Navy Hero Dies of Emphysema

AHSON OBIT/Luthy

NAVY HERO DIES OF EMPHYSEMA

By Allison Luthy

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Jeffrey R Ahson, 79, navy hero and Kalamazoo local, died at home last night from emphysema.

Mr. Ahson served as a petty officer in the navy during World War II, according to Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jeraldine Fyfe.

Assigned to the USS Emory at the battle of Midway, Mr. Ahson crossed a burning deck to save four other officers. He then took over a fallen gunner’s post and shot down three enemy planes.

“Ahson was a genuine American hero,” said Fyfe.

The Navy awarded Mr. Ahson with the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross for his actions.

Mr. Ahson left the navy in 1946, moving to Kalamazoo to become a firefighter. Mr. Ahson collected World War II memorabilia, which he stored in an old fire truck he repaired. The fire truck is now on display at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

He retired from the fire department in 1966 and became a car salesman until 1985.

Mr. Ahson belonged to the American Legion post 702, VFW post 4206, the National Checkers Association, and served as an usher at John Calvin Presbyterian.

Mr. Ahson is survived by his wife, Therese Alpert; his three children, Richard Ahson of Phillipsburg, Kan., Angela Molino of Omaha, Neb., and Lela Stalling of Pipecreek, Texas; siblings Henry Ahson, Julie Solomon, and Judith Acker, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Littleton Mortuary at 10AM on Saturday, followed immediately by a burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. There will be viewings held at Littleton Mortuary from 4-5:30PM and from 7:30-9PM Friday. Mr. Ahson’s family requests no flowers.

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Werner von Trapp's Obituary

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/arts/music/15trapp.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

I liked the lede on this obituary because it answered all of the reader's questions and it also included the fact that Werner von Trapp was a member of the family that "The Sound of Music" was based on, which is a really good hook for a lot of readers. The rest of the story wasn't as interesting, but the author did a good job of attracting attention to his article.

In-Class Assignment

I had a really hard time at first finding any quotes because so many faculty members didn't want to comment on something as controversial as the Iraq war. I even had one person only give me a quote on the condition that she would remain anonymous. Fortunately, I got enough other quotes that I did not have to use hers.
I thought it was a good exercise because it helped me learn new techniques for getting quotes. For instance, when I was talking to someone in Financial Aid, I asked her if she new anyone else in Mandelle who would be willing to comment. She ended up leading me to four other people who gave me quotes.
While I didn't particularly enjoy hunting down people for quotes at 8:30 in the morning, I feel like I improved my interviewing skills because of it.

Rich Pg. 181 #1

Lead: MERIDEN, Conn.--All hand-held radar guns were banned yesterday from police officers' use until they are proven to have no connections to cancer, reports a state police spokesman.

Backup: “The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue,” said police spokesperson, Adam Berluti. For now, state troopers will monitor traffic with radar units that have transmitters mounted on their cruisers.

Supporting Points: Two months ago, three municipal police officers in Connecticut filed worker’s compensation claims after developing cancer they said came from the hand-held radar guns.

Ending: The hand-held radar guns will continue to be banned until some sort of conclusion can be reached about the possible links to cancer.