I dont feel like I was really a part of it. She tore down the runway toward him with open arms, her spiritsand feetflying. As Stirm descended from the plane onto the tarmac, there was Loretta. The war which could not be won was over. She Today, she is Cindy Pierson, the 31-year-old mother of an 8-year-old girl. 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. insights on the dynamics of community life, #15 & #16: Parts I & II of "It's Her Story". Starting on February 12 and continuing until March 29, 1973, almost 600 American POWs were released from North Vietnamese POW camps. I was so young. Posted by ; On Maj 26, 2022; Robert retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 1977 and worked as a corporate pilot and businessman. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the picture recently and saw her 15 1/2-year-old self about to leap into her father's arms, her airborne feet shod in her first pair of high heels. . she says. He says 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. In less than half an hour, Veder and his AP colleague Walt Zeboski had developed six remarkable images of that singular moment. 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.' you can do something about it. He returned a few years ago, however, after the company that hired him as a corporate pilot went bankrupt. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. She works in the sales department of A Brief History of Hair : Dyeing. 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. But he says he can't bring himself to display the picture." But he says he can't bring himself to display the picture. [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. The momentum to stay alive for my familys sake was very strong, because I had four neat children and what I believed to be a neat wife that I wanted to get back to see, he said quietly. The actual story behind the photo, however, was significantly less joyous than the title implied. ", 2023 Smithsonian Magazine With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. "I was very pleased to see my childrenI loved them all and still do, and I know they had a difficult timebut there was a lot to deal with." Though it revives the pain, it is inevitable that he see the picture again Bob, I feel sure that in your heart you know we cant make it together--and it doesnt make sense to be unhappy when you can do something about it. Bob and Loretta met at a party just after he graduated from Air Force cadet from time to time. You can view 1 entry, complete with personal details, location history, phone numbers, relatives and locations for Lorrie Kitching. Her mother, Loretta, and three younger siblings were only steps behind. 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. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. In his home near San Francisco, a Vietnam history book is opened to that . Travis, , , 15 Lorrie Stirm . Its not fair. Stirm retired from the Air Force in 1977 after 25 years of service. Photographer Slava 'Sal' Veder photographed the reunion of Vietnam war vet & Prisoner of war Lt. Col. Robert Stirm with his family on March 13, 1973. "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. Current Address: 735 Leona Ln, Tahoe City, CA 96145 . I don't feel like I was really a part of it. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Looking for Kathryn Kitching online? It was Christmas morning. Burst of Joy is not an image of the Stirm family. Across party lines, across religious, social and economic classifications people will be grateful for life. The momentum to stay alive for my familys sake was very strong, because I had four neat children and what I believed to be a neat wife that I wanted to get back to see, he said. MediaSourcery, marketers of multimedia software. "I have changed drastically - forced into a situation where I finally had to grow up," the letter read in part. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. The pair divorced within a year, with Lorrie and her brother Robert Jr. living with Stirm. know we can't make it together - and it doesn't make sense to be unhappy when Her mother remarried in 1974 and lives in Texas with her husband. I was so young. And Lorrie Stirm Kitching, now 47, is an executive administrator and mother of two sons. Retrieved from. Stirm kt hn mt ln na ri li ti hn. The matter was not lost on the judge, who had noted Lorettas infidelity while Stirm was enduring torture, isolation and fake executions. Everybody's face is genuinely happy.". "I would like to see you when you come home, but will understand if you But for Stirm's older daughter, Lorrie Kitching, the photo captures a wonderful, pure moment in time. He followed in his fathers footsteps; he is a captain in the Air Force based in Panama City. You are here: customer is always right in matters of taste; toronto snow storm april 1975; lorrie stirm kitchingbenji and joel madden young. This site is owned and operated by Bright Mountain Media, Inc., a publicly owned company trading with the symbol. Los Angeles Time July 4, 1993.OW's Homecoming a Picture of Joy, but a Tapestry of Sadness: Vietnam: Photo of Bob Stirm and family won Pulitzer Prize and symbolized end of war. Synopsis: A young woman named Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) hires a renegade marshall, Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne), to help her track down and capture her father's murderer who is in hiding in Indian . Burst of Joy became and remains an iconic photo marking the end of the US involvement in Vietnam. Lorrie will be remembered for her many special qualities; among them her unconditional love, support and encouragement of her children and family. He followed in his father's In his home near San Francisco, a Vietnam history book is opened to that page of Stirm's life. Roger, 12 at the time, trails everyone, wearing a ski jacket. 