Witzke Wood

“Today was the kind of day of which we need more . I had the pleasure of being in attendance at a special cane presentation to 2nd Lt Harold Noel, 94 years old, a WW11 B24 Navigator, who was shot down on his 15th mission and became a POW at Stalag 3 for over a year. He was freed when Patton Drove his tanks into the Stalag.

Hank Cloutier, one of our local River Rats, and his cane carving team, did one for Harold to honor his service to our country. BG Jeff “Tuna” Johnson, CC of the 113th ANG Wing at Andrews, was honored to host and do the presentation in his Ops Group conference room. The event took place today today. In attendance, beside Tuna were Colonel Kirk “Tick” Pierce the new OG. Harold’s daughter Nancy Noel, son and daughter-in-law Bob and Nancy Noel (Yes, The daughter-in-law is also Nancy). Hank Cloutier and his other cane carver (Peter Ward), and me.

After the presentation, Harold told many stories about his POW experience. The Stalag 3 was the camp about which “The Great Escape” was filmed. He told of his capture, being held in Vienna, then Nuremberg then the march to Bavaria. His targets for the first 14 missions were the big ones, Ploesti, Wiener Neustadt and other well defended ones. On one mission the gunners of his plane did shoot down 2 German fighters.

It was an honor for all of us to be present at this ceremony. It was well worth the hour and a half to honor this genuine
American hero. Harold had no idea that it was going to be such a ceremony. His children had just told him that they wanted to take him to Andrews (AFB) for lunch. “

Jack,
 
I recently sent a cane to Nicolette Liegon Maroulis to replace a cane I had carved for her that was stolen. (Can you believe anyone slimey enough to steal such a cane?) I had told her I would replace it for her... just be patient. Well, she was very patient for months but recently e mailed me asking about her cane? She is riding with a group of injured vets from California to the east coast. I said riding, yes riding, a hand pedaled "trike". She wanted her Eagle Head cane so I just shut everything down and carved it. She is riding with a group and is  being sponsored by some large corporations. Well, I got her cane to her a couple days prior to her leaving for the west coast. She was so very happy with her new cane..... made any effort I made seem so worthwhile. They will be leaving the west coast June 4 I think and are scheduled to ride 64 days/4000 miles. The promos said the national news will be covering them. Anyway, thought you'd like to know.
 
You can look up more info at www.worldteamsports.org/foa/nevergiveup.
 
Ernie
 
 

“From the hearts of the Blue Star Riders, and Jack Nitz and the Eagle Cane Project, Thank you Major Earnest M. Chamberlain, for your Honorable Service, Courage and Sacrifice that truely changed the world. You Sir, are truly an American Hero!” Gordon Ewell.

“Jack,  For your information, Operation Cane of Texas has passed it's 400 mark, presenting it's 412th cane this past May 3rd at Brooke Army Medical Center.  Operation Cane was born, as you will recall, after a conversation with you at Glen Rose, TX in Oct 2004.  Since then we have made 9 trips to BAMC, presented canes at Ft Hood, mailed canes to Kuwait, Palo Alto, Ft Riley, Ft Bragg, Ft Campbell, Walter Reed and Bethesda not to mention the canes sent to individuals not in a facility.  It has been a busy 6 (almost) years and very rewarding, especially getting to meet and talk with all the young men and women who are in need of these canes, God it has been rewarding!  Sometimes I think I gained more than the Warriors did.
 
Walt”

SSG John Stanz NC, with cane by Robbie Gibson, Davidson Co. Carvers, Lexington, North Carolina.

Here is a great article, (see file attachment), that appeared in the local paper for Ventura County, California.  It's on our vision impaired  club member, Gary Hensley, and the cane he carved for one of the wounded heroes.  He did a great job and the recipient was very appreciative.

This article led to a request from a reader to make a cane for his uncle who served in WWII and was wounded.
When Gary brought up the request to our club we found out that Lou, the clubs vice president had the same uncle. Lou and Gary took the cane project on.  Lou carved the eagle head of a screaming eagle.  This was the unit his uncle was in.  Gary carved the cane.  They did this without Lou's cousin knowing he was also working on the cane.  When the cane was presented to Lou's cousin and the sons of the uncle at a family reunion, they were surprised and very grateful.

The Eagle cane project has been very rewarding for our club.  Our carving skills are improving and we are being blessed by honoring our wounded heroes.

Alan Plasch
President of the Channel Islands Carvers
Note: the URL for the article will not transfer but if you want to see it let me know and I will forward the Email that contains it. jack

“Matt loves his cane!  Never saw him smile before – what a wonderful sight!!
He sends his thanks to you, the woodcarver and the Oklahoma group. 
Cheryl”

“Hi Cheryl,
 
Thank you again for the outstanding cane.  It's got to be the coolest cane in the world pretty much.  Would you please pass me the info to contact the people who were generous enough to craft that awesome work of art for me?  Thanks.
 
Kind Regards,
Matt”

“Last Saturday at our regular monthly meeting MSG David Neumer who Jim Wilsford just did a cane for came to our meeting. This is the first Wounded Warrior to attend. We have had a couple others attend for their cane presentation by Fred and I and you have their photos on the site but they were Vietnam and not PH Vets.
It was very touching that this young man came to the meeting with his wife while home for a few days in Kingston, Tn . Will send a photo of the couple with Jim Wilsford . You already have the photo posted of David with the cane.
We had hoped the young man Fred made the cane for would be able to attend from Maryville as well but he was not able. He wrote a very nice note to Fred which you have on the site as well”.

This is part of a quote from an Email from John Freels, SMWC, Knoxville, Tn.
jack

The Channel Island Carvers are relatively new to the Eagle Cane Program but have been very busy providing canes. Mary Anderson wrote that they had completed 12 and the picture shows them working on more.

In the middle group of pictures you find Ray Barger presenting a cane to SFC Bob Wilson- a club member who served in the Navy from 1943 to 1947, he was wounded and received the Purple Heart on June 11, l944. Bob joined the Army next and served in that branch from 1947 to 1953. Ray, an accomplished bird carver, has been helping the group get a handle on carving the eagle head used on the canes (canes from the group can be viewed on the “Photos” page of the web site.)

In the group picture, Gary Hensley, third from the left holding a cane has overcome a serious visual impairment (he is legally blind) to participate in the cane program.

Alan Plasch, not pictured, manages the cane program for the Channel Island carvers.

Jack this is an email that I rec'd from Nicholas when I notified him that I had finished his cane and was getting ready to send it on for presentation.

"Thanks so much for you hard work and dedication to giving me something that I will love and cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you so much Mr. Binning. Please call me instead of my mother at 865-228-3597 so we can set up a time for you to come to my house and have lunch or something so I can show my appreciation for all that you've done for me. Your cane means more to me than you could ever imagine. Please call me when ever its most convenient for you. Me and my mother will get home this coming monday to our home in Maryville, TN. Thanks again Mr. Binning.
Appreciation and Gratitude,
Nicholas Mckensey"
--
 
This is what makes the effort that one puts into the canes worthwhile. The whole time I was there he kept looking at the cane, running his hands over it and saying thank you,
Fred