Put Out That Light!

I cannot let the sun set today, April 1, without sharing this story on the anniversary of their wedding day…

Most Americans are familiar with the story of the Sullivan family, if not by name, then by their place in World War II history. All five Sullivan boys, George, Francis Henry, Joseph, Madison, and Albert, joined the U.S. Navy on January 3, 1942. They all served together on The U.S.S. Juneau, and all perished in November of 1942 when the ship sank at the Battle of the Solomon’s. As a result of this tragedy, the Department of Defense created the Sole Survivor Policy which was made famous by the 1998 movie “Saving Private Ryan.” The list of tragic stories from this time period is almost endless. But a far more obscure story also took place during this trying time in U.S. history. This story is about the Koewler family from rural southern Ohio, who sent their sons Albert, John Raymond and Robert to war. Fortunately, all three returned safely home, and one was accompanied by his new bride.

As the legend goes, a young American serviceman was searching the darkened streets of Glasgow, Scotland for a post office. He had letters to send back home and wanted to be sure that they were mailed before his unit shipped out. Using only a flashlight to illuminate the buildings due to the mandatory blackout conditions, he and his friends were having little luck. As he shined the light up to the top of one building, a young woman passing on the sidewalk spoke.

“Put out that light!” she said in a most terse Scottish tone.
Always a gentleman and being ever so diplomatic, the young man replied, “Ma’am, I’ll have you know that this flashlight conforms to all U.S. Army regulations.”

Taken aback at first by the young man’s quick retort and youthful voice, the young lady walked over to the man who she had assumed was an older gentleman with grey hair. She was pleasantly surprised to find a handsome young serviceman with white blonde hair and an endearing smile. She showed him to the post office and they chatted along the way. From what most people would have considered a rocky first encounter, their relationship was born.

The young soldier knew he would be shipping out soon but continued to visit his new lady friend each evening while he remained in Glasgow. And each evening ended in the same manner, with the man saying that this might be his last visit if his unit shipped out the following day. Finally, one evening his words came true. There was no knock at the door that night. But fate had already spoken and neither distance nor time would change the feelings the two had for each other. A few days later a letter arrived telling the young lady that he was shipping out. He couldn’t say where he was going or when he would be back, but he would write to her while he was away. Later she learned that he had managed to stop a boy in the street as he was leaving town and asked him to mail the letter for him. And thus was the beginning of a love story that lasted for more than fifty years. Their relationship didn’t alter world history, but it was certainly the starting point for what I know as my life today. After the war, the couple returned to southern Ohio as man and wife.

Every member of our family knows the “put out that light” story by heart. It was retold often over the years by Grandma, and even more frequently after we lost Grandpa. She would tell the story with a little smile on her face but then it would fade to a faraway look. Her life had been built around this man from halfway around the world and now he was gone. Life would never be the same without him. But they had made a wonderful life together, first raising their own children and then watching their grandchildren grow up and meeting their two great-grandsons.

This legendary family story is truly a love story for all time, but it’s also a life lesson that is still as applicable today as it was 70 years ago. No matter how dismal the current situation looks, always continue to look for the good. Even if the good is only a small speck in comparison to the hardship, seek it out and hold on to it tightly. Treasure that tiny seed; understand that someday it might blossom and grow into something more wondrous and extraordinary than you could ever imagine.

Had it not been for the onset of WWII, three generations of Koewler men would never have existed and my life as I know it today would not exist. I have been fortunate enough to have been welcomed into the Koewler family which grew from that chance meeting so many years ago in Glasgow. Thankfully, even with the entire world at war, that young couple was wise enough to find the good in that moment, carry it with them and watch it grow. They are an example I strive each and every day to live up to.