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. . Trung t Robert Stirm ri khng qun vi qun hm i t nm 1977 v sau lm phi cng li my bay thng mi, ri doanh nhn. "I have several copies of the photo," he says, "but I don't display it in the house.". than at the Vietnamese captors who tortured him. She works in the sales department of Media-Sourcery, marketers of multimedia software. picture does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of "[6] Lorrie's exuberant reaction earned her moniker "The Jumper" or "The Leaper. So we just burst out of the car and started running to my dad. Run Background Search. Burst of Joy became and remains an iconic photo marking the end of the US involvement in Vietnam. As for the rest of the family, Robert Jr. is a dentist in Walnut Creek, California; he and his wife have four children, the oldest of whom is a marine. The best result we found for your search is Lorrie A Kitching age 60s in Mountain View, CA in the Miramonte-springer neighborhood. It brought basket after basket of fan mail and All four of Robert Stirm Sr.'s children have a copy of Burst of Joy hanging in a place of honor on their walls. She is wearing her And she did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. Even though there were only twenty POWs of that first increment released aboard the plane, almost 400 family members turned up for the homecoming. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "stirm" Flickr tag. And she did not even have And while all four children have Burst of Joy hanging in their homes, its more complicated and bittersweet for Stirm. It was like Christmas, she said. Through a series of diplomatic negotiations a deal . When has your joy been interrupted with sadness or pain? And Loretta? In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. This picture does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of marriage from three different men. Let others know about your loved one's death. She started to run toward a soldier. WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. She also received the family home and 42.9 percent of Stirm's retirement pay, though the judge noted a great deal of evidence was presented to show a pattern of misconduct on her part during Stirm's imprisonment. custody of Roger and Cindy. young. Life is too short." "We didn't know if he would ever come home," Lorrie says. . Veders photograph came to represent those American POWs who were, at long last, free. Robert Stirm Jr. is 34 now, the father of three sons and a dentist in Concord, Calif. His sister, Cindy, is his office manager. Lorrie Kitching is 65 years old and was born on 08/02/1957. "There's some sort of notoriety in that. "I just wanted to get to dad as fast as I could," Lorrie says. Her genuine joy of life was evident everyday and she enhanced the lives of everyone she met. "After years of fighting a war we couldn't win, a war that tore us apart, it was finally over, and the country could start healing.". My Favourite Wishlist Login / Signup My account Wishlist Login / Signup My account She did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. Lorrie Allynstirm Kitching is a 64 year old female who lives in Mountain View, California. Just three days before Stirms March 1973 arrival at Travis Air Force Base, California, he received a Dear John letter from his wife of 18 years, Loretta. But for Stirm, there will always be the picture. Lorrie is 35 today and lives in San Mateo, Calif., with her second husband and an 11-year-old son from her first marriage. "It was like Christmas," she says. "In some ways, it's hypocritical, because my former wife had abandoned the marriage within a year or so after I was shot down. In many ways, thats what makes the picture unworthy of being displayed in the retired pilots home. The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Bright Mountain Media, Inc. which may be contacted at info@brightmountainmedia.com, ticker BMTM. 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. Boyle, John, director. Use (650) 968-1971 to contact Lorrie with caution. "You were racing down the stairs because we knew that there was a great present waiting for us. It was 15-year-old Lorrie Stirm, who was closely followed by her siblings and her mother. In the photo, he is 14, a broad smile on his face. It portrays everybody there as happy The families who did not get a reunion like hers. Stirm was imprisoned in North Vietnam for . clark orwick ded bob obituary clark orwick ded bob obituary "I have several copies of the photo," he said, "but I don't display it in the house." She lived a lie. Its not just, Stirm said. It wasnt your fault--we are extremely unsuited and managed to make each other miserable. He gazed at it. No one is sure why she showed up at Travis Air Force Base in California . It makes her appreciate life. The day was overcast, meaning no shadows and near-perfect light. Below are the results we could find for Lorrie Kitching. North Vietnam Tried to Exploit American Racism with POWs. How do you learn to discover joy even in the midst of sadness? . They divorced a year after Stirm returned from Vietnam, and each remarried within six months. She also received the home and 42.9 percent of Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564. 2755 N LAKE BLVD 60 contains 957 square feet of living area and was built in 1972. Copy Link. To this day, Robert Stirm cannot enjoy this picture capturing the joy of his family. And she did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. Stirm was shot down over Hanoi on October 27, 1967, while leading a flight of F-105s on a bombing mission, and not released until March 14, 1973. Today, she is Cindy Pierson, the 31-year-old mother of an 8-year-old girl. I cant begin to tell you how proud we are of you. It's not just," Stirm said. .. In the photo, he is 14, partially blocked by Lorrie, a broad smile on his face. was going to be faced with, and it was kind of unwelcomed," Stirm said. Coating with lard! Stirm was awarded custody of Lorrie and Robert Jr., and Loretta was given custody of Roger and Cindy. "It wasn't your fault - we are extremely unsuited and managed to make each other miserable. 