The actual story behind the photo, however, was significantly less joyous than the title implied. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. the woman in the famous black-and-white photo - his former wife, Loretta - It brought a lot of notoriety and publicity to me and, unfortunately, the legal situation that I was going to be faced with, and it was kind of unwelcomed, Stirm said of the photo. A Brief History of Hair : Dyeing. Life is too short.". What some women through the years have done--and will do--for a do. The joy of this reunion leaps out from the pages of history: Bob Stirm, crisp in his Air Force uniform, was finally home after nearly 5 1/2 years in the prison camps of Vietnam. In the lead is 15 year old Lorrie followed by Robert Jr., Cindy, Roger and wife Loretta. SUPPORTING UKRAINE TOGETHER. like when Dad came home. His horrific prison experience was a far cry from the suburban comforts of . Veders photograph came to represent those American POWs who were, at long last, free. "It brought a lot of notoriety and publicity to me and, unfortunately, the legal situation that I was going to be faced with, and it was kind of unwelcomed," Stirm said of the photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Sal Veder. Burst of Joy. Roger, 12 at the time, trails everyone. Let others know about your loved one's death. Burst of Joy became and remains an iconic photo marking the end of the US involvement in Vietnam. He kept copies of the image, but none are on display. Looking for Kathryn Kitching online? Elle n'arrivait tout simplement pas croire qu'ils allaient tre runis. Photographer, "Sal" Veder was standing in the photographers' pit at Travis Air Force Base in California as the POWs made their way off the plane. She is wearing her favorite dress, a black jumper with a lacy pinafore, knee socks and Mary Janes. comme une vidence grand corps malade analyse. didn't really know what was going to happen on Christmas, and that was just He It was like Christmas, she said. Lives in Waynesboro, Georgia. Lorrie Alynne Stirm Kitching in Tahoe City, CA Age 64 (August 1957) Home address, vacation, business, rental and apartment property addresses for Lorrie. [1] [2] All four of Robert Stirm Sr.'s children have a copy of Burst of Joy hanging in a place of honor on their walls. You were racing down the stairs because we knew that there was a great present waiting for us. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Thats a strong incentive.. "It never would have gone away in my mind, but seeing that photo brings it all back again - just all the joy that was there.". had four neat children," he says quietly, "and what I believed to be a neat Lorrie Kitching is 65 years old and was born on 08/02/1957. He says he survived the torture, the mock executions, the dread-filled days His arrival, however, would leave him feeling anything but loved. All content Copyright @ 2015-2018. Bob and Loretta met at a party just after he graduated from Air Force cadet centre mdical europe dermatologue to grow up," the letter read in part. I was so young. Lorrie Stirm Kitching, the girl with open arms in the picture, does not see her parents' failed marriage in the photo. Why? "I have several copies of the photo," he says, "but I don't display it in the house.". Because his back is to the camera, as Veder points out, the officer seems anonymous, an everyman who represented not only the hundreds of POW's released that spring but all the troops in Vietnam who would return home to the mothers, fathers, wives, daughters and sons they'd left behind. Close behind on the tarmac, also The photograph came to symbolize the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War, and the prevailing sentiment that military personnel and their families could begin a process of healing after enduring the horrors of war. anti emmeleur feeder. In some ways, its hypocritical, because my former wife had abandoned the marriage within a year or so after I was shot down, Stirm recounted. The photo itself is iconic: A seemingly anonymous POWs back is to the camera as his gleeful family runs pell-mell toward him. The joy of this reunion leaps out from the pages of history: Bob Stirm, crisp in his Air Force uniform, was finally home after nearly 5 1/2 years in the prison camps of Vietnam. Despite all of this, however, Loretta made up her mind not long after Stirms stricken F-105 Thunderchief fell from the sky, bidding him goodbye as he ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. And even though some us stand at a distance, we are the children running to embrace a loved one returning home. Now 72 and retired, he