January 27, 2005


A born storyteller leaves a WWII legacy

Major Dwight “Doc” Near
(1918-2004)

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

On Jan. 6, one day shy of what would have been his 86th birthday, friends, family and fellow soldiers gathered together at Almaden Valley United Church of Christ to pay tribute to a fallen comrade.

Near leaves behind a loving family, including from left, Bob Erickson, Todd Erickson, Laura Erickson, and Doug and Marcelle Near. Seated, Major Near’s wife of 63 years, Alice Henderson Near.

Almaden lost one of its own, Major Dwight Near, a 23-year resident who will be remembered by many as a born storyteller with a generous smile, an even bigger heart, and a pretty mean golf swing.

“He was such a remarkable man,” reflected neighbor Pat Dando. “Major Near was an exceptional example of the caring men and women that served in WWII. He did so selflessly and upon his return, did not dwell on his acts of courage but went about with his family life.”

After the memorial service, Near’s son Doug shared memories of his father, who he said was an extremely proud and dedicated man with a great reverence for the flag and for his country. Patriotism aside, he said he will always remember the “interview” more.

One afternoon, he sat his father down in front of a video camera, and the interview began. Hours later, Doug was convinced he had the national treasure tucked under his arm, in the form of a video tape—one he now pulls out just to hear his father’s voice. Looking back however, it was the clarity of the conversation that shined.

“I was amazed, especially as I watch it now,” he said. “He could remember names and dates, facts and figures—everything. That’s especially valuable to me now. It’s one of my most prized possessions and cannot be replaced.”

Random acts of selflessness
Near, like many others, dropped everything to serve his country during times of war, serving both in WWII and again in Korea. His selflessness was evident in the story he put together with the help of Greg Perkins, one of many teen volunteers who partnered with WWII veterans to preserve their memories for the Digital Clubhouse Network Stories of Service Project.

In the short digital movie, Near, upon learning that his commander, a fellow sergeant was to return home in two days, took over their Mayday patrol and trudged through three feet of snow until he noticed a tiny wire in their path. The field had been mined.

“Our objective was on the other side, with no way around it,” he said in the clip. “We would have to walk through it.”

That’s when he pulled out a card that his mother had tucked away in the pocket of his uniform before he shipped out. On it was a prayer.

“I know that where I am God is. Therefore, there is no safer place than where I am.”

Near credited his mother and the prayer with guiding the patrol through the field, allowing them to finish their mission and return safely to their base.

Although he was reprimanded for taking on the nearly impossible odds, it was the type of selfless bravery that he and others of his generation did so well—not for the accolades, but in service to his country, the type that later earned him a coveted bronze star.

It was a lifestyle that stayed with him until he died.

“It was really inspiring working with him on this project,” explained Perkins. “His dedication to his men, his family, and to our country—I admired his courage and what he did.”

In looking back, Alice, his wife of 63 years said he never wanted to be fussed over much, yet she admitted he didn’t mind a little attention every now and then.

Friends, fellow veterans, and family members enjoyed the replay of Dwight Near’s life through the photo displays that surrounded the room.

“He wouldn’t have wanted all this fuss to be about him,” she said, as friends gathered in the church community room that was surrounded by walls covered in news clippings and photographs depicting a life fully lived. “I think he would be pleased.”

Holding on
Last May, Near was chosen to be part of a 60-member delegation that represented San Jose at the dedication of the Washington Memorial. Although in failing health, he knew it would be the last reunion with his fellow veterans and an opportunity to present his story to the nation. It was one he always joked about and said that they had taken his life, pulled out all the adjectives and adverbs, and then condensed it into a six-minute digital story. It was a mission that his wife said kept him going.

“He was one of the participants who was the most excited,” Dando added. “I’ll always remember him having such great posture, almost like he was marching. I could almost see him flash back to when he was marching again with his band of brothers. It was really very emotional.”

Perhaps he was marching again, a heartrending final hurrah and a much-deserved tribute that was too long in coming.

Born in Thompson Falls, Mont., Jan. 7, 1918, Near was well known in golfing circles during the 1930s and 40s. He was Oregon state’s junior golf champion and went on to become captain of Eugene High and coach-captain of the University of Oregon golf teams. Forty years later, he continued to make news by setting golf course records. However, he always said his favorite golf stories came from his days as a caddy.

Although Near and his family have called Almaden home since 1981, he spent much of his life in Eugene, Ore. and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1940 before owning a car dealership. He later served as president of the Cottage Grove, Ore. school board and Chamber of Commerce.

Today, his grandson Mark, a freshman, walks in the familiar footsteps that once traversed the halls of the same university, and is also a member of his grandfather’s fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.

Throughout his life, Near stayed actively involved in many civic and educational endeavors—a calling that followed him to San Jose and included stints as docent for the San Jose Historical Museum and the Museum’s Portraits of the Past. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Royal Arch.

For Major Dwight Near, his was a full life that began in Thompson Falls, Mont. on Jan. 7, 1918 and ended peacefully on Dec. 6, 2004. His memories now belong to his loving wife, Alice Henderson Near, his daughter Laura and husband Bob Ericson and their sons, Mark and Todd of Los Gatos; his son Doug and wife Marcelle Near and their children, Tyler and Alicia, and his sister-in-law, Sunny Near, of Mandeville, La.

“Dad’s was a life interrupted,” remembered Near’s daughter Laura Erickson. “Every person’s life is worth telling about and every person has a history. Yet this generation is very modest, with the depression and the war. He went off to war four months after he was married. It strikes me as so much like what is going on now with the guys in Iraq.”

“Dwight had a chance to share his story with the younger people,” said Anita MackFarland, national director of programs for the Digital Clubhouse Network. “That’s one of the biggest things to me—to connect the two generations, and he got a kick out of it. There’s something about it that brings some sort of life, some new energy. This is driving these veterans to do more in their lives. I love to see it.”

Donations in lieu of flowers may be given to the American Lung Society or the Digital Clubhouse, 1743 Park Avenue #411, San Jose, CA 95126.