By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Herman Swanner had just celebrated his 18th birthday when he signed up to serve in the Invasion of Japan. While he was in the Army, he spent nearly all his time on a boat, and dealt with heavy equipment. Hiroshima had already been bombed, and now it was mostly up to the United States to organize the rebuilding of Japan in the aftermath of the deadliest war in history. His official service dates were 03 May 1945-13 December 1946. Herman remembers that there were “about a million boats,” so many that they could hardly move. He came home, married, had children, and settled into being part of what would eventually become known as the Greatest Generation. And, like the men of that era, he never expected to be honored or celebrated for his efforts—he believed he was just doing his duty like every other Joe.
Fast forward eight decades, and it comes to the attention of certain veterans and veteran supporters that Herman had never been given a hand-made Quilt of Valor as an expression of gratitude for his service. Now, that was a situation that needed to be rectified immediately, given the fact that our dear Herman is now 98 years old!
So, people snapped into action, and here is a description of how it all came together, with much of the information provided by Barry Sammet:
On Saturday, May 24, 2025 Mr. Swanner was presented a Quilt of Valor at the VFW Post 4765. Attending with Mr. Swanner were his son Jimmy, daughter-in-law Nan, daughter Nancy, and friend Glenn Fleming. Mr. Swanner was in good spirits, thankful to be able to be present to receive his Quilt of Valor. With a smile on his face and proudly wearing his WWII cap, Mr. Swanner accepted his quilt with a “Thank you.” Presenting his quilt were Marty Kent and Teresa Donahue, of the Limestone Chapter of Quilts of Valor.
There were seven veterans to receive a Quilt of Valor on this date. Family and friends were in attendance, as were some of the ladies and gentlemen who make the quilts from here in Athens, AL, from the 3 Hens & A Chick Quilt Shop.
After the presentation was over, Mr. Swanner told me about remembering when he was very young, his mother would have several ladies over to her house to make quilts. He said his mother had a quilting frame that hung from the ceiling and the ladies would sit around the quilting frame most of the day and make their quilts.
I spoke with Herman’s children, Jimmy and Nancy, and they expressed how proud they were of their dad. They also mentioned that they weren’t sure if he would accept the quilt, and at first, he was hesitant. Then he decided to “go for it.” “If anybody deserves to receive a quilt, it’s him,” they both told me. And what says it all is the ear-to-ear grin on Herman’s face as he sits wrapped in his Quilt of Valor.
Congratulations, Mr. Swanner, and thanks to all who helped make this possible!
By: Ali Eliazbeth Turner
June 20, 2025
