A Word of Thanks: Mr. Patrick Slowey
When History Comes Home
This past year I had that proverbial “aha moment” as a teacher – an event that personally touched me and one that has changed the way I study history. As a brief matter of introduction, I have taught for just over a decade in mostly rural public high schools in Colorado. Additionally, I had the honor to serve as an infantry officer in the United States Army for over 29 years, before retiring in 2012. My “aha moment” occurred while participating in the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute. The Normandy Institute is a National History Day sponsored study that selects 15 student /teacher teams from across the United States. Teams spend several months studying the Second World War – focusing on a “silent hero” - a randomly selected Serviceman from our home state who gave his life during the Normandy Campaign.
The journey to my “aha moment” started innocuously enough. Margaret (my 10th grade American Studies student) had selected Private Norman Foster as our “silent hero”. All we knew about Norman was from that he was from Colorado; he served with the 70th Tank Battalion and was declared missing in action on June 6th, 1944. As fate would have it, Norman was raised in Craig, Colorado – a small town located 40 miles west of our hometown, Steamboat Springs. Our initial research in Craig unearthed a wealth of information. I watched Margaret devour old newspaper articles, pictures, and Foster family history at the Craig Museum – but this wasn't “the moment”; I’d seen students get into research before, her enthusiasm was nothing new. As our journey continued, we followed up on several interesting leads that would help us better understand Norman Foster. We found his niece, Verleen Tucker, a fellow resident of Steamboat Springs, who was very helpful in furthering our understanding of who
Norman was. She gave us a sense how Norman’s death left deep psychological and physical scars on her family and how his missing in action status left and still leaves a lack of closure. Shortly after meeting Verleen, we interviewed Stewart Coles, Norman’s high school classmate and fellow draftee who went through basic training with Norman at Fort Knox, KY. Both interviews gave us a sense of Norman; the brother, the student, and the soldier. Despite this wealth of information, the “moment” had yet to arrive.
Shortly after ending the school year, Margaret and I found ourselves in Washington D.C., marking the start of our “resident” study at George Washington University and the National Archives. At GWU we participated in a number of presentations from a variety of college professors and specialists. One lecture in particular struck a chord with us. Mr. Joshua Fennell, from the Department of Defense briefed us on the department’s ongoing efforts to find, identify, and return the remains of formerly missing servicemen and women. Bingo – maybe Norman’s body could be recovered and brought home to Craig for a proper burial – just maybe. Jarred and I exchanged emails and briefly talked before having to move on to the next lecture.
A few days later, Margaret and I, along with rest of the Institute’s participants found ourselves standing on Utah Beach. We realized that Norman along with 18 other members of the 70th Tank Battalion, were just a couple of miles away from us, entombed in their four Sherman tanks that were blown into the Channel when their landing craft (LCT 593) hit a mine during the initial assault wave. As part of the Institute’s program of instruction, students deliver a eulogy at their “silent hero’s” grave site at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Needless to say it was an emotional experience for all involved. We went from grave to grave remembering
the lives and sacrifice made by our “silent heroes” and others. Margaret’s eulogy was second to last. We didn't go to a grave site, instead we found Norman’s name etched on a wall of those missing in action. As I looked for Norman, I saw a number of familiar names – men who had been listed as missing along with Norman on A-Company’s Morning Report, following D-Day. Margaret’s composure, her heartfelt words and overall demeanor made me extremely proud. It was not her delivery that made it the “aha moment” rather it was struck by the sudden realization that I had a duty to help find Norman and his fellow comrades and bring them home. I remembered a line from the Soldier’s Creed, “I will never leave a fallen comrade” – Norman and I were soldiers: different wars, different times, but soldiers, and I resolved to serve as the catalyst for finding Norman and reuniting him with his family.
Since that “aha moment”; I have begun a journey to bring Norman home. I have put Verleen in touch with the Army’s Human Resources Command to obtain DNA samples from Verleen and Norman’s brother. We have put Jarred in contact with a French project that is documenting the location of underwater archaeological sites off of Normandy – i.e. sunken ships, tanks etc. Maybe Norman’s LCT can be found - his tank can’t be far away. Maybe we can get one step closer to bringing Norman home to the mountains of Colorado and maybe his family can find closure and solace in his service and sacrifice some 70 years ago off the coast of France.
This past year I had that proverbial “aha moment” as a teacher – an event that personally touched me and one that has changed the way I study history. As a brief matter of introduction, I have taught for just over a decade in mostly rural public high schools in Colorado. Additionally, I had the honor to serve as an infantry officer in the United States Army for over 29 years, before retiring in 2012. My “aha moment” occurred while participating in the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute. The Normandy Institute is a National History Day sponsored study that selects 15 student /teacher teams from across the United States. Teams spend several months studying the Second World War – focusing on a “silent hero” - a randomly selected Serviceman from our home state who gave his life during the Normandy Campaign.
