大象传媒

I remembered him as the tall, handsome American soldier whose picture had adorned the inside of my mothers鈥� china cabinet for more than fifty years鈥�..Uncle Russ, who had visited us in our home many times during WW2.

He was from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where my aunt lived. He had been told by my aunt (as had many of the young boys of the town) that should they ever be stationed in Wales, they would always be welcome to visit our home 鈥� and although we lived very modestly, with strict food rationing they would always be sure of a welcome.

I was about four years old at that time. My father had left my mother when I was about nine months old; so we lived with my elderly grandmother.

When Russell Grimm called, it was easy for me, an impressionable little girl to become very fond of this amiable young American. My grandmother and mother welcomed him whenever he had leave, and I think that he must have enjoyed the simple comforts of our little home. I obviously had made some impact on him too, as he was soon affectionately calling me 鈥淏right Eyes鈥濃��..a name that I cherish to this day.

He would sometimes meet me from school, and I remember how proud I felt as he hoisted me onto his shoulders (so broad and uniformed) to carry me home. And, he always had a bar of chocolate for me鈥�.such luxury! He was so good to me. I missed having a father around, so having this tall handsome soldier around us was absolutely wonderful.

When the time came for him to return to the USA he gave me a small picture of himself in uniform, and he鈥檇 signed it鈥�.To Bright Eyes, from Uncle Russ鈥濃��.it is a picture that I have always held dear.

Over the years my mother lost touch with Russell and it was in 1992 that I decided to try and find him. I wrote to the Beaver Falls local paper鈥� (I presumed that there would be such a publication) with my story, some pictures and a request that they put a small piece in their paper to say that I was trying to find my Uncle Russ. I posted it- then put it out of my mind鈥︹�ust incase I didn鈥檛 hear from them.

Imagine my surprise when about a week later, one lunchtime, I received a phone-call from America鈥�.from a young reporter of the Beaver Falls County Times. I was so excited. She had read my letter, so I asked if she thought that I might have some success with my search. I will never forget the way she laughed. 鈥淲ell, yes,鈥� she said 鈥淚 have just
been talking to Russell Grimm!鈥�

Apparently it had been an easy search, uncle Russ was still registered in the phone-book. He was 83 years old and had had several strokes 鈥� but the young reporter assured me that he was overjoyed to think that I was looking for him and had asked if I would phone him straight away.
So, on that day in 1992 I spoke to Uncle Russ for the first time since the war 鈥early 50 years before.
Although his speech was slurred due to his strokes, he brought back such memories. He remembered the occasion when I had asked him to sing an American song. He had thought to himself 鈥� that he couldn鈥檛 sing鈥�.but he sang anyway, thinking that as I was only a little girl then I wouldn鈥檛 know if he was in tune or not. But then he laughingly added, 鈥測ou knew鈥� he then recalled that I had said鈥︹�漼our singing is terrible!鈥� What a way to be remembered. Across the Atlantic and 50 years later this story made me blush.

He sounded so wonderful, just as I remembered him, a gentle man who was a gentleman. I knew that he was really unwell, so I promised to phone him again and write; which I did. I made up my mind that I would visit him as soon as I could. Sadly, my own health caused a delay to my plans.

Meanwhile his sister, 70 year old Sara, started to write to me. She filled in so many little extras about Uncle Russ鈥�.she told me of the many pictures he had of me all lovingly cherished; taken during those far off days in Wales, when he had so happily shared our lives. In latter years he had often been found pouring through his photo albums of the war years. He had told them all about me鈥escribing me as a 鈥渟prightly little girl with bright eyes, a big smile and an insatiable appetite for ice-cream鈥�.

Then in 1996 I received a letter from Sara to say that her brother had died, so I didn鈥檛 get to meet him after all, I was so sad and disappointed. Sara said that he had been happy and proud during those last days to think that I had searched for him-found him-and kept in touch.
My memories of him will always be good鈥e had played a small, but very important part in my growing up. I had loved him..that will never alter.

Today I still correspond with Sara, who writes marvelously interesting letters. I still hope to visit Beaver Falls, and I would like to go with Sara to pay my respects to Uncle Russ. I鈥檇 like him to know that 鈥楤right Eyes鈥� will never forget him.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.