If you want to visit the home of Norman and Helen Wright, it's located a few miles off the main highway, down a secondary road somewhere between 1943, and the Eisenhower administration. The home is a showcase of yesterday's ambiance that is only matched by their down to earth old-fashioned hospitality. A place untouched by urban labels, sounds, and smells. A place they built, and it's just how they like it.

"The years have been kind to us," said Norman, as he added another wood slab in the old wood burner. "God has blessed us with our good health so we were able to build this place. There were a few times when I was in the Navy, that I thought I would never be where I am today."

Indeed, when Wright entered the United States Navy in September of 1942, he had no inkling of the adventure that awaited him on the open sea.

Before Wright reached his 18th birthday, he was off to Norfolk, Virginia for Navy Boot camp. During this initial introduction to military life, he survived hours of testing, weeks of training, miles of marching, and immunizations for every disease known to man. But he never quite mastered an appreciation for the Navy's version of chow hall food. After his six weeks of training, next came graduation and assignments. Wright received the misfortune of being assigned to a Navy destroyer called the USS Lansdale.

For nearly two years, life aboard the Lansdale was a series of missions that involved escorting tankers, supply ships and chasing German submarines with depth charges. They traveled to such areas as Italy, Trinidad, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and England. But it was their location on the evening of 20 April, 1944 that no amount of training could prepare for. While escorting a group of ships in the Mediterranean Sea just north of Algiers, they were attacked by a squadron of German fighters armed with torpedoes.

"The sound of General Quarters came over the loudspeakers," said Wright. "My assigned battle position was fig one of the anti-aircraft guns. But the aircraft were flying so low on the water, that they were in direct line of fire with the other ships. This made me reluctant to fire until they were nearly on top of us."

Wright's aim must have been pretty accurate, because there were planes shot down during this attack.

One of the ships being escorted that night was the ammunition laden liberty ship, the USS Paul Hamilton. It was struck by a German torpedo that erupted into a giant explosion. There were over 500 souls on board the Hamilton - they all perished. It was the bright fireball explosion from the Hamilton that provided excellent visibility for the German fighters to continue their carnage. During that engagement five ships were torpedoed, three were sunk.

"I remember the sound of the torpedo hitting our ship," said Wright. "It was like a muffled explosion until the engine boiler blew up. That second explosion was so violent that it ripped parts of the ship loose which fell all over us. Our ship shook and vibrated violently. Then she rolled over on her side, and in less than 20 minutes, we were all floating in the darkness of 60 degree water covered in slimy oil."

During the early hours of April 21, rescue ships began picking the survivors from the water. Many were shaking so uncontrollably from exposure to the cold sea that they needed complete help getting out of the water. Most did survive, many went down with the ship. Some perished in the water. For Wright, it was the girl back home that kept him fighting for his life.

The girl that kept him going has been his wife for over 65 years now. Long retired as a part owner in a local sheet metal fabrication business, he now pursues a hobby of painting on canvas that has been a love of his since his days at Vinson High School. Their home is a gallery of art work depicting his paintings of all subjects.

You'll know when you find the house that Norman and Helen live at. There's that little pond with a couple of ten pound catfish, the quaint surroundings are strikingly apparent. Norman may even be on the front porch swing telling you to come on in to a world where hospitality starts with a fresh cup of coffee.

Clyde Beal is a freelance writer living in Huntington. Currently looking for your favorite family Holiday story. Write him at Archie350@verizon.net.

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Norman Wright amongst some of his paintings.

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