ACT OF KINDNESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1943, Page 4

ACT OF KINDNESS

BY UNITED STATES MARINES. STRANDED PARTY ON ROAD DRIVEN HOME. A Maori resident of the East Coast district (Mr T. R. Paku, of Homewood) is warm in his expression of gratitude to a party of United States Marines who most kindly assisted him and members of his family in a predicament in which they were involved recently. With his wife and a grandchild as passengers, Mr Paku was driving home late at night in his motortruck. When there were 20 miles still to go, one of the tires of the truck was punctured. Means of repairing the damage were not immediately available, and the party was stranded on the road at midnight, in pouring rain. Several passing motorists, who were stopped, declared themselves unable to assist in any way, but presently a party of Marines came along in jeeps. Though they were packed six to a vehicle, the Marines at once found room for Mr Paku and the members of his family and drove them home. As stated, the distance was some 20 miles and in covering it the kindly rescuers went considerably out of their way. Mr Paku is of opinion, and many will agree with him, that episodes of this kind are worthy of being made widely known.