by Tim Robinson

By 1943, the War was on. Boys were fighting on two fronts in Europe and the Pacific. Ted Gary was making good money at the millwork plant in Hoquiam, Washington. $1.25 an hour. He was rich. 

     At 18 Ted got a letter. It was from Franklin Roosevelt, asking him to serve his country. He reported for induction but was turned away. “You don’t belong here”, the board told him. Go home, we’ll send you another letter. A month passed. The letter arrived. Ted was on his way to Montana, to spend the next six months in pilot training for the Army/Air Corp.

Boys were training to fly combat missions. America was losing planes nearly as fast as Boeing could build them. At the end of training the commander stood up in front of the senior class of trainees. “Yer turned way, you are all washed out,” the commander lamented. 
“The army has enough pilots,” was the explanation. 

Ted was not deterred. He wanted to fly; wanted to get inside an aircraft even if it meant he could not fly the plane. He went to the commander and volunteered for tail gunner. He got his wish, flying 22 missions over Germany in a beat up B-17. But he was helping free France from Nazi tyranny. 

With nary a scratch Ted mustered out of the Army/Air Corp, enrolling at Western Washington College. 

By 1948 he had his teaching certificate and was hired at Hazel Valley Elementary School. In 1950 he was at Puget Sound Junior high with Frank Anderson, Jack Lopresti, Tadek Olpinski and Earl McKinney. Ted helped build the jigs and mortises for the students to work with in wood shop. The district paid him $2 an hour; he was rich. When Bow Lake Elementary opened in 1951, Ted became the first principal there.Ted figured it was because he was making too much money in wood shop that they made him a principal.

At district events he rubbed shoulders with Jim Rick, Don Norling, Jack Mackenroth, and Lowell Wiggins. We mention this because Ted is very proud of his long career of educating children in this area. He helped get Camp Waskowitz rolling for Carl Jensen. He worked with Dolly Garrison and George Door and William Beard. Names of former colleagues brought back special memories for him. Bing Dahl, Jim Robeck and Doug Ringenbach were mentioned. Elsie Kalenius and Leonard Johnson. Harry Lemon and Larry O’Neil made him smile. 
His education work alone would be enough to get an award but for now the French government will be at the front of the line. 

Ted’s military service was recognized last November when Jack Cowan, from the French Consulate gave Ted some good news. The French would like to present him with the Medal of Honor. Late, for sure but Ted could not have been happier to have the beautiful pin and to have it presented at his residence in Wesley Terrace, in Des Moines. 
    

     At 90, Ted doesn’t look a day over 70, the number of years that have passed since his service days. A big crowd had gathered for the presentation, pleasing Ted that so many people wanted to witness the event. “I thank for French government for this honor. There aren’t many of us left and they are trying very hard to find us.” Ted is rich once again.