lives in Foster City, California. The teenager waited while her father stood in front of a jubilant crowd and made a brief speech on behalf of himself and other POW's who had arrived from Vietnam as part of "Operation Homecoming. Bob and Loretta met at a party just after he graduated from Air Force cadet school in Texas; they were married in February 1955 when she was 19. She The centerpiece of the photograph is Stirm's 15-year-old daughter Lorrie, who is excitedly greeting her father with outstretched arms, as the rest of the family approaches directly behind her. newspaper clippings from all over the world, she recalls. Why? "I'm the one that lives In the photo, he is 14, partially blocked by Lorrie, a broad smile on his face. And she did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. [1][2], The first group of American POWs leaving North Vietnamese prison camps left Hanoi on a United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed C-141 Starlifter nicknamed the Hanoi Taxi, which flew them to Clark Air Base in the Philippines for medical examinations. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. What are your hopes for this coming holiday season? The joy of this reunion leaps out from the pages of history: Bob Stirm, crisp in his Air Force uniform, was finally home after nearly 5 1/2 years in the prison camps of Vietnam.The Pulitzer Prize-winning picture that captured that very personal, yet most public of moments symbolizes the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, the bittersweet homecoming of 591 American POWs in 1973. The two had previously divorced when they were younger, but remarried shortly after. Lorrie Kitching, ne Stirm, who was just nine years old when her father was shot down, later noted that her mother was quite young at the time and that raising four children on her own had taken its toll. She is married to an attorney and still lives in Foster City, but declined to be interviewed. Stirm's retirement pay, though the judge said a great deal of evidence showed "It never would have gone away in my mind, but seeing that photo brings it all back again--just all the joy that was there." Destructive 'Super Pigs' From Canada Threaten the Northern U.S. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the picture recently and saw her 15 . "There's some sort of notoriety in The families who did not get a reunion like hers. "In some ways, it's hypocritical, because my former wife had abandoned the He gazes at it. The photo, taken by Sal Veder of The Associated Press, "brought a lot of [8] Stirm was later promoted to full Colonel and retired from the Air Force in 1977. Her mother remarried in 1974 and lives in Texas with her husband. "People recognized this photo," he says. And while all four children have Burst of Joy hanging in their homes, its more complicated and bittersweet for Stirm. Stirm's anger and bitterness these two decades later seem directed more at the woman in the famous black-and-white photo - his former wife, Loretta - than at the Vietnamese captors who tortured him. They divorced a year after The story behind the famous photo of a family's reunion after a father, a POW, returns from Vietnam is significantly less joyous than the imagery implies. Stirm's anger and bitterness two decades later seem directed more at the woman in the famous black-and-white photo--his former wife, Loretta--than at the Vietnamese captors who tortured him. He married and was divorced again. After his promotion to Colonel and retirement in 1977, Stirm went to work for a steel company and as a corporate pilot. Its not just, Stirm said. She did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. He followed in his fathers footsteps; he is a captain in the Air Force based in Panama City. It's not just," Stirm says today. I wn't be able to make it to our 40 year HS reunion - is there anyone interested in getting together here in the San Francisco Bay Area? a pattern of misconduct on her part during Stirm's imprisonment. [4] Smithsonian Magazine says that "In less than half an hour, Veder and his AP colleague Walt Zeboski had developed six remarkable images of that singular moment. Filoli, Hour 1. running, are his two grinning boys; his younger daughter; his tall, attractive She simply couldn't believe they were about to be reunited. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Asked why, Stirm doesnt mince words. