
Heaven Can Wait Family Reunion
On March 11, 1944, a World War II B-24 bomber called Heaven Can Wait came under anti-aircraft fire and crashed in the waters off Papua, New Guinea, killing all 11 crew members onboard. Seventy-four years later, on October 13th, 2018, relatives of the crew members gathered for a “family reunion” in Victoria, Minnesota.
Using side-scanning sonars, high definition images, and underwater robotic technologies, Project Recover located the B-24 in 2017 under 213 feet of water. The family of Bombardier 2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr, provided extensive research helping Project Recover to locate the aircraft within two weeks on the water.
Scott Althaus, lead Kelly family researcher and first cousin once removed to the Bombardier, admitted that he used to use air quotes when describing the upcoming Heaven Can Wait “family reunion.” After all, the family reunion was not a family reunion in the conventional sense. Most of the 65 attendees were strangers until Memorial Day 2018 when Project Recover announced the B-24 Heaven Can Wait had been located.
Since then, Scott has changed his perspective.
“We are family because they (Heaven Can Wait crew) were definitely a family in ways we can only imagine. Not family by blood, but by a deep commitment to one another in a cause that was larger than all of them. They trained together every day for eight months and fought for four more. In his entry on the Kelly Family guest book from Thanksgiving Dinner 1943, under the space marked “hobby,” Don Sheppick ( 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick, navigator) wrote five words: ”Taking care of the boys.”
“The boys” were his brothers of the Tennyson crew.”
~ Scott Althaus, excerpt from Remarks
cousin-once-removed, 2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr. (bombardier)
The relatives of the (pilot, 1st Lt. Herbert) Tennyson crew gathered to celebrate that Project Recover had found the Heaven Can Wait, and they had found each other.
“We did it more out of a sense of joy than sadness. We were celebrating the joy of discovery and being in a bigger community of strangers who aren’t strangers anymore.”
~Jim Emmer
Nephew, S/Sgt. John W. Emmer, Jr. (photographer)
The Common Experience
Nine families from the Heaven Can Wait crew are in touch with each other. Relatives of four crew members (2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, 2nd Lt. M.J. McFadden, S/Sgt. Walter Graves, and S/Sgt. John Emmer) attended the reunion in person. Tom Schindler, son of S/Sgt. Eugene Darrigan (radio operator) and Cindy Chester Moran, daughter of 2nd Lt. Don Sheppick (navigator) had to cancel plans due to weather and health. They as well as Scott Jefferson, grandson of 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson (pilot) followed the Heaven Can Wait family reunion online, through email, photos, and a book Project Recover had compiled as a gift for the families.
The families took turns sharing their experiences through the afternoon. The experience of finding a family’s MIA whose death is cloaked with unanswered questions and decades of silence carries a surprising emotional charge — even decades later, even when the serviceman was not met in person and known only through family lore.
Walt Graves, nephew to S/Sgt. Walter Graves his dad’s only brother, said he spent a lifetime wondering about the man who was his namesake. He was overcome with tears of sadness and joy when he learned his Uncle Walter’s plane had been found. He said he began his talk at the Heaven Can Wait Family Reunion with a quote that speaks to those emotions: “A man is not dead until he is forgotten.”
The more family members she meets, the more Diane Christie, niece to her mother’s only brother, ‘Tommy’ Kelly, says she understands the reaction to finding a family’s MIA is ‘universal.’
“The biggest thing I came away with was that every family went through the exact same thing that our family went through emotionally: the shock, the sadness, and the feelings of loss we didn’t know were there. We didn’t know what we had lost until it was found.”
~Diane Christie
Niece, 2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr. (bombardier)
“Our hearts are full of mixed emotions. Joy, that after 74 years, these men who once were lost, have now been found. Sorrow, that men who were so young died before they reached their full potential as sons, husbands, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, community members, and friends. Mystery, uncertain about who they really were, and what they were really like.”
~Jamie Emmer,excerpt from prayer
Nephew, S/Sgt. John W. Emmer, Jr. (photographer)
Jim Emmer shared what was true for all; that it was exciting to get to know his family’s MIA better. Through the conversation and the community, he got to know the families there and the family of the Heaven Can Wait crew, itself.
