A War Hero’s Stories in the Hotel Sisimiut Bar

Outside the window of the Somandshjemmet, or seaman’s home, horses are standing in the snow. They don’t move much, unlike the dogs who yap and tug at their chains. These three brown horses with their thick fur coats stand motionless. It makes me think of what the temperature must be–about 10 degrees.

Last night we dined at the Hotel Sisimiut and there were the requisite toasts and cheer. The group has bonded together and friendships have been made. At the hotel bar, where others were getting silly and too drunk, we chatted up Ted Heck, who’s an 84-year-old skiier and writer who admitted that ‘he had had too much to drink.’ Still we made him tell us about his experiences during World War II.  He served in France and earned four medals. He said he once went to a war cemetary and told the two Austrian soldiers down there in the ground,  ‘look what you guys missed!’

 Ted still skis a lot…he said he spends at least $25,000 of his own money to go to Austria and other  European resorts to indulge his love of sliding downhill. He told us about his wife, from whom he is amicably divorced, and his ladyfriend, 75, who is learning how to ski.  He said he felt lucky to still be alive, and that every day he thanks his parent’s longevity genes.

Ted’s sheepish demeanor and matter-of-fact retelling of his war stories was charming, and what you’d expect from a man with a long, long history and lots of great stories. No bravado, just a guy at a bar who I loved listening to. He talked about his brother, a Texas oil baron, who grew up with HW Bush and thinks GWB is doing a great job.  Ted can’t stand it, and tells his brother so.

This war veteran thinks we should get out of Iraq and the country is going the wrong way under his brother’s pal’s son.  Like all of the journalists I travel with, in unison, we all agree!