctors as the second flight approached.

“We decided the only things in life you regret are the things you don’t do.” So they went.

He spent time with other veterans.
He got thanked by strangers.
He laughed.
And he saw his memorial.

That night, on the plane, she asked him if he was short of breath. He just smiled and said “No.” “He said, ‘I’m having a wonderful time, and everything’s been perfect.’” She saw him close his eyes. She heard him take a deep, deep breath.

And she knew.

“I can’t imagine having a better experience in such a short amount of time,” she said Wednesday. “Let alone having the gift of being able to laugh with my dad on the last day of his life.”




May this proud Warrior rest in Eternal Peace.

Re: Well ... We Lost

prayers and thoughts for all