|
Herman Young (L) and Jack Tufford Editor's Note:
For years, Jack Tufford and Herman Young, Second World War veterans,
were great pals. They enjoyed a terrific friendship and eventually both
were living at Trillium Court, Kincardine, where Young continues to
live. Tufford died in April, 2007. I remember seeing the pair of them
travelling around town. Tufford's voice was almost gone - a shame
because he could tell some of the best off-colour jokes anywhere - and
Young could no longer drive. So, Tufford did the driving and Young did
the talking - it was a great relationship. Five years ago, Tufford wrote
the following story about his "brother", Herman Young, a tribute to his
friend who had just suffered a massive stroke and was on the road to
recovery:
The Brother I Never Had ... Herman Young
By Jack Tufford ~ 2004
Shortly after moving to Kincardine, I had the privilege of meeting
Herman Young and becoming friends. That friendship has thrived and
intensified for the past 63 years. Herman has taken the place of the
brother I never had.
On Armistice Day, the 11th of November, 1940, Herman borrowed his
grandfather's roadster and we went to a dance at the Catholic Church in
Kingsbridge. The licence plate was hung on a rod in front of the
radiator. When Herman proceeded to crank the car after the dance, the
wind blew the plate up and Herman got a mean gash in his wrist. We
managed to get back to Kintail and wake up old Doc Simpson. He showed us
into his living room in his nightshirt and cap. He proceeded to stitch
Herman's wrist with his wife's white thread and a darning needle without
any antiseptic while I held a lantern. Due to the smell of smoke from
the enamel burning off the Quebec heater and watching Herman suffer
while he sewed him up and tied the thread by hand, I dropped the
lantern. The old doc wasn't too happy but we didn't have a fire.
Early in 1941, we joined the service. Herman in the Elgin Regiment and I
joined the Highland Light Infantry as several fellows from town were in
that outfit. Herman already had three brothers in the army. Four boys
from one family was quite a strain on the parents but they all came
back.
In July, after an embarkation leave, we sailed out of Halifax and headed
for Great Britain. We had an uneventful crossing and sailed into
Glasgow, the home of our mother regiment. Herman's ship went out but
wasn't quite as lucky. It was rammed and had to return to port for
repairs.
Our paths didn't cross too often due to the difference in training. We
managed to keep in touch with each other by mutual friends and mail from
home. In 1943, he lost a sister who just lived a few doors from my
parents.
We both landed on Juno Beach on the 6th of June, 1944. Herman's unit by
this time had changed to a tank delivery outfit.
I lasted until the 8th of July, 1944, and was wounded at Buron and
shipped back to England for hospitalization that lasted four months.
Herman wound up in a hospital in Holland.
We were both home in 1946 and joined the Legion. At that time, it was
known as the British Empire Service League. We have both strived to
uphold the aims and objectives of that great organization over the
years. We helped at Saturday night bingo and other events. We attended
all zone and district conventions and events.
I was employed by the Ripley Woodworkers and Herman by the dairy. When
my job closed at the end of 1947, I went down to the Kitchener and
Preston area. Herman and I kept in touch through our families as well as
weekends and holidays spent in Kincardine.
We had a daughter born on the 11th of November, so after that we spent
Remembrance Day in Kincardine with (my wife) Rita's sister, Helen.
Herman married Marg in 1956, but he never slowed down with his many
activities for the betterment of the community and everyone in it, from
the youngest to the oldest.
Here are some of these activities, though maybe not in the proper order.
His municipal politics took him to the top position as mayor during
which many improvements took place. He was instrumental in bringing a
peewee ball tournament to town over the 1st of July weekend. This
continued for several years. He umpired other league ball games. He also
encouraged the Silver Stick hockey tournament to be held here.
He never neglected the Legion programs. He acted in all offices of
Branch 183, Kincardine, and served as deputy and zone commander. He was
active on the provincial youth education program and still acts as a
judge on these local programs. He was treasurer and Marg was secretary
of the United Church, as well as the Legion. Due to a shortage of space
in these two organizations, they had a joint office set up in their
house on Nelson Street.
 |
I moved back to Kincardine in May, 1967, and took over a taxi business
with a mail route and a developmentally-handicapped children's school
bus run. Herman nailed me right quick to again get active in Legion
work. In 1969, I was elected 1st Vice and two years later, became
president. This was all at Herman's insistence and I went on to be
elected president for nine more years. I was also deputy and zone
commander. Herman and I attended all zone and district conventions along
with any special events in our area. We attended Dominion Legion
conventions from Penticton to St. John's and all points in between.
