Vet, 92, hopes to return filched photo of woman

PORTLAND — A 92-year-old Coast Guard veteran who says he felt bad about the photo of a pretty red-haired girl that he filched and kept with him through his World War II service now has a chance to return it.

The Oregonian reports that Jim Williams arrived Monday in Portland, Ore., on a vacation trip from Springfield, Ill. He brought a copy of the photo and his story.

He says he met the girl in the photo — Ruby Ruff — in 1943 at a Portland dance hall. When he was invited to her home for tea, he left with the photo — and felt bad about it ever since.

Late Monday, 92-year-old Ruby Hazen of Silver Lake, Wash., got a call from her niece in Portland, who had seen the story.

Ruby Hazen is pleased that Williams carried her photo for moral support. She says he “must be a nice guy” to come so far to try to return it.

Williams says he’s glad to hear she’s doing well. They may not meet in person, but he knows where to send the photo — she lives on Memory Lane.