Milford chronicle., 1957-05-31
1881 Mayo
Topeka, Kansas
May "a, 1867

May "a, 1867
Dear Friends:
Monday night. May 20 after we
had finished our dinner we watched
from our front door Git faces east)
dark cloud racing toward the
Kansas City area. We knew al
most Immediately by television
that the storm was a severe one.
Programs were practically all can
celled that evening in order to noti-
fly people of the approaching storm,
and then as the tunnels touched the
ground the locations and dam
ages were given.
Tuesday morning my Dad, when
he read of the disaster and the
deaths resulting from the storm.
called me long distance from Della
ware. l quickly assured him that
the storm was so miles away from
ds, but that / certainly had Tom
and Doris Bennett on my mind.
Tom is a major stationed at Grand
View Air Force Base and he and
Doris and their three children had
as their address Hickman Mills,
Missouri. The television was full
of the damage done at Hickman
Mills Ruskin Heights is the part
lof Hickman Mills that the swath
of the tornado Tor tornadoes) took
Wednesday night my parents
called again to tell me that they
had found out from the Dan Kin
der's Doris parents who live near
Haven Lake, in Milford) that the
Benefits home disintegrated in
the storm. We didn't know how in
the world to get in touch with Tom
and Doris, but thought if we could
get through to them via the Ali
Base perhaps we could learn more
At night at Air Bases it's usually
pretty hard to get i'm touch with
someone since most of the offices
are closed. We needed information
from the Base Locator. Apparent
| ly the base was alerted to help To-
cate all the families in the dis
faster because we were soon talk
ing to our friends. Friends of the
Bennetts had turned over theii
house to them. The owners family
had Just gone home for a visit tC
their native Texas and the hus-
band stayed in the Bases B. o. @
bachelor Officers Quarters) ant
turned over his home to Tom
Doris, their daughter, Bonnie, 10,
Tommy z; and little Bobby year:
old
On the spur of the moment yes
terday Hayes called me from tn,
base and had secured a few hour!
off, giving us time to fly to Crane
View Air Force Base and be will
Tom and Doris for an hour or two
l had time only to grab a coupl,
of Lynne's dresses and one of mine
to take them. Tom and the TIVE
boys met us at the plane. Doris
was at the Officers Club milling
through barrels of clothes tina
the more fortunate people had sen
for those who were lefr with moth
ing after the storm ravished theil
community.
Tom had been scheduled to fl.
Monday evening, but it was can
celled due to the severe storm
warnings. He was home with Dori;
and the children. They discussed
with their neighbor. the prospect o
their seeking shelter. Their neigh
Dor checked on the school near b!
and found the door locked SO thel
all got into the neighbOr's car anC
headed for the Presbyterian Churcf
lust block away. Boy Scouts haG
been in the church proper prac
tising First Aid with the tourni
1uets. Some people had alread!
descended into the cellar. The wo
men and children went on in ant
Tom and his neighbOr watched th'
storm as it approached. It seemeC
wider than the usual funnell anC
hey wondered if maybe it couldn'
Ne the real thing. Quickly debris
began hitting their faces and the.
ioined the others in the basemen
f the church.
In the four years that we h2y'
ived in the midwest we have beer
old in case of a tornado to seel
shelter in the basement if possibl
aud also try to be in the south ives
corner. The BENEFITS huddled to
ether almost in the center of tn
.ellar of the church since the van
,ege corner was already filled. Ton
protected the boys with his rain
soat and Doris tried to shield Bon
lie with her coat. AS you have reai
~ now 100 homes we're complete