Living well after 50
Tampa Bay Times | Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023
Palm Harbor veteran revisits the past with
Stories to share On the eve of his own centennial, this retired Marine looks back on an epic battle during World War II, and pays it forward volunteering with Honor Flight, which flies veterans free of charge to war memorials in Washington, D.C. Story, p. 4
CROSSWORD Switching Places by Merl Reagle ACROSS 1 Elevator sounds 6 Beatles song, “Don’t ___ By” 12 Jardine and Jarreau 15 Jackie Brown co-star 16 Expires 17 Poppycock 18 An all points bulletin to southwestern cops? 21 Hollywood honcho 22 Black-clad warrior 23 Low campaign tactic 24 Writer? 25 ___ good example 28 Announcement of a sort: abbr. 29 Certain NCAA scores 32 Friend 33 West Indian baths? 38 Handle, in Latin 39 Corridor effect 40 “Vive ___!” 41 Fix 44 Jane who played Daphne on Frasier 47 Chicken got ready to lay an egg for Zorba? 51 Lady of the house 52 Author Sinclair 54 Greek letters 55 Lowlife 56 Mushroomed 57 Crooner Perry 59 Pathet ___ 62 Crafty 63 European plumbing problem? 67 Put on 68 Govt. check issuer 69 Draft status 70 Fashion magazine 71 Oft-licked cookies 73 Peter Pan dog
75 Scentsers? 77 Arthur of TV 80 Predicted disaster, circa 1939? 84 Nicoise and others 86 Have debts 87 Donor 88 Cry 90 New Haven students 91 Do well where it’s cold? 96 Shuttle launcher, familiarly 99 Printing units 100 Intention 101 Letter opener 102 Kin of an alias 103 Archie’s better half 105 Oscar org. 107 A flower, not Mary 109 South American quiz show aimed at card players? 115 Sniggler’s catch 116 Constructed anew 117 Mar 118 Paris street 119 Cartoon cat with a blue nose 120 Biscuit’s kin
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She had many bad-hair days 2 Sam et al. 3 Pakistani strongman, 197788 4 Sheet music: abbr. 5 Cologne, to a German 6 Lahore’s region 7 Siam visitor 8 Compass pt. 9 Do a farmer’s job 10 Close-mouthed 11 Are, in Arles 12 Disney’s Little Mermaid 13 From around here
14 Tale 15 Mr. Hammarskjold 16 Get rid of 106 Down 18 Salary extras 19 Suction device 20 Yuletime, in ads 21 More malicious 24 Sacred song 26 Item in pop’s closet 27 Type of dried Mexican chile pepper (anagram of NACHO) 29 ___ of Wight 30 Repair the holes in 31 Cloud of crud 34 Of a mil. branch 35 From that place 36 Erstwhile online search engine, ___Vista 37 Melodies 41 Sphere 42 Distasteful 43 “No kidding!” 45 Prefix to “bonds” 46 Erupts 48 First 49 Make up (for) 50 Follow 53 “___ brillig ...” 56 First hit for the Moody Blues 58 University of Maine city 60 Pub orders 61 Stares at 63 My Fair Lady composer 64 Leather treaters 65 Flag 66 Casablanca visitor 67 Play Pictionary 71 Mexican bear 72 Starch-yielding palm 74 Fool’s day: abbr. 76 Group Theatre co-founder 77 Poppycock 78 Paper job
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93 ___ in the bud 94 Puff, for one 95 Guarantee 96 Not once 97 Good-bye 98 Move sneakily 104 ___ d’oeuvres 105 Something to take from me?
106 Soapy stuff 108 Scot’s topper 110 Bumped into 111 Sash 112 Bible bk. 113 Tape deck abbr. 114 Aerial enigma
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Steve Ferguson, 60,
MY FAVORITE CAR Clearwater, FL
1967 Ford Fairlane, Frost Turquoise
I call it Pop’s car, because it belonged to my grandfather, Clyde Ferguson. The 1967 Ford Fairlane now sits safely in my garage in Clearwater and gets taken out about once a month. It’s been in the family since it was new, with roughly 73,000 actual miles. It has original frost turquoise paint, the original 289 sticker still on the engine and the original cloth bench seats in pristine condition.. Pop bought it in 1967 in Burnsville, North Carolina, kept
it in the garage and drove it sparingly. He didn’t even drive it to church. He lived next door to the church, thus he didn’t have to put miles on his beloved Fairlane. He was disabled in his left arm, thus the car has a steering knob as he could only steer with his right hand. That used to be called a “speed knob,” although Pop didn’t speed. I learned to drive in this car and promised Pop I would always take care of it. I’ve kept that promise.
