My Family's ides of March 15 (long)

Tomorrow marks the 55th anniversary .The evening of March
15 ,1964 My Dads cousin Ruth lost 2 teenage sons in the
frigid backwaters of the Ohio river flood. They had fed the
animals on the hi ground for over a week by motorboat and
the water was going down. Continued heavy rain that day made
them decide to wait til evening .A hired hand also went
along that had been staying with his wife and 4 little
girls at the big mansion farm house. It was dusk. when
coming back Their Daddy Arch who had pneumonia could tell
something went wrong. Their were no other boats available at
the farm. The phone lines and electric were still working
and the sheriff was called , by the time rescue arrived the
boys were gone. only the half sunk skiff could be found
in the pitch black darkness and heavy rain. After that
loss, Ruth Prayed herself crazy in Her grief. A couple
days passed . She was not coming out by boat.a helicopter
could not get in either, and there was no way she would go
if they could. My Great Uncle Joe Bischoff came in his
big REO diesel and a flat head Ford to bring her out across
flooded Ind 111. The road gave way to flood waters nearly 2
miles from the farm.I was only 7 then, BUt , I remember it
as It was Marked On Me.I was as comfortable with their
family as My Own , And We had a good Home life. I was there
when everything was being moved up to safety a week before.
my Dad and i was the last vehicle pulled across the flooded
lane by tractor that nite. My Great Uncle and 4 or 5
of his brothers declared to the State Police " You can
deal with Us when We get back with My daughter". The Ford
stalled out in the swag , But the diesel continued to the
farm. When they arrived The RAIN stopped ! As God is my
witness .and the sun shone brightly upon the roofs of that
house ,i could see my Great uncles hustling about from
where we stood on the road.It was not long they were on
their way back in rain so hard we could hardly see the
lights of that truck.They Whisked Ruth away to comfort in
the big car and went back to get the Ford as the rain let up
somewhat. The State Police where Much relieved and got over
being blockading to being downright happy and helpful .
Tomorrow . Our family will remember
in prayer these Wonderful people that I Qualify as being
"Great Americans" .. I often wonder what those fine young
men would had become had their lives not had been snuffed
out.
 
jim, you never forget a story like that, even being only 7 at the time. so sad! what might have been. the boys were the same age as me at the time.
 

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