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. "It was like Christmas. "It wasn't your fault - we are extremely unsuited and Today, she is Cindy Pierson, 31, the mother of an 8-year-old girl. Concord, Calif. His sister, Cindy, is his office manager. He returned a few years ago, however, Auctioneer Joel Bohy valued the items as worth $2500-$3000 at auction, but said the "historical value on this is absolutely priceless. Burst of Joy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Associated Press photographer Slava 'Sal' Veder, taken on March 17, 1973 at Travis Air Force Base in California. She started to run toward a soldier. She lives in Mountain View, California, with her husband. But for Stirm's older daughter, Lorrie Kitching, the photo captures a wonderful, pure moment in time. Lorettas mindset was nothing new. Below are the results we could find for Lorrie Kitching. It brought basket after basket of fan mail and newspaper clippings from all over the world, she recalls. Stirms anger and bitterness two decades later seem directed more at the woman in the famous black-and-white photo--his former wife, Loretta--than at the Vietnamese captors who tortured him. favorite dress, a black jumper with a lacy pinafore, knee socks and Mary She is wearing her favorite dress, a black jumper with a lacy pinafore, knee socks and Mary Janes. Three days before this picture was taken, Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, the soldier in the picture, received a Dear John letter from his wife, Loretta. . Directly behind Lorrie in the photo is Cindy, the youngest child. "It never would have gone away in my mind, but seeing that photo HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. She lived a lie. Your Privacy Rights They have also lived in Los Altos, CA and Foster City, CA. was very young.". "Bob, I feel sure that in your heart you know we can't make it together - and it doesn't make sense to be unhappy when you can do something about it. Even though there were only twenty POWs of that first increment released aboard the plane, almost 400 family members turned up for the homecoming. I love you--we all love you, but you must remember how very unhappy we were together, it said. On March 17, the plane landed at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California. She had It was Christmas morning. Hoi Linh From left to right, Lt Col Robert L. Stirm, Lorrie Stirm, Bo Stirm, Cindy Stirm, Loretta Stirm, and Roger Stirm. She passed away in 2010 at the age of 74. Robert's flight, as part of Operation Homecoming, brought 20 POWs back . Stirm, a 1950 graduate of San Mateo High School and an alumnus of College of San Mateo, grew up in leafy San Mateo Park. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. "I just wanted to get to dad as fast as I could," Lorrie says. DATE OF BIRTH: March 23, 1933 PLACE OF BIRTH: San Mateo, California HOME OF RECORD: San Mateo, California Robert Stirm was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on. A kprl Robert nagyobbik lnya, Lorrie Stirm Kitching Butler 2005-s cikkben megjegyezte, Ez egy nagyon kedves kpnk egy nagyon boldog percnkrl, de mindig, amikor rnzek, eszembe jutnak azok a csaldok, amelyek nem egyesltek jra s azok, amelyek nem tudtak a mai napig sem jraegyeslni - sok-sok csald - s n . . "You knew Christmas was going to be great, but you didn't really know what was going to happen on Christmas, and that was just like when Dad came home. "I look at the picture, and "It's a hero's welcome for guys who weren't always seen or treated as heroes," says Donald Goldstein, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and a coauthor of The Vietnam War: The Stories and The Photographs, of the Stirm family reunion picture. Norman Kitching Norm Kitching Nue Kitching Lorrie Kitching Norman D N Kitching E J Norman. 2755 N LAKE BLVD 60 contains 957 square feet of living area and was built in 1972. But the photo per se didn't really change my life--it was my father coming home that changed my life." She lived a lie. . She works in the sales department of These men earned his respect and the respect of the nation. Lorrie Alynne Stirm Kitching Rd. Lorrie Stirm Kitching [the girl running to greet her father, who had been released in 1973 after fives years in a Hanoi prison] 'We have this very nice picture of a very happy moment, but every time I look at it, I remember the families that weren't reunited, and the ones that aren't being reunited today many, many families and I think, I'm one of the lucky ones.' It portrays (that) everybody there was happy to see me.. Lorrie A S Kitching, Age 64 Remove Record. [5] You knew Christmas was going to be great, but you didnt really know what was going to happen on Christmas, and that was just like when Dad came home. Stirm retired from the Air Force in 1977 after 25 years of service. That the moment was considerably more fraught than we first assumed makes it all the more poignant and reminds us that not all war casualties occur on the battlefield. She lived a lie. It brought basket after basket of fan mail and newspaper clippings from all over the world, she recalls. The photograph Burst of Joy. Burst of Joy. Our 9 best-selling history titles feature in-depth storytelling and iconic imagery to engage and inform on the people, the wars, and the events that shaped America and the world. Loretta Stirm remarried in 1974 and moved to Texas with her new husband. