There’s been so many stories like this in the news lately, and I absolutely am here for it. There’s something about being given something that seems to have been lost forever – like in this case, HALF A CENTURY – that makes you feel like anything is possible.
William Retterath from Washburn, North Dakota was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam from 1968-69. After his tour, Retterath returned to teach the next class of pilots the ins and outs of helicopter maintenance. As a farewell gift, a group of his fellow instructors gave him a Zippo lighter with a personalized inscription. A year later, while picking produce, the Zippo fell out of his jacket pocket – and has been missing since that summer of 1971.
That small North Dakota plot was sold to the North Dakota Game and Fish department, and in 2020 an employee saw something shiny nestled in the dirt while working – that same Zippo lighter. Dented, a little rusty, and extremely dirty, the lighter was far from functional, but Game and Fish employees worked together to find the owner of the little piece of history.
Will doesn’t smoke anymore, so even if the lighter WAS functional, it wouldn’t ever be used. But, now the 73 year-old Vietnam veteran has a piece of his life, and a symbol of everything he shared with his helicopter crew, back in his possession, displayed in his home with pride.
I can’t even imagine getting that phone call. Life works in mysterious ways!
XOXO, Alyssa
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