A National Treasure resides among us
Readers, you have a man living among you who, I believe, deserves the title of a National Treasure. He is now 93 years young, still drives (safely), exercises by using his basement stairs for what I used to endure as "bleacher laps," has survived the "Bataan Death March" early in World War II and over 3 years as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in multiple labor camps (slave labor camps) and most of the time in Japan. He was at his last camp located a little over 30 miles from Nagasaki when the second atomic bomb was dropped that ended World War II. He has been a frequent guest speaker for all veteran groups and service organizations as a first-hand reminder of what really happened in the Pacific during those times from 1941 to 1945 and he loves to speak to younger men and women so they "do not forget." I just had the pleasure of sharing a birthday lunch for him at "Jimmy's Down the Street" in June (93rd birthday) and to share a vehicle with him near the front of the Fourth of July Parade this year. Following the parade I was asked to invite him to our beloved Marine Corps Ball on Nov. 10 (annually celebrates the establishment of the United States Marine Corps established by the Continental Congress on Nov. 10, 1775).
This man has been a faithful Husband (wife passed away several years ago), Proud Father and Grandfather, Successful Salesman with a Midwest abrasives firm, Chicago area Republican Politician and when locating to our area almost three decades ago became a school board member and successfully steered the drive for the new Kootenai High School in Harrison that is functional, attractive, comfortable and at a very large cost savings to the taxpayers. He is an outspoken conservative, is a Christian who walks the walk as well as talks the talk. He has endured a couple of serious falls locally due to ice and unseen steps in the past couple years that would be totally disabling, if not fatal, to younger people and yet, he recovered and continues his active lifestyle. He is an avid knife collector with an enviable display in his home in Fernan. He is an uninhibited giver to worthy causes (including, dear to my heart the "Toys for Tots" program) and people in need. His advice is worth listening to and is based on his many years of experience and recollection. I dare say, he has been a lifeline to me as I am proud to call him a friend.
In spite of the experience of the surrender of the Philippines to Imperial Japan in 1942 and the subsequent forced marches and continued incarcerations by a reputed brutal army and being witness to the many abuses (to both he and his fellow prisoners as well as to the Japanese civilian population) he amazingly carries no malice toward his captors nor their nation.
This is truly a man I feel deserves the recognition and respect of our Community and our Country while he is still with us. I salute Mr. Herbert "Bud" Kirchhoff and I wish you to achieve the goal of seeing your 100th birthday with us Bud.
(Noteworthy that he has traveled around our nation as a National Director for the Surviving Prisoner of War Organizations and, currently for the Washington State organization. He is a great spokesman for our part of the country right here in Coeur d'Alene).
Dan Brockway Sr., is a Post Falls resident.