Giving thanks to our veterans

My husband and I were excited to see the two World War II USS Indianapolis rescuers’ pictures and story on the front page of The News Virginian (“WWII soldiers stop in Waynesboro,” July 29). We were invited by our son-in-law, Jim Belcher Jr., to share a lunch with them at Rick’s BBQ. This was quite an experience to get to have personal conversations with them, especially Bill Van Wilpe who told us of his rescue of three of the survivors.
Bill told us when he jumped into the water to help some of the surviving men from the ship’s disaster, he was able to take a good hold on two of them, one with each arm. When a third one came to him, having no other way to get a hold on him too, he grabbed him with his feet and held on to all three of the men until further help arrived. Bill noted — with a little chuckle, having a great sense of humor —that he was so glad it didn’t take very long, because he didn’t know how long he could have held on like that!
What Bill didn’t tell us — but we know from other sources — is that he refused to leave the water while there were other men still waiting for rescue. He remained in the water with them until they could all be taken out of the ocean. Only 19 years old at the time, Bill told us it was more than 30 years before he could talk about the experience — only after some of the books had been released, written about the ship’s sinking and the five-day ordeal the men went through.
All of us at the restaurant were able to share a meal with some real-life heroes. A round of applause greeted them and they graciously signed autographs. Over and over they continued to hear, “Thank you!”
Theoma Floyd
Crimora
Editor’s note: Jim Belcher Sr. was a radioman aboard the Indianapolis. He survived the sinking.