Decades of Silence
It is tragic when a family loses a beloved to war, and there is a funeral. Losing a beloved without closure, without a body or a burial, carries grief unto itself. Among MIA families, often the grief was so great, the parents and family simply could not, would not talk about it.
Walt Graves said his family did not talk about their loss, but his grandmother carried his Uncle Walter’s (S/Sgt. Walter Graves) final pay in an envelope in her purse for the rest of her life.
Jim Emmer said he didn’t learn he’d lost an uncle in the war until 5th grade and then only because he saw his uncle’s gravestone in the cemetery.
“It was an unwritten rule. No one ever brought up my uncle John. They didn’t talk about it. It was that painful, they didn’t want to talk about it. … We feel so good now because we are honoring our parents and grandparents through all this. We feel glad because we are helping; we are dealing with something they couldn’t deal with.”
~Jim Emmer
Nephew, S/Sgt. John W. Emmer, Jr. (photographer)
There are rare exceptions to the silence. Cindy Moran Chester grew to know S/Sgt. Don Sheppick through many hours poring through letters, photos, stories and even poetry with her mother, Mary Rebar Sheppick Chester, Don’s widow.
The family silence after losing a son was a blanket covering an ocean of grief that many family members who were young at the time, or not even born, didn’t realize was a part of the fabric of their family. It was only through the discovery of their MIA’s final resting place, that the grief made its way to the surface. The grief at having lost and found someone they never personally knew came as a big surprise.
Miracle Creates Community
Families at the Heaven Can Wait reunion experienced joy and then awe at the miracle of finding the final resting place of their families’ MIAs. They have greater faith in miracles because they experienced one.
The miracle of finding Heaven Can Wait quickly led them to the joy and miracle of finding each other and opening up to a greater community.
“So I thank You for bringing us together – not just to heal the pain of separation but to rediscover ourselves through a community of connection and relationships that we had lost over time.”
~Jamie Emmer,excerpt from prayer
Nephew, S/Sgt. John W. Emmer, Jr. (photographer)
“As humans, we all have that need to connect…. As family expands, we lose our unity. We lost that until we had a reason to reconnect and stay in touch.”
~Diane Christie
Niece, 2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr. (bombardier)
“It opened a lot of doors to me that I didn’t know about myself. … There were times I when I am (closed) and fussy and think (I could) be more open to people. Well, I just met a bunch of strangers and was comfortable. This changed all that, I felt a greater sense of community than self.”
~Jim Emmer
Nephew, S/Sgt. John W. Emmer, Jr. (photographer)
The sense of community and hope extended beyond individual families and the collective families of the crew. In his talk, Scott noted how exceptional their situation is. He encouraged families there to talk with each other. Through the conversation, more of the collective story will emerge. Time is passing quickly, and he stressed the importance of sharing and recording memories of their relatives’ lives. Finally, and most importantly, he urged families to cast a broader net and talk with other families about their MIA stories.
The Crew
What stands out through it all is the awesome significance of each of these young men’s lives. There is no way they could have known the profound impact their lives would have, not only on the war, but on their extended family, community, and the nation nearly a century later.
“In a day that sees our country divided by so much that pulls us apart, we have the special privilege of being at the center of something that brings Americans together.”
~Scott Althaus, excerpt from Remarks
Cousin once removed, 2nd. Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr. (bombardier)
Project Recover
Pat Scannon (co-founder), Eric Terrill (co-founder), Mark Moline (co-founder), Dan O’Brien (director), Drew Pietruszka (lead archaeologist), and Harry Parker (photographer) attended the Heaven Can Wait family reunion. The families embraced the Project Recover team as part of the extended family. Diane talked about how comfortable she felt with them.
“Maybe because they brought something out in us that we didn’t know was there. We all feel they are these great amazing people, but they are so approachable and they all want to be with us. When you think of it, they all have that daredevil side. They jump out of planes, dive in deep waters, go on crazy trips. It is the spirit of who they are. When you meet them, though they are always in a jacket and tie, and I know that’s not their everyday life. They are like dignitaries, but they don’t act like dignitaries. When all of the families gathered in closeness and an awareness of what they did — with our country as crazy and insane as it is right now — it helps keep me in balance.”
