Those of you who know my family, or have seen my numerous
posts on Memorial Day over the years know that my mom, Mary Frances Stephenson
Draper, lost her only brother Captain Edward Vassar Stephenson, USMC, in Iwo
Jima on March 4, 1945. Though my family and my sister’s family never knew Uncle
Edward, we honor his memory and speak often of him with my mom. My sister named
her oldest son Edward in his memory, who coincidently served in the USMC as
well.
My uncle’s widow lost touch with my mom’s family after the
war. Mom always felt that the connection must have been too painful for her to
sustain. She had moved from her hometown of Madison, NC to Florida, remarried
and had a daughter.
About five years ago,
Mom and I happened to be talking about her and Mom remembered her last name as
well as her daughter’s name. I did some google searching and we learned some
sad truths through local newspaper reports. Edward’s widow had passed away, in
a nursing home. Her daughter had been arrested for elder abuse as her mother
had been living in a hoarding situation. It was reported that the daughter had
cared for her mother many years and appeared to have been unable to sleep due
to her mom’s dementia and was simply unable to cope, contributing to the
hoarding and resulting in her mother’s removal from the home. It appeared that
some years after, the daughter was back on her feet and working as a teacher and
had won a teaching award. We hoped that
things had gotten better for her. Yesterday, the story took another unexpected
turn.
My sister, who lives in my hometown, received a call from a
stranger in Florida. He asked for “Elaine Draper” and identified himself by
name and as a resident of Florida. It seems he had bought the contents of a
storage unit and found Uncle Edward’s war medals and a letter from his
commander written to his widow about Edward’s death! He said he felt in his
heart he had to try to find Edward’s family and return these items! A google
search led him to Seaboard and eventually to my sister! He plans on mailing the
medals and letter this week!
We are so grateful for his diligence and his desire to
return these precious treasures to our family. Elaine says he was astonished to
hear that Edward’s sister was still living and even happier he had made the effort.
Today a quick search revealed that the daughter passed away
in January, at age 64, in Florida. Despite what troubles her life must have
held, she saved Edward’s medals and accompanying letter from what must have
been an excess of belongings in her mother’s home. I think she would be happy
to know they are making their way home.
Rest in Peace, Uncle Edward and thank you for your service. No greater love.
