I had never met Lance nor even spoken to him. The first contact I had with him was by way of an email he sent me just over a month ago in response to the video posted on our website of Hurricane Donna hitting the Rockaways back in 1960. Lance, a 1957 graduate of Far Rockaway High School, had written to say that had grown up in Belle Harbor during the 1940s and '50s. He recalled having to endure several other storms during that period where the ocean met the bay. After receiving his message I googled his name and discovered that Lance was a retired Colonel from the U.S. Army. In 1964 he was flying a chopper on a mission to rescue U.S. Special Forces soldiers that had become entangled with a Viet Cong patrol. The mission was successful. But, in the process Lance sustained injuries from hostile groundfire. While he was recovering from his wounds in the field hospital, the commanding General of the Special Forces in Viet-Nam asked Lance if he wanted to join his unit. Lance agreed. During his tour of duty in Viet-Nam Lance received some of the highest awards for heroism and valor during combat that the U.S. Army can bestow. Among them; the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Armed with all this information I emailed Lance back and thanked him for his incredible service on behalf of our country. I went on to say that I too was a Viet-Nam vet but with a much more modest record of accomplishment. He replied immediately and said that if I was ever in New Ipswich then please drop in and say hello. Little did Lance know at that time that this pest would contact him about a week later to take him up on his offer.

We arrived at Lance's home, Goose Hollow Farm, in Ipswich New Hampshire, about 3:30 in the afternoon. Thank the lord for Garmin! We thought our visit would last no longer than a half an hour. In a subsequent email Lance indicated that he would be busy preparing for a boyscout troop arriving later on to camp overnight on his property. His also warned us that his place was a working farm filled with more critters that he cared to think about. It was also a preserve for injured Canadian geese that could no longer fly. I was worried. Were we wearing the right shoes! Lance and his lovely wife Lora greeted us warmly and invited us in to their cottage. We immediately began reminiscing about Rockaway, Lance's miltary career and his home in New Hampshire.

Lance grew up in a house on Beach 133rd Street. His father, who emigrated from France, had apprenticed there with the legendary chef Escoffier. His father was the head chef at the famous Manhattan restaurant and bar, Toots Shor's.

During the latter portion of his military career Lance was stationed at Fort Devins, MA. At that time Lance and Lora had recently married and had purchased the farm in New Ipswich. Lance was offered a promotion by the army to Brigadier General which would have meant a new assignment and having to spend much time away from his new bride and this idyllic setting. Lance opted for retirement after a long and distinguished career.

Lora is retired from a successful career as a marketing executive with Digital Equipment Corporation which later merged with Hewlett Packard. She has an incredible passion for the care of animals. Lora has written the plan for the State of New Hampshire that systematically addresses how to care for animals during a natural disaster. It has since become the model plan adopted by the Department of Homeland Security.

Afterward, Lance and Lora took us on a tour of their 15 acre preserve. We saw first hand the love they administer to all the animals under their care. We also explored the woods and the lake and the campsite for the boyscouts who we met as they were coming in to set up for their overnight.

Lance and Lora invited us to stay for dinner. We dined on delicious Chinese food that Lance picked up from a nearby restaurant. It was a truly memorable day spent with a remarkable couple. One that we will never forget. We left New Ipswich for Nashua after 9:00 o'clock that night.

Click here to view an album of photos collected from our visit.