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An amazing story ~~~ Elgin Staples, serving as a Signalman Third Class on the USS Astoria in the Pacific, carried the weight of war after Pearl Harbor. His mother, Vera, poured her heart into letters from her job at the Firestone plant in Akron, Ohio, where she labored for the war effort. Her pride shone through when Elgin shared news of the Astoria’s role in the fierce battles at Coral Sea and Midway, tracking the ship’s path through newspaper reports. The thought of his mother learning about the Astoria’s sinking at Savo Island, with 1000 sailors lost, gnawed at Elgin. He had survived by a miracle, a rubber life belt secured around his waist, holding him above the raging sea for 12 hours. Back home, he presented the worn belt to his mother, the rubber that had been his lifeline. “This belt kept me alive,” he said, voice trembling. “My god,” Vera gasped, her fingers brushing the inspection numbers on the belt, tears streaming down her face. “Son, that's my inspection number. I inspected this belt.” #ww2 #miracle #faith