CALL TO READERS Tell us your love story
What’s the story behind your favorite or first car? We’d like to share it. Please send: • Your name, city where you live and your age (with your date of birth). • The year, make and model of the car, with a description of the
car and why you love it. • A high-resolution photo or a scanned image. (Must be of the actual car.) • Send to drive@tampabay.com and type My Favorite Car or My First Car in the subject line.
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Nearing 100th birthday, retired U.S. Marine embodies spirit of ‘greatest generation’ Photo by Nick Stubbs
BY NICK STUBBS Times Total Media Correspondent In a few weeks, O’Neil Ducharme will turn 100 years old. A memory from 90 years ago still stands out in his mind. It was a moment that would change his life. “I saw a man walking down the street toward us,” he recalled, adding that the impressive figure walked with authority and projected a strong presence. “I asked my neighbor, ‘Who is that?’ The neighbor answered, ‘That’s a U.S. Marine.’” From that moment on, Ducharme, a resident of Palm Harbor, had “made up (his) mind; I would become a Marine.” Ducharme was just 17 in 1942 when he had his father sign a permission form that would allow him to enlist and join the fight against the Axis powers, but he hit a snag when the Marine recruiters found out he was still in school. He would have to graduate first. As soon as he did, Ducharme was back at the recruiting office. “They were so overloaded with volunteers they didn’t have room for us, and said we’d have to wait three or four more months,” Ducharme recalled. He began walking away with a buddy who also was trying to enlist when he heard a shout from behind. “Wait, come back.” Four spots for new recruits had just opened up. And the rest is history. He would be based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, go on to become a master sergeant, serve in the 6th and 1st Marine division,
be recalled from the Reserves and serve in three wars before retiring his military career in 1985. He was part of the landing force in Okinawa in one the bloodiest operations of World War II. On Aug. 30, 1945 at 2 a.m., he was among 750 Marines who came ashore in Tokyo Bay—the first occupation force to set foot in Japan in 3,000 years.
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Ducharme was just
O’Neil Ducharme, resident of Palm Harbor, sits next to an informational board showing his bio and service history as a U.S. Marine from 1942 to 1981.
17 in 1942 when he had his father sign a permission form that would allow him to enlist and join the fight against the Axis powers, but he hit a snag when the Marine recruiters found out he was still in school. Ducharme has many memories, from meeting movie stars when he was based in California, and Eleanor Roosevelt on several occasions when in Washington, D.C. He found Tokyo a fantastical world to
explore and he drew what can only be called “sweet duty” when during the Korean War he was tasked with running an ice cream plant churning out frozen desserts for the troops. But in all his years, there was one day that was the absolute best of all. “The greatest moment in my life was April 28, 2016,” Ducharme said. “I got off the plane (at Tampa International Airport) and the tunnel was lined with flags and there was a great welcoming party—service members from MacDill and lots of people greeting us. “It was the greatest day of my life.” Ducharme was describing his return from Mission 25 of the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization that organizes flights for war veterans to visit memo-
rials that honor their service in Washington, D.C. Today, he’s one of Honor Flight’s great ambassadors, speaking at public events, helping raise awareness and funds for the organization, whose vision is “A nation where all of America’s veterans experience the honor, gratitude and community of support they deserve.” He also has been part of every welcome home reception for Honor Flight vets at Tampa International since he took his flight seven years ago. His Honor Flight is a cherished memory, but it is a memory tempered by far less pleasant experiences. “It was a horrific battle,” Ducharme said of the Okinawa operation, which began on April 1, 1945 and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater during the war. It would go on for nearly three
months, something Ducharme couldn’t have imagined based on day one. “It was quiet and not a shot was fired,” he said. “We thought the Navy landed us on the wrong island.” The quiet didn’t last, and Ducharme became part of the treacherous land battle. His job, along with fellow Marines, was to clear tunnels and bunkers, rooting out thoroughly dug-in enemy forces. “If you’ve ever seen one of those ant farms behind glass, that’s what the Japanese tunnels were like,” said Ducharme. “We had to go from tunnel to tunnel, one by one.” The Japanese forces were not about to surrender, and the suicide attacks were relentless. As the Allied forces began to take control, there was the tragedy of Japanese troops and civilians, including
O’Neil Ducharme, who will turn 100 in a few weeks, holds a photo of himself as a young Marine, and his wife. He joined the service in 1942 at just 17 years old.
