The Display Case below was carefully appointed by Elaine Ricketson Danks
to mark the history and celebrate the service of her Father:

AMM3c Jacob Elijah Ricketson
Torpedo Bomber Squadron, Air Group 17, USS Hornet
KIA 4/7/45 in the East China Sea, near Kyushu Japan

The case is at the North Hampton Library, North Hampton, NH and is
used for displays deemed of interest to the public. The display was done for the month of
November, 2001 - to honor veterans in general (Veteran's Day), my dad specifically,
and to serve as a reminder (esp. after 9/11) of the costs of our freedom
and the need to give thanks for those who keep us free.

The overall display case encompasses 6 shelves. The small
white pieces of paper scattered on different shelves are captions explaining
the significance of some of the items.

On Shelf One in the back is the "introduction" to the display I wrote which
says, "Freedom is never free -- it is paid for with precious lives. This is
the story of one of those lives..." with my dad's medals beneath. Beside
that is the only large photo I have of my dad, in his uniform, when he received
his wings. In front is a perfect model of a TBM (down to a gun in the turret,
antenna, and markings), like my dad's plane, made for me by a dear friend
during my journey to "find" my dad. Next to that is the Purple Heart awarded my dad.

On Shelf Two is a photo of my dad, my mom and me taken just days
before he joined the Navy; a folded sailor's "jumper" ( the top of the uniform). In
front -- a letter from my dad to my mom after he left the U.S.; a copy of his
induction papers showing his signature underneath; a copy of the article
published in his hometown newspaper when he was awarded his wings, and
republished periodically when they do "anniversary issues."

On Shelf Three (middle shelf above) is the book "A Glorious Way to Die" (that Jack Forgy
found purely by accident (?!) which is an account of the battle of the sinking of
the Yamato and mentions my dad's plane being shot down in the attack; in back
of it, a map showing the location of the battle in the East China Sea; next
in front, a copy of the Hornet's log with the entries regarding my dad and
his crew being missing when the planes returned to the ship; in back, an "In
Memoriam" page from a booklet published by/about the Hornet; in front of
that, a copy of "the telegram" and a letter from my mom to my dad, around the
time of his death, that was returned to her (one of many).

On Shelf Four (bottom shelf above) are photos made on April 7, 1999, (the 54th anniversary
of his death) as I strewed a bouquet of flowers on the water in the East China Sea;
an amazing "blood stained" green rock and unusual shells I picked up later
that day on Kurose Beach, Kyushu, Japan, -- one of the nearest points of land
to where my dad went down; photos of caves and gun emplacements on Okinawa;
photos taken of Apra Harbor at the Navy base in Guam, the last place from
which my dad sailed, in March 1945, and a piece of coral from the water next
to the WWII docks there.

On Shelf Five, in the back is the poem I wrote as an opening for the words I
wanted to say at the Commemoration Service for my dad at Arlington on August 30, 1999:

"In His Memory"

"Hush... hush...
The word goes out throughout the land --
a fallen hero comes this way....
Be still, O seas! Be silent, wind!
All creatures in a solemn vigil stand.
A whispered sigh swells, and wings into space
past far-flung stars that gaze, forlorn;
while in somber clouds, puffed with tears,
an ashen sun sinks to bury its face.
Though monuments be raised and tributes paid,
such meager words offend the deed
of him whose youth, and dreams, and Life --
on Freedom's altar were so early laid.
Hush... hush...
With reverence we meet this day
his death to mourn; his life to bless.
Hearts beat the cadence of his name.
Take heed --
a fallen hero comes this way."

Beside the poem is the flag I was presented that day;
In front is the program Jen (my daughter) designed for the service with the last photo
taken of my dad, mom, and me on the cover; to the right front are photos of the
headstone at Arlington and the chaplain presenting the flag to me at the
conclusion of the Honors Ceremony.

Shelf Six is the AWON shelf -- a copy of "Lost in the Victory"; an AWON
brochure (closed and open) with a note atop telling how AWON had helped me
and contact information for reaching me for more information;
and finally, a copy of "Touchstones."

AMM3c Ricketson is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii, MIA;
and at Arlington National Cemetery, Ft. Myer, VA

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