The journey to my “aha moment” started innocuously enough. Margaret (my 10th grade American Studies student) had selected Private Norman Foster as our “silent hero”. All we knew about Norman was from that he was from Colorado; he served with the 70th Tank Battalion and was declared missing in action on June 6th, 1944. As fate would have it, Norman was raised in Craig, Colorado – a small town located 40 miles west of our hometown, Steamboat Springs. Our initial research in Craig unearthed a wealth of information. I watched Margaret devour old newspaper articles, pictures, and Foster family history at the Craig Museum – but this wasn't “the moment”; I’d seen students get into research before, her enthusiasm was nothing new. As our journey continued, we followed up on several interesting leads that would help us better understand Norman Foster. We found his niece, Verleen Tucker, a fellow resident of Steamboat Springs, who was very helpful in furthering our understanding of who
Norman was. She gave us a sense how Norman’s death left deep psychological and physical scars on her family and how his missing in action status left and still leaves a lack of closure. Shortly after meeting Verleen, we interviewed Stewart Coles, Norman’s high school classmate and fellow draftee who went through basic training with Norman at Fort Knox, KY. Both interviews gave us a sense of Norman; the brother, the student, and the soldier. Despite this wealth of information, the “moment” had yet to arrive.
Shortly after ending the school year, Margaret and I found ourselves in Washington D.C., marking the start of our “resident” study at George Washington University and the National Archives. At GWU we participated in a number of presentations from a variety of college professors and specialists. One lecture in particular struck a chord with us. Mr. Joshua Fennell, from the Department of Defense briefed us on the department’s ongoing efforts to find, identify, and return the remains of formerly missing servicemen and women. Bingo – maybe Norman’s body could be recovered and brought home to Craig for a proper burial – just maybe. Jarred and I exchanged emails and briefly talked before having to move on to the next lecture.
A few days later, Margaret and I, along with rest of the Institute’s participants found ourselves standing on Utah Beach. We realized that Norman along with 18 other members of the 70th Tank Battalion, were just a couple of miles away from us, entombed in their four Sherman tanks that were blown into the Channel when their landing craft (LCT 593) hit a mine during the initial assault wave. As part of the Institute’s program of instruction, students deliver a eulogy at their “silent hero’s” grave site at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Needless to say it was an emotional experience for all involved. We went from grave to grave remembering
the lives and sacrifice made by our “silent heroes” and others. Margaret’s eulogy was second to last. We didn't go to a grave site, instead we found Norman’s name etched on a wall of those missing in action. As I looked for Norman, I saw a number of familiar names – men who had been listed as missing along with Norman on A-Company’s Morning Report, following D-Day. Margaret’s composure, her heartfelt words and overall demeanor made me extremely proud. It was not her delivery that made it the “aha moment” rather it was struck by the sudden realization that I had a duty to help find Norman and his fellow comrades and bring them home. I remembered a line from the Soldier’s Creed, “I will never leave a fallen comrade” – Norman and I were soldiers: different wars, different times, but soldiers, and I resolved to serve as the catalyst for finding Norman and reuniting him with his family.
Since that “aha moment”; I have begun a journey to bring Norman home. I have put Verleen in touch with the Army’s Human Resources Command to obtain DNA samples from Verleen and Norman’s brother. We have put Jarred in contact with a French project that is documenting the location of underwater archaeological sites off of Normandy – i.e. sunken ships, tanks etc. Maybe Norman’s LCT can be found - his tank can’t be far away. Maybe we can get one step closer to bringing Norman home to the mountains of Colorado and maybe his family can find closure and solace in his service and sacrifice some 70 years ago off the coast of France.
Acknowledgements
We would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who made this experience not only possible but a tremendous success. Without the support of the following people this summer would not have come to fruition in the wonderful way that it did.
Mr. Albert H. Small
Dr. Cathy Gorn
Dr. Eric Arnesen
Ms. Lynne O'Hara
Mr. Julian Hipkins
Ms. Verleen Tucker
Mr. Stewart Coles
The staff of the Museum of Northwest Colorado
Mr. Albert H. Small
Dr. Cathy Gorn
Dr. Eric Arnesen
Ms. Lynne O'Hara
Mr. Julian Hipkins
Ms. Verleen Tucker
Mr. Stewart Coles
The staff of the Museum of Northwest Colorado