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Leader's LetterMarch 2007
The Worst of Times, the Best of TimesAs an MP, I sometimes get asked to help with some out-of-theordinary problems, as you might suppose. Although there are often times when the outcome one might wish for cannot be delivered 100%, sometimes there is just the odd ‘result’ that makes you feel good and warms your heart. So for my first column of this year I will relate a ‘good news’ story. In 2005 while overseas I was approached by an elderly gentleman for assistance. Now a sprightly 88, in WW2 Richard Johnson had been with the US Marines stationed in Masterton. In his hand were two letters, written by ‘Gwen and Jackie’, that he had kept safe all this time. On yellowed paper, in neat handwriting, was all the gossip. But there was no surname, no address. Hearing of my connections to the Wairarapa, he asked me to help find the family who many years ago took him in, went to Saturday night dances with him and whose memory he still held dear. On return to New Zealand, I passed copies of the letters to a newspaper, thinking they would be able to help. After some time without any news, I decided to take action myself. Luckily, the postmark was just visible - Eketahuna, August 1943 - and the name of a house - or farm? -could be made out. The wonderful library at Parliament still had the 1943 electoral roll, and in it was a surname for ‘Gwendoline". Ringing anyone of that surname (not Smith, thankfully) in the Masterton area, soon Gwen’s cousin was found, and through him, her son and daughter-in-law in Feilding.  Ron Mark (in his element) in a CAF Harvard ZK-USM "Miss Marianas" at Auckland’s Commemorative Air Force Base Head Quarters in February this year Sadly, Gwen died a few years ago but her daughter-in-law informed me that Gwen had kept diaries of that time. They were very happy for Mr Johnson to make contact. Crucially, they provided the name and phone number for Jackie, a cousin who had been just 12 at the time she wrote to ‘The Boys’, still alive and living in Auckland. When contacted, having been so young in 1943 she initially could not remember Mr Johnson and we suffered a momentary setback. But when sent copies of the letters, wherein she mentioned burying her kitten, her memory straightway returned. Her details have exchanged with Mr Johnson, and I hope to hear one day that they have been in touch, or even reunited (we are still working on that one)! Mr Johnson was thrilled that we found Jackie, and even Gwen in a way. To add to the tale, he informed me that his cousin, also a Marine, was at the same time being cared for in a nearby hospital after losing an eye. The letters were posted back to Mr Johnson in the States by courier, for it would have been forever on my conscience if they had been lost in the post. When asked by the postal worker for the value, for insurance should they go missing, the answer was, of course "Nothing at all, but priceless." Ron Mark MP
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