These were held in the even years. The provincial conventions were held
in the odd years at cities across Ontario.
We held several district and zone conventions at our branch as well as
1st of July celebrations. Three Lieutenant Governors attended some of
our events. A former aide-de-camp to these people made their attendance
with us possible as well as having the provincial police pipe band play
for our parades. We also held regimental reunions for the Elgin Regiment
and the 19th Field Regiment.
Herman was elected deputy commander for the district in 1975 and
commander in 1977. On Christmas Eve in 1977, the Legion moved to the
present location on Lambton Street with some dignitaries present. A
joint birthday party was held in February for the Ladies Auxiliary and
the Branch. On occasion, we had the Dominion and Provincial presidents
present.
Around this time, Herman became correspondent for the Legion Magazine.
Due to Herman's expertise and this new posting, we were able to hold the
first reunion of the HMCS Kincardine crew. The army and air force
members were kept according to squadrons or regiments but the navy was
just one big list which made for quite a job to round them up. After 38
years, these were emotional events. The Sunday church services were all
held in the Kincardine United Church. Herman and I presented a Canadian
and Ontario flag to each church in our area on behalf of the Legion.
In 1979, on the 35th anniversary of Operation Overlord, Herman, along
with 117 others, made a trek back to the beach at Beny-Sur-Mer. Overlord
was the code name for the D-Day Invasion. On behalf of Branch 183,
Herman and I presented a mounted silver beer stein, appropriately
engraved, and an oak stand to the mayor of Beny-Sur-Mer. Due to the
narrow winding roads, our buses could not go to the beaches, but parked
at the church that I spent my first night in on D-Day. The reception
committee saw us coming and broke into the program. The program included
several local dignitaries and we made our presentation. On the way back
to our buses, we met the official Canadian party coming down. They had
been held up by a funeral that blocked the roadway.
Herman has a great number of plaques and awards which he justly
deserves. He was Citizen of the Year. Another time, I had the privilege
of introducing him for his work with the seniors of our area when the
Chamber of Commerce presented him with an award. He was presented with a
medal by our federal member, Paul Steckle, for outstanding community
service.
In 1993, our Regimental Association put together a 50th anniversary
pilgrimage which Rita and I attended. Herman and friends returned to
mark the liberation of Holland in 1995.
Herman became involved in local senior bowling and zone senior rallies
for Zone 9 twice a year and a fun day in June every year. He went on to
be president of the USCO senior games where he was presented with the
prestigious Bob Secord award for work with seniors.
His latest activity was with the Soldiers Aid Committee for Ontario. He
worked with Bill Smith of Lucan. The two have been buddies since they
were district commanders at the same time. Herman will be greatly missed
around the Bulldog hockey organization where he has acted as treasurer
for several years.
In early December, Herman was scheduled for a quadruple bypass during
which he took a stroke. After a stay in University Hospital in London,
he went to Parkwood for therapy before returning to Kincardine, awaiting
an opening for him in Trillium Court. He is making slow progress and
everyone is praying for him and wishing him well. I miss him greatly as
the brother I never had for the past 63 years.
In one of my Regimental Association newsletters, it was stated that
there is no heaven on earth but little pieces are spread around, and I
firmly believe that Herman is one of those pieces. After spending his
adult life for the benefit of the community and everyone in it and
expecting nothing in return, I find it rather ironic that at 80 years of
age, he finds himself in need of care and assistance that he generously
gave over the years. His friends are wondering what they can do to help
and are making his stay in hospital our bit as we endeavour to cheer him
up.
As I ponder and try to comprehend this sudden reversal in Herman's
lifestyle, I find consolation in the Serenity Prayer.
Herman's friend, Dorothy, and his two boys have been doing everything
they possibly can to make his recovery possible.
 |
for
world news,
books, sports, movies ...
