Local man remembers brother, father on Memorial Day
TOM NEEDHAM rests a hand on Barbara Legoo’s shoulder during a Memorial Day ceremony in Polson. The couple attended holiday festivities in honor of loved ones lost during wartimes. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
VETERANS MARCH in a Memorial Day parade in Polson Monday. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
MEMBERS OF THE Honor Guard wait for commands during a Memorial Day ceremony at Lake View Cemetery in Polson. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
As they listened to the speaker, Barbara Legoo and Tom Needham stood close to one another at Lake View Cemetery, their memories scanning back to one person, among many on Memorial Day.
Needham explained following the ceremony that he was there in memory of his other, Robert “Bob” A. Needham.
“He was my hero. The hero of my life.”
Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1943, Needham began.
He was sent to England and France as a top gun for the 409th bomb group, Needham explained.
Bob was selected for his position after he was sought out by a commander for his knowledge of weaponry as well as respect wildlife.
“(The commander) found this very handsome hunter from Montana who knew how to handle weapons and preserve the wildlife legally,” Needham said.
Bob manned a machine gun for the commanders on the lead plane, Needham said.
On July 4, 1944, Bob and his buddies were given leave to go to London to celebrate the American Independence. The following morning, everyone went back to their planes and that’s when Bob’s plane, flying low, “took a shell.”
“It started a fire, but it didn’t knock the plane out,” Needham said.
Bob and the bombardier took fire extinguishers, trying to keep the flames at bay.
Once the extinguishers ran out, Bob and the bombardier “bailed out into the English Channel.”
Also on the flight was a “young fellow” who was 19, taking his first flight at this time. He went along with Bob, 22, who had trained him.
While they were in the English Channel, they watched for each other’s life rafts, Needham said.
Just before Bob was able to be rescued, a large wave came, and he and the young man caught a sudden glimpse of each other.
“Bob was never seen again,” Needham said.
Also in his thoughts was Needham’s father, also named Thomas, who fought in World War 1 in 1917-18 as a blacksmith.
Needham said that he has lived a life full of his own personal accomplishments, as well as trying to spread Bob’s story.
Although Bob didn’t make it back to land, Needham said that the commander and “young fella” did because of Bob’s efforts.