San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Veteran’s story moves S.A. readers
Thirty years ago, when George Richardson dedicated a plaque to his friend, Lt. Gen. John P. Flynn, he had no way of knowing howmuch of an impact that kind gesture would have. I recently wrote about Flynn’s story in the article
“S.A. house a reminder of military hero’s sacrifice.” The headline refers to the house at 2627 Country Hollow St. in San Antonio that Richardson purchased from Flynn in 1989.
In that story, I mentioned that the house would be open to the public for viewing on Veterans Day. REALTOR® Sue Rodarte, who hosted the open house, told me in an email she had lots of visitors that afternoon, all of them veterans or the child of a veteran. They all wanted to know more about this house that has a special plaque mounted next to the front door that reads: “THIS WAS THE WAY I PRESERVED MY SANITY.”
My previous story explained that Flynn had envisioned the design for a house while he was a POW in Vietnam. He was captured on Oct. 27, 1967, after his F-105 Thunderchief was shot down, and he had to eject over Hanoi. Flynn spent one thousand, nine hundred sixty-six days in the “Hanoi Hilton.” He was the highest-ranking POW held by the North Vietnamese. Flynn was not released until March 14, 1973.
In 1974, he became Commander of the Air Force Military Training Center at Lackland Air Force Base. Flynn retired from the Air Force in 1978.
”The House that Jack Built”
The current owner of the house on Country Hollow, previous owners, neighbors, and other sources gave me a lot of information about Flynn and the home he designed. But no one I had talked to could say for sure who created the plaque. Well, that mystery was solved when I received an email and photo from reader Ann Richardson, George Richardson’s sister. Thanks to her, I was able to contact him and find out his connection to Flynn and the plaque.
George Richardson told me when he saw the house, he immediately fell in love with it and knew right away he was going to buy it. “They went through the history of the house withme when I firstmet them,” he said. “It was a therapeutic thing that he did in his mind to rebuild this house every day in his head when he was incarcerated.”
Like many people in the neighborhood, George had heard Flynn’s story, but it was through their friendship and conversations that he learned what was most important to the general. “He always brought up his family, his God, and his country,” George said. “I just felt I have to do something to commemorate that, so that’s what I did.”
When George invited the Flynns to their former house for a housewarming, they had no idea about the surprise he had planned. That’s when he revealed the plaque, a gift he created for theman he said epitomizes what someone can do for a country.
“He was caught off guard a little bit,” George said. “They were so gracious and appreciative, but he knew why I did it.”
Lt. Gen. John P. Flynn died March 5, 1997. George Richardson attended the funeral at Fort SamHouston.
The Richardsons moved out of the house on Country Hollow in 1999, but occasionally, George will drive by to make sure the plaque is still there.
In her email, Ann Richardson, retired Colonel, U.S. Army Nurse Corps, shared a story about the time she met the Flynns.
I had the privilege of meeting the Flynns before they actually moved out of the house. I was living in Washington, D.C. (working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center) at the time and was in San Antonio visiting my family. George arranged a visit so I could check out his new purchase. When LTG Flynn found out I was an Army nurse, he promptly saluted me and thanked me for my service. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with emotion and delight. I was thrilled to be saluted by a three-star General... I was a Major at the time!
Our entire family was lucky to have crossed paths with this amazing man and his lovely wife.
Lisa.harrison@express-news.net