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. If so, login to add it. Previous to Lorrie's current city of Mountain View, CA, Lorrie Kitching lived in Tahoe City CA. And Loretta? the woman in the famous black-and-white photo - his former wife, Loretta - Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the picture recently and saw herself at 15, about to leap into her father's arms, her feet shod in her first pair of high heels. Photo Summary: The Stirm family running to their father, Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm. [9] Loretta died on August 13, 2010 from cancer. Sitting in the back seat of a station wagon on the tarmac at Travis Air Force Base in California, clad in her favorite fuchsia miniskirt, 15-year-old Lorrie Stirm felt that she was in a dream. On March 17, the plane landed at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California. She lives in Mountain View, Calif., with her husband. To Stirm, now 60, it is cruel irony that so public a reunion had so hollow a core. 735 Leona Ln, Tahoe City, CA 96145-Current; 735 Leona Ln, Mountain View, CA 94040; 743 Leona Ln, Mountain View, CA 94040; 1030 Sweet Ave, San Jose, CA 95129; 2755 N Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City . Why? It brought basket after basket of fan mail and newspaper clippings from all over the world, she recalls. The pain of these fractures were seeds buried with tears into the souls of the wounded. were together," it said. It portrays (that) everybody there was happy to see me.. But there was more to the story than was captured on film. To Stirm, 60, it is cruel irony that so public a reunion had so hollow a But to him, it evokes bitterness and betrayal. She is wearing her favorite dress, a black jumper with a lacy pinafore, knee socks and Mary Janes. turned 11 two days before her father returned home. what is a voter acknowledgement card nj. Join our community book club. coming home that changed my life.". You were racing down the stairs because we knew that there was a great present waiting for us. States. Laura Kitchings Parker. you were gone and the children have not forgotten their father. newspaper clippings from all over the world, she recalls. Possible relatives for Robert Stirm include Kristine Vanni, Patricia Phillips, Sharon Stirm and several others. wife that I wanted to get back to see. He gazes at it. Lorrie was born on December 14, 1935 to James and Hazel (Reed) Mrosko, in Marlin, TX. Close behind on the tarmac, also View Lorrie Kitching's record in Mountain View, CA including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. Despite the turmoil surrounding the reunion, the personal reunion that was made so public elicits a different memory for Stirms children one of sheer happiness. https://www.historynet.com/for-airman-famed-burst-of-joy-photograph-rings-hollow/, Jerrie Mock: Record-Breaking American Female Pilot, These 7 Foreigners Helped Win the American Revolution, How Operation Homecoming Was Sprung into Action to Repatriate American POWs. All Rights Reserved, FAMED PHOTO IS TARNISHED FOR POW WHO CAME HOME, Utah social media influencer charged with throwing metal bar stools, wooden play set at boyfriend, Bill mandating counties to provide homeless shelters, enforce camping laws passes Utah House, Sen. Mike Lee to Japan on failure to return imprisoned U.S. officer: What goes around comes around, Media groups oppose bill requiring police to seek consent before identifying child homicide victims, Biden touts plan to raise taxes on the rich, but its unclear he has support in the House, 1 in critical condition after auto-bicycle accident. You knew Christmas was going to be great, but you This picture does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of marriage from three different men. Comments. The picture captures the truth of life. No detail was too small to bring these American prisoners home. favorite dress, a black jumper with a lacy pinafore, knee socks and Mary Directly behind Lorrie in the photo is Cindy, the youngest child. I didnt really know him when he left and I thought it would be wonderful to have a dad because all my friends had dads at their functions.. footsteps; he is a captain in the Air Force. Life is too short.. descendante de salem. "That moment was all our prayers . Adding insult to injury, the divorce became a rather publicized affair, with Loretta getting custody of two of their kids, the family home and nearly 43 percent of Stirms retirement pay. To the end she was courageous, uncomplaining and a valiant spirit as she bravely fought cancer. See Photos. I was so Its not just, Stirm said. Lorrie Alynne Stirm Kitching in Tahoe City, CA Age 64 (August 1957) Home address, vacation, business, rental and apartment property addresses for Lorrie. She is also survived by four step-children; John Adams, wife Catherine and son Scott, Vicki Adams, husband Steve Greene and children Andy and Robin, Tom Adams, Jr. and wife Yuko, and Cathy Adams and husband Don Gordon, also by numerous other family members and by many friends. Home; Blog; Nosotros; Contacto; Nuestros Clientes; Copia de Home V2; lorrie stirm kitching Terms of Use The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Veder's pick, which he instantly titled Burst of Joy, was sent out over the news-service wires, published in newspapers around the nation and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1974. Does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of marriage from three different men realities she. Makes the picture while Stirm was awarded custody of roger and Cindy and started to... Picture capturing the joy of life was evident everyday and she did get... 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