Newspaper photo triggered memory

Your recent “Kent Opinion” notice (Feb. 28, “Quote of Note” by Amelia Earhart) was a unique incident for me.

I am a World War II handicapped veteran, living in Kent. I’m pushing 81 years now, but when I saw the item, it brought back old memories I had forgotten of the Dust Bowl and Depression, when I was 6 years old.

The face I will never forget. My older brother had taken me to a ranch in Wink, Texas, but the sandstorm was extremely bad and we ended up at the airport to find our way. When we were at the tower, we could hear the field operator talking to a woman pilot lost somewhere up there in the vast sandstorm. Asking directions, she was low on petrol and had to land … we listened to the two-way conversations.

I will never see how she made it, but she did and came into the tower to talk. She was dressed as you see her (in Kent Reporter picture wearing flight helmet topped with goggles) and my being only 6 years old, she looked at me and bent down to ask me if I were flying, too, then she kissed my forehead, wishing me luck.

It was months later that my older brother brought a newspaper I could not read, but there on the front page was Amelia Earhart’s picture, with “Lost at Sea.”

So when I saw your “Opinion” page, memories returned.

That face and voice will always haunt me. Thanks.

Leon Thompson

Kent