Honor Flight treats war vets to no-cost visits to war memorials By Nick Stubbs
Photo by Nick Stubbs
women with their children, committing suicide, sometimes jumping from cliffs to avoid capture. “They had told everyone that we (Americans) were cannibals and baby eaters,” said Ducharme. “They would rather die than be captured.” Ducharme lost some good buddies. “They needed volunteer stretcher bearers, so there were four of us who were carrying the wounded down the hills.” Ducharme was the only one who survived the perilous duty. “Three of us didn’t make it,” he said, his expression telling more than his words.
Records show U.S. casualties numbered 50,000, with 12,500 dead, a number that would rise higher due to deaths from injuries after the operation. The Japanese lost 77,166 soldiers and more than 30,000 Okinawan conscripts including schoolboys forced into service. Up to 150,000 civilians are estimated to have died in the Battle of Okinawa, according to U.S. military and expert sources. When word came of the Japanese surrender, it was time to celebrate. Ducharme noted that the estimates of how many millions might die were not looked forward to.
“We got word Aug. 15 that Hirohito had capitulated,” Ducharme recalled. Ducharme got his orders to sail to Japan to be part of the occupation force, only this landing would be bloodless. “It was a tremendous relief knowing it was over,” Ducharme said. Times Total Media is the sales and marketing division of the Tampa Bay Times. Contact timestotalmedia@tampabay.com with questions.
Marine Master Sgt. O’Neil Ducharme (retired) may be just a few weeks from his 100th birthday, but he’s active, sharp and still on duty serving his country as a volunteer for the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that veterans of World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars get to visit the war memorials in Washington, D.C. that honor their service. Their mission is “one of gratitude,” proclaims the organization on its website at www.honorflight .org: “For their service, sacrifice and selflessness. “Join us as we proudly celebrate America’s veterans with a day of honor in our nation’s capital.” Ducharme took his Honor Flight in 2016, and though over his near-century of life he has many great memories, disembarking from his return flight in Tampa to see the throngs of well-wishers and flying flags to greet him and fellow vets was “the greatest day of my life.” Ducharme believes so strongly in the Honor Flight program that he’s dedicated himself to promoting it whenever he can, urging people to volunteer as airport greeters or “guardians,” who accompany the vets on their flight and visits to the war memorials at the expense of SSP Tampa Bay Times
Photo by Senior Airman Jessica Do
U.S. Col. Edward Szczepanik, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander at MacDill Air Force Base, meets with a U.S. Army veteran at Tampa International Airport Oct. 24 after returning from a trip to war memorials in Washington, D.C. courtesy of the Honor Flight Network.
the program. “It’s a great thing,” Ducharme said of Honor Flight. “It’s all volunteers and 98 cents of every dollar we raise goes to the vets.” Ducharme said people can sign up to volunteer on the website and also make donations. There also is a merchandise shop on the site, with sales supporting the organization’s efforts. Honor Flight was started by Jeff Miller and Earl Morse in 2015; it has 124 active hubs in 44 states. Some 260,000 vets have made the flight at zero cost to them. Its early focus was serving WWII vets, but that later expanded to include Korean and Vietnam war vets. It also serves critically ill vets of any war. Ducharme said anyone 18 or older can be an Honor Flight guardian, and over the course of his many speaking engagements he’s recruited more than a few volunteers. He’s also worked with corporate sponsors of the organization, including four-star sponsors like Mission BBQ, Southwest and American airlines, Talking Rain and Sparkling Ice (the complete list of sponsors is on the website). Honor Flight Network is an accredited charity and a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator. | Sunday, November 12, 2023 |
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STEP BY STEP Sally Anderson
Photos by Dan Canoro
Your Move | Demonstrated by Sharon Dindal Cardio exercise is a good place to start your home workout and a great choice for increasing endurance. Warm up with light cardio. March in place or around the house for at least five minutes. 1. High Knee Jogging Targets quads and hip flexors.