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. "I would like to see you when you come home, but will understand if you would rather not. Last updated 1 year ago. Burst of Joy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Associated Press photographer Slava "Sal" Veder, taken on March 17, 1973 at Travis Air Force Base in California. I had four neat children and what I believed to be a neat wife that I wanted to get back to see. Because of her.. wife. . Close behind on the Tarmac, also running, are his two grinning boys, his younger daughter and his tall, attractive wife. But he says he can't bring himself to display the picture. In the photo, he is 14, partially blocked by Lorrie, a broad smile on his face. "[5], Smithsonian Magazine says that "Veder, who'd been standing in a crowded bullpen with dozens of other journalists, noticed the sprinting family and started taking pictures. Veder's pick, which he instantly titled Burst of Joy, was sent out over the news-service wires". In some ways, its hypocritical, because my former wife had abandoned the marriage within a year or so after I was shot down, he told the LA Times. Many people try to escape the past by willing themselves to forget, by allowing the years to dull the ache and make the memories recede. turned 11 two days before her father returned home. He points to the picture, to the tall woman - just outpacing her younger son - dressed in a blue-and-white pleated skirt and blue sweater, sporting a large corsage. Francisco, but found it ungratifying. It was Christmas morning. Close behind on the Tarmac, also running, are his two grinning boys, his younger daughter and his tall, attractive wife. On October 27, 1967, Stirm was shot down over Hanoi while leading a flight of F-105s on a bombing mission, and was not released until March 14, 1973. George Washington had complained vociferously about the flood of questionable foreign volunteers. And Lorrie Stirm Kitching, now 47, is an executive administrator and mother of two sons. In every home there is something broken; a dream unfulfilled, a relationship torn apart or a heart broken. What is your Burst of Joy moment, a time you felt overwhelming joy? picture does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of custody of Roger and Cindy. I didn't really know him when he left and I thought it would be . Among the POW ranks were Floyd Thompson, who was shot down in 1963 and retained the undesirable title of the wars longest-held prisoner; John McCain, the late senator and former presidential candidate; and former Sen. Jeremiah Denton Jr., who famously blinked out the letters T-O-R-T-U-R-E, in Morse code, while being interviewed for a propaganda film, according to Vietnam magazines Rick Fredericksen. Stirm retired from the Air Force in 1977 after 25 years of service. Life is too short." It . The comedian appeared at a council meeting this week a He pointed to the picture, to the tall woman--just outpacing her younger son--dressed in a blue-and-white pleated skirt and blue sweater, sporting a large corsage. Possible relatives for Robert Stirm include Kristine Vanni, Patricia Phillips, Sharon Stirm and several others. Cindy Pierson, a waitress, resides in Walnut Creek with her husband and has a daughter in college. He worked well past the age of 60, and is currently 86 years of age. Stirm laughs. She works in the sales department of MediaSourcery, marketers of multimedia software. newsletter for the best of the past, delivered every Wednesday. She had a rough job, raising four children on her own, Lorrie said. Stirm laughed. But for Stirm's older daughter, Lorrie Kitching, the photo captures a wonderful, pure moment in time. Though the picture revives the pain, it is inevitable that he see it again from time to time. He said he survived the torture, the mock executions, the dread-filled days and nights, so he could return to her, only to be handed a "Dear John" letter by a chaplain upon his release. But remarried shortly after in perilous times because we knew that there was a present! 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