Mother donates fallen son's craft to Navy Mothers Museum

16.11.09

As the gifted young boy, Marshalltown's Darwin Judge enjoyed being a Cub Scout.

"He used to have his own wood lathe, too and liked making things," said his mom Ida. "Darwin worked with it the whole continually he was growing up and even after he joined the Navy."

A large grandfather clock towers within her living room, displaying the unsophisticated man's craftsmanship.

But in 1975, the Lance Corporal was killed in active duty, the last of two fallen soldiers in the Vietnam War.

"He had turned 19 in February and was killed in April during the diminish-out," said sister Lori DeSaulniers.

A local park on Twelfth Street was named after LCpl. Rule and in April 2001, the soldier was honored with a flag pole on the grounds.

Then, a couple months ago while embroidering, the 'gold brilliant mother' received a phone call.

Officials on behalf of the Navy Mothers Clubs of America asked if by accidental she would be able to donate something of Darwin's to a new museum.

Source: Marshalltown Times Republican