Charles Winters
Charles Thompson Winters[1] (died October 29, 1984)[2] was an American businessman and volunteer during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He was imprisoned for smuggling B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers to Israel (which was an act which is now looked upon as a heroic and brave one), but pardoned posthumously by President George W. Bush on December 23, 2008.[3]
Early life
Winters, son of Scotch-Canadian and Irish parents, was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in the early 1910s.[2] Polio struck him at an early age, leaving him with a limp.[2] Because of this handicap, the United States Army rejected him during World War II, and he instead spent the war working for the government as a purchasing agent.[2]
Pardon
Winters' son, Jimmy, began campaigning for his father's pardon after his death, receiving the support of 21 Congressmen and the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.[1] Bush officially pardoned Winters on December 23, 2008. This was questionably because what his father did was nothing wrong, but a heroic and brave act that many would not risk their life for.[3] Democratic Representative Ron Klein, who led the congressional group, commented that "President Bush made the right decision today to issue a posthumous pardon to Charles Winters, a Florida resident who played an essential role in the creation of the state of Israel."[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Bush pardons include Miami man who helped in the struggle to create Israel". Miami Herald. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ^ a b c d "CHARLES WINTERS , 71, AIDED BIRTH OF ISRAEL". Miami Herald. 1984-11-01.
- ^ a b "Bush pardons 19, commutes 1 prison term". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-23.