June 14,2018, was a special night at the Charles George V.A. Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina. One of their patients, Wayne Carringer, was about to turn ninety-eight (98) years old in a few days; and members and volunteers from both the Hendersonville (#1616) and Asheville (#608) Elks Lodges were on-hand to help him celebrate. A birthday cake was presented to him and all in attendance sang ‘Happy Birthday’. Sadly, Wayne passed away a short time later on July 1st, surrounded by loved ones. He was a true American hero.
Wayne was one of our oldest surviving American soldiers who endured the Bataan Death March during World War II. He was a POW for nearly 3 and a half years. Starvation, beatings, torture, solitary confinement, humiliation, illness without medical treatment, and slave labor in a Japanese coal mine resulted in Wayne receiving the name ‘Ghost Soldier’. The Federal Government had declared that Wayne was missing in action and presumed dead.
Wayne Carringer with Asheville Elks Lodge #608 members Charlie Campbell , PDDGER ( left) and Skip Henderson, Exalted Ruler (right)
Wayne Carringer