Jean Johnson Marston says, "Once in awhile, when I get reflective about my life, I start Googling the date (Friday, April 22, 1966) and location (Oklahoma) of the military plane crash that took my brother's life.
Yesterday, I came upon the American Flyers Memorial Park site, where they asked about a survival list. My brother Ralph D. Johnson, age 19, from Yonkers, New York survived the initial crash but died on Mother's Day, May 8, 1966, 16 days later. There was no feedback of information in those days. No one ever knew he died. So he should not be on the list.
"My parents, Bill and Ann Johnson flew to his bedside at Brooke Army Medical Center. I believe that is part of Fort Sam Houston Medical Center. I only found out about the amazing Memorial Butch Bridges put together about 20 months ago. I have been saving up and plan to visit Oklahoma this Memorial Day. My brother's death shaped my life good and bad. Now with that Memorial, there has finally been closure for me, something to the end of my mother's life, she asked for ... and never had.
"I remember my brother told my Mom, "It was awful." He woke up propped against a tree with a deceased soldier on his lap. It was raining and everything was on fire. There was a wonderful Nurse or maybe a local mother that spent some time with my brother. She wrote some comforting words to our family. I don't remember her name but know that we Thank You!"
I only knew your brother a short time but fell deeply in love with him. I still have his initial ring he gave to me many years ago the ring he said he would replace with an engagement ring the next time we were together. God took him from you, your family and me way too soon. I am so happy i found this site today. He must have been guiding my thoughts. Love Ginger
ReplyDeleteI survived the crash. I did not know your Ralph, but saw him when I was moved from the hospital at Ft. Sill to the burn ward at Brooke. i saw your brother with his parents around his bed as they wheeled me to my bed. The medic told me he was a crash survivor they did not think was going to make it. The mental picture of him and your parents in the hospital room is one I won't forget.
ReplyDeleteDennis Heins
There was another surviver from Toms River New Jeresy I wonder if you remember him or ever met him. I am not related to Ralph, I was dating him at the time.
ReplyDeleteginger
There was another surviver from Toms River New Jeresy I wonder if you remember him or ever met him. I am not related to Ralph, I was dating him at the time.
ReplyDeleteginger
Dennis, did you also know a surviver from Toms River, NJ
ReplyDeleteGinger
phylis!! how have been????
DeleteI grew up in Ardmore, OK. I was 6 or 7 when the American Flyers crashed. Although I was young, I recall that evening. I was in bed asleep only to be awaken by the sound of many, many sirens. My parents received a phone call ....soon a family friend came to our house and babysit us kids. My parents did not tell us that evening what had happened only that they needed to go out. My father was a doctor and my mother, a nurse and they went to the crash site to help give medical aid and comfort where they could. It was a very sad day. I am sorry for your family's loss. We had a number of close friends who lost there husbands or dads that day. Rest in Peace to those who lost there lives in the 1966 American Flyers Crash.
ReplyDeleteI also grew up in ardmore. I was barely 2 but my dad was the doctor for the carter county health dept. i was told he worked the morgue and anything else he could do. a friend of mine i grew up with his dad died in the crash. his name was anthony pica. from time to time i take a drive out there to the airport and think about what happened even though i was too young to know . i would like to know if anyone knows the exact crash site and can it be reached? was any wreckage recovered? I took a drive out there today and it seems very sad that such a pretty area was the stage for such a tragedy.
ReplyDelete