This article was taken from Medical Center East of Birmingham, Al - Auxiliary Vision.
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK?
If you've not met Jack Parris, one of our new members, where have you been? Since joining our Auxiliary this past Spring, Jack has already chalked up many hours of service.
The youngest of ten children, Jack grew up in Gafney, South Carolina. His politician father was a member of the South Carolina State House of Representatives and the State Senate. Jack served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War as a radio operator on a B29.
An electrician by trade, Jack has lived all over the U.S. How did he happen to settle in Birmingham? While in Seattle, Washington, he met a girl from here. He and his wife Linda have lived in Birmingham for the past 26 years.
On January 15th of this year, he had his third knee replacement surgery at Medical Center East. Jack says he "promised the Lord" that when he recuperated from this surgery, he would return to help others. Two and a half months later on March 29th, he joined the Auxiliary. "I would have signed up sooner, but Linda was out of town" he stated.
Since that time, this faithful Auxilian can be found where he does minor repair work on wheel chairs and visits and encourages patients. He's even been known to sing upon request! Jack has taken a CPR class and is now qualified to transport patients. He was helpful in training teenage volunteers this summer.
Jack is a member of the Masonic Order and attends Huffman United Methodist Church. In his 'spare' time he cuts grass and irons his shirts!
Jack says, "Being a volunteer is the only job I know of that you have to pay $5 a year and buy your own coat just to work for free!" Then he adds, "I have been richly rewarded. The patients' gratitude is my payday."
Jack Parris, we're glad to know you!
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MEET NORTHSTAR
Gunner Kryger, a U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine veteran, was named the parade marshal for the Woodville-Wells River 4th of July parade in 1998. Kryger, who lives in Woodsville with his wife Lee was born in Copenhagen. Denmark in 1922.
He was a crew member aboard an oil tanker in the mid north Atlantic on April 9, 1940 when the Nazis invaded Denmark. Upon arriving in New York, the crew was given the choice of being sent home or to continue to sail on Allied merchant ships. They all opted to continue sailing.
Kryger's ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Indian Ocean on July 1, l942. After sailing and rowing the lifeboats for six days, the crew landed on the coast of East Africa and eventually made it back to New York a month later. He attended the New York Merchant Marine School for Officers' Training. He shipped out again as a third officer on freighters and tankers and by late 1943 was sailing as a second officer, hauling aviation gas, which he did until the end of the war.
In October, 1945, Kryger joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Camp Peary, Va. as an instructor in seamanship. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He then returned to the U.S. Merchant Marines making several trips to Vietnam during 1974 and 1975. He retired from the United States Lines in 1983 and has lived in Woodsville since then.
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