~Diane Christie
Niece, 2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly, Jr. (bombardier)
“Men of great character are limited these days. However, six men with whom I recently shared time, easily led the way.”
~Patsy Hess, excerpt from testimonial
Aunt to Scott Althaus
It is our privilege and honor to help bring recognition to our MIA servicemen and closure to their families.
- Scott Althaus shares remarks at the Heaven Can Wait Family Reunion.
- Eric Terrill speaks for Project Recover.
- Pat Scannon speaks at the family reunion.
- Sandy Althaus. cousin to Lt. Thomas Kelly, speaks at Family Reunion.
- Jim Emmer, nephew to S/Sgt John Emmer, photographer, shares remarks.
- Walt Graves, nephew to S/Sgt Walter Graves, waist gunner, shares remarks.
- Scott Jefferson, grandson to 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson, pilot, sends a video to the family reunion.
- Kathy Borst, niece to 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, shares remarks.
- Heaven Can Wait was a member of 90th Bombardment Group: The Jolly Rogers
- Relatives share and pore through memorabilia.
- Reading each other’s memorabilia, the relatives learned more about their MIA’s Heaven Can Wait family.
- A timeless photo of S/Sgt. Walter Graves
- Certificate awarding the Purple Heart to S/Sgt. Walter Graves
- American Legion stands at attention.
- The American Legion honored the Heaven Can Wait crew.
- Scott and his Aunt Patsy.
- Dan O’Brien smiles with guests holding their gift from Project Recover.
- Relatives of S/Sgt. John Emmer share smiles at the Family Reunion.
- Scott Althaus and Diane Christie pose with Jake McFadden and son
- Jake McFadden, nephew 2nd Lt. J. M. McFadden, co-pilot speaks with Pat Scannon.
- Relatives of the B-24 crew came from around the country.
- Emmer family relatives share smiles.
- Walt Graves and Jake McFadden share a hug
- Mark Moline chats with relatives of the WWII B-24’s crew.
- Project Recover compiled a book about finding Heaven Can Wait and gave it as a gift to the crew’s relatives.
- Eric Terrill spends time with relatives of the WWII B-24’s crew.
- Mark Moline shares a smile at the Heaven Can Wait Family Reunion.
Read complete text here:
- Scott Althaus Remarks, Heaven Can Wait Family Reunion
- Jamie Emmer Prayer, Heaven Can Wait Family Reunion
- Patsy Hess Testimonial, Heaven Can Wait Family Reunion
Read more about Heaven Can Wait:
Given the operating depths possible with closed circuit rebreathers, will you attempt to recover the remains of the crew of Heaven Can Wait.?
The recovery aspect is in the hands of DPAA. We noted a recent photo of a US Navy dive team in that region
Thank you so much for reuniting these families by recovering the legacy of their fallen members. How deeply gratifying tp read the words and see
the photos of the crews history. Having been a service member, in combat, my friends and I stay in touch every week even after over 50 years. There
exists a special bond that cannot be clearly described of men who train together and spend a segment of their lives side by side 24/7 in harms way.
Thank you from deep in my heart for all you do for these men and their families.
You are welcome. Thanks for the comments. It is our honor to search for and find MIAs.
DOB – Damn fine work my lad – damn fine.
Merry Christmas to all.
Love ya man.
Tommy B
Memfrika
Thanks. Doing all we can to help families and the Nation.
Good to hear about the great work you are doing.
Thank you for the comment. Been on the road of late searching for MIAs, hence late reply.
Thank you so much everyone for all the latest comments and quotes. Truly a bond has been born and obviously growing. I love all you family and extended family. So extremely grateful for the family reunion last October and for the remarkable Emmer family gathering numbers we accomplished. My only regret ;if we were at the motel we would have a different closeness to the other families. The reunion was overwhelming. FABULOUS!!!!Love all the updates. ❤️Marilyn Emmer Sullivan
It was an honor to attend and meet all the families!
My Uncle was mia over Bay of Bengal and was wondering how i can find information on his plane and if any recovery acts have been conducted.
Hello Todd, someone from Project Recover will contact you via your email shortly.
Blue Skies.