No one knows Sam Rainer, Sr.—at least outside of Union Springs, AL. My grandfather was the mayor of the town and president of the local bank. He didn’t write books. He didn’t have speaking engagements. I don’t think he ever did a radio interview. He just poured his life into the town my grandmother endearingly called “Onion Sprouts” (she never told us why).
The Lord took him home in 1984, but his legacy remains. He was a war hero who flew D-Day. He sided with civil rights activists in the 1960s. He helped local underprivileged children. He gave loans to struggling farmers, approved by handshake. He had no desire for national prominence. He simply loved his community and worked hard to make it a great place.
We could use more leaders like Daddy-man (what I called him as a four year-old). There is a temptation as a leader to pour energy into personal “brand-building” enterprises that create national notoriety. I’ve been guilty of this thinking. In the church we need less spiritual celebrities and more local legacies.
I’m blessed to lead a church with many local heroes—men and women without fame. But they are legends in the Murray community they love. So here’s to all the Daddy-mans out there leaving local legacies—the world will never know who you are, and I know that’s fine with you.
Sam,
I believe I spoke with you about two years ago about your father Sam S Rainer and his service in WWII. My father-in-law was Winfred Maxwell and he was the Radio Operator on your dad’s plane – the Hoo Jive! My wife, Winfred’s daughter had inherited 300 letters her dad had sent home during the war. I have created a website to share those letters. He mentions your dad in several of them and had his parents send a copy of their crew picture enlargement to your grandparents.
Anyway, I know their final mission together was on June 25, 1944 (80 years ago). As I get to the end of their war I would like to include some additional info about the crew members lives after the war. (If that is okay). I have been looking for their obituraries and I ran across your message about your father from 2010. If I could include some of that, or if you have anything else you would want me to include, please let me know.
Thanks again for sending the photo of Winfred with your dad and the 4 other non-coms that came together at Gowen Field, ID and finished their missions together in Europe.
Jim Benz
913-530-7965
maxwellslettershome,com
Sam,
I believe I spoke with you about two years ago about your father Sam S Rainer and his service in WWII. My father-in-law was Winfred Maxwell and he was the Radio Operator on your dad’s plane – the Hoo Jive! My wife, Winfred’s daughter had inherited 300 letters her dad had sent home during the war. I have created a website to share those letters. He mentions your dad in several of them and had his parents send a copy of their crew picture enlargement to your grandparents.
Anyway, I know their final mission together was on June 25, 1944 (80 years ago). As I get to the end of their war I would like to include some additional info about the crew members lives after the war. (If that is okay). I have been looking for their obituraries and I ran across your message about your father from 2010. If I could include some of that, or if you have anything else you would want me to include, please let me know.
Thanks again for sending the photo of Winfred with your dad and the 4 other non-coms that came together at Gowen Field, ID and finished their missions together in Europe.
Jim Benz
913-530-7965
maxwellslettershome,com