2. Back Leg Cross with Lateral Curl Targets quads, glutes, back and shoulders. Stand tall with feet hip-with apart, hands at your waist. • Step left leg diagonally behind right leg and bend knees to lower into a lunge. • Push through right foot to standing position with arms lifted to shoulder height. • Sweep left leg out to the side. • Drop arms and return legs to original position. • Repeat eight to 10 times; repeat on opposite side. Tip: Keep your back straight throughout the movement.
• Lift knees high while you are jogging in place. • Keep abdominals contracted to protect back. • Hold hands at hip level and touch your hands to your thighs as you jog. • Repeat knee lifts 30-60 seconds. Tip: Add intensity by pushing arms overhead.
3. Mountain Climbers A total body workout; targets upper and lower body and core.
This should be a fast movement, but if you are new to mountain climbers, take it slowly and increase the speed as you become more confident. Begin in a plank position. Make sure your hips aren’t sagging toward the floor. Back is straight, abdominals contracted, hands about shoulder-width apart. Head in alignment with shoulders. • Bring right knee under your chest toward right elbow. • Return right leg back to plank position. • Bring left leg under chest toward left elbow. • Return left leg and repeat pattern. • While alternating your legs, keep a steady pace. Repeat for two minutes. Tip: Keep back straight as you bring each knee forward.
4. Walking Jacks Targets shoulders, quads, calves. Begin with your feet together and arms by your sides. • Take a wide quick step to the right as you bring arms shoulder height. • Quickly drop your arms as you return your leg. • Take a quick wide step to the left as you bring arms shoulder height. • Quickly drop your arms as you return your leg. • Repeat pattern for two minutes. Tip: Have a soft knee when you step out.
Keep on movin’ ’Tis the season when much can get in the way of our healthy habits. From now until New Year’s Day, there will be plenty of opportunities to overindulge with food and underindulge with exercise. But with all the holiday activities, we don’t
have to abandon our workouts. Remember, some exercise is better than stopping altogether. Exercise oxygenates your body and can give you the vitality needed to fully enjoy the season’s festivities. Even revving up your walks with periodic 30-second bursts of fast
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waking can help to burn extra calories. “Use it or lose it” can be applied to exercise. A study from the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine says that even a twoweek break from exercise in research subjects led to a notable
loss of strength and muscle mass. One of the most effective ways to work out is with body weight exercises. These are exercises that use your own body weight for resistance. Fun cardio exercises can help generate mood-boosting endorphins right
at home. You might want to add some music to liven things up. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. Sally Anderson is happy to hear from readers but can’t respond to individual inquiries. Contact her at slafit@tampabay.rr.com.
COLOR THE WORLD
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
puzzle page 2
MU Z A K PASSME A L S DEN I RO RUNSOUT ROT B A D C A R L S I N N E WM E X I C O MOGU L N I N J A SMEAR PEN SE T A PSA TDS A L L Y SAUNAS I NTHEBAHAMAS ANSA ECHO L ERO I R I G L EEVES HENSA T I NGREECE MRS UP TON E T A S SNAKE GR EW COMO L AO S L Y L O OWA T E R I N B E L G I U M DON SSA ONEA E L L E OREOS NANA NOSES BEA S A WW A R I N P O L A N D S A L A D S OWE G I V E R WE E P E L I S GOF AR I NNOR T HDA KOT A N A S A E N S A I M S I R S NOM ED I TH AMPAS AS T ER V I D EOMON T E I NURUGU A Y E E L RE BU I L T DE FORM RUE S T I MPY SCONE SSP Tampa Bay Times
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