"YOUR GRATEFUL MASCOT"

Evening Star, Issue 25145, 8 April 1944, Page 6

"YOUR GRATEFUL MASCOT"

GLORIA LYONS THANKS PACIFIC R.N.Z.A.F. UNIT HAPPINESS BROUGHT TO SICKBED (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) - BOUGAINVILLE, April V. When Miss Gloria, Lyons from her sickbed in the Christchurch pubiio hospital answered an advertisement from two young airmen lonely for letters from girls-back home, she little imagined that she had started a chain of events which was to transform completely the dreary prospect facing her. Stricken by tuberculosis of the sipine, she was not fit ;to undergo the delicate bone operation which would set her on the earJyroad to recovery. She was resigned to a long stay of two years m hospital. How an iI.N.Z.A.F. servicing unit in the forward area of the Pacific adopted her as their mascot and gave her name to a Warhawk fighter was. told in an article in the newspapers of the Dominion in January. What followed is best told by Misa Lyons herself. She writes to the senior N.C.0.. on whose suggestion she became the servicing unit's mascot. ''..You may think me rather longwinded in answering your very welcome letter, but the truth of the matter is. that I had an operation on February bone graft where sJin of bone was taken from my leg. and put in my spine. I might add. just here that I have you to thank for this also. You might think me crazy. Yes, I am crazy, with gratitude. When I first came into hospital I was told thai never would I be in any condition for this operation, and that my stay would be for 18 months to two years. _ Two days after my picture appeared .'in the paper my doctor told me I could have an X-ray and then he would operate. I have heard from several people" that I have only the newspaper article to thank for the tide turning as it did. This may or may not be" true, but it is- certainly very possible, and 1 want you to know how very, very grateful I am to you and all your boys for bringing me such happiness. When! answered the advertisement in our evening paper it was-in my inind to bring, or do my best to bring, a little happiness in my own small way to some of the boys doing such a.wonderful job of work overseas. Since then the correspondence has. grown' into one big happy family, and you and the boys have "done so much for me. I only wish I could do so very much more, so .please realise how very grateful I am. 1 am pleased to say that' the operation was successful, and I may (if Fate is kind to me) have only another six months to lie on my back. All I am living for now is the end of those six months and then to live all over again. I can well imagine how you, too, must feel, being away from everything which made up "your life, and you too must • be living for the day when you will be able to return to God's own country and those you love. It will certainly be a great day. My very best wishes to you and lots of luck. Your very grateful- mascot, Gloria Lyons.