Emphasis Preaching Journal

Fred Hargesheimer of Grass Valley, California, was shot down over the Japanese-held island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, while piloting a P-38 on a reconnaissance mission in June 1943, during World War II. He survived alone in the jungle for 31 days. Then, for several months, he was hidden and cared for by jungle tribesmen before he finally reached safety with American forces. Because of his survival at the hands of these tribesmen, he vowed to return to repay his debt to them. He did this in 1963 when he built the Airmen's Memorial School with money he had raised.