Writer seeks info on monument

I saw something recently on Neosho Forums which caught my attention.

According to a posting, there was a stone monument at the “old” airport here in Neosho. The marker is reported to read “J. E. Gordon Capt. USA Missing in Action Palawan Island, South China Sea April 18, 1942. Here he first flew.”

If anyone knows about this monument or about Capt. Gordon, I really would like to hear from them. I’m in the telephone book or you can leave a message and telephone number at the office of the Neosho Daily News / Neosho Post.

I’m also in search of information on a B-17 that crashed landed here in Neosho in January of 1944. Somewhere I have seen a photograph of it, but I don't remember where. If anyone has any information about that, I would like to hear from you as well.

I sure would like to get to the bottom of these two things. Few things bother me more than “throwing away” history or a memorial to someone. Perhaps this monument can be located and given some honorable placement so we can all know more about this man.

We’re hot on the heels of Independence Day. I’m sure there will be several places to enjoy the fireworks and celebrations. My life is so complicated at times that I never plan on anything casual. I have an idea that it would be fun to celebrate down in Memory Valley with the folks at Powell.
The celebration down there is part of a benefit to help the group that is working to save the old iron bridge at Powell. There will be food and fun and, if you like to help people who are doing a good thing, I’m sure there will be things you can enjoy for a small fee which will help the cause.
Right now I'm fairly confident that Russell and I will be on the road again, headed to Columbia, Booneville, New/Old Franklin, and other spots along the Missouri River. There is a short program on George Caleb Bingham at the State Historical Society of Missouri. I am working on a kids’ story about Mr. Bingham so this sounded like a great program to attend. It’s actually a program for kids that is just a one-time, two-hour event. I called the lady in charge and she said we were welcome. I noticed on the promotional materials that the program will charge $5 for kids but adults are free.
That's a switch!

After months of being too busy, I have finally started writing the text for a new book on the history of the  Neosho National  Fish Hatchery. Larry James and I are hoping to get the book in print in time for the opening of the new visitors center at the hatchery. Larry has carried the load for months, gathering photographs and newspaper clippings. Now, it’s my turn to put shoulder to the wheel.

But I fear it will be slow going. I finally wrote the first words last Sunday, but before I could get through the first page, I found something interesting. The man who designed the landscape when the hatchery was first established was quite a prominent landscape architect. I wanted to know more about him. The more I read, the more I wanted to read.

I believe that telling just a bit of his history in the book will add some real insight into our hatchery and maybe explain why it has survived over these many years.

There will be more diversions down more paths as I piece together the parts of the puzzle that make up the history a fabulous landmark here in Neosho. I hope we have the book ready in time for the opening of the visitor center bookstore. All proceeds from the book go to the Friends of the Neosho National Fish Hatchery. Larry and I, however, get the joy of doing the research. I think we each get a free book as well.

Kay Hively is editor of the Neosho Post and writes a weekly column for the Neosho Daily News.