A Wise Man and His Story

I was the Vice President of Loan Servicing and IT at Southwest Mortgage at the time I met a very intelligent man who was full of wisdom and good advice. Larry was retired, as I remember, and worked part-time as our mailroom guy. He sorted and delivered the mail to and from our various locations; always with a smile on his face and a joke or pun that left you thinking.

I do have to say that Larry Rhee had to be one of the most intelligent men I have met in my life. He had a handle on life with a common-sense approach that I think is missing in today’s world.

Larry escaped Nazi Germany with his family and came to New Mexico. When war broke out Larry answered the call. He told me the story of how he got into the Army despite his bad eyesight. He related to me how he memorized the eye chart as others in front of him read off the letters.

Larry always had a story to tell and it kept your attention. He spoke 5 languages and because of his fluency in German,he was chosen to interrogate German POWs during his time in the Army. Later, he became the Chief Photographer at the Nuremberg Trials. He witnessed the atrocities through many photographs. He used the trial photos and others given to him by Hitler’s personal photographer, as he traveled around NM speaking to civic groups. They were photos he openly shared with me also.

He would sit in my office at times, and we would talk about those days and what he witnessed. He would relate to me which war criminals were smug to the end and which ones were shells of what they once were. I honestly don’t remember who was who in that conversation. But, I remember the most important messages that Larry had. That was that we need to have racial and religious tolerance because hate never solved anything. He also said that you had to forgive because you would free your soul and be able to fully live your life. However, he pointed out that you should never forget and always be vigilant so that history doesn’t repeat itself in a way that we will regret. Truer words were never spoken as we have observed in the last few years.

When I came back to New Mexico 5 years ago, I searched the internet to find Larry and learned of his passing in 2005.I remember Larry talking about his wife and, at the time they were married almost longer than I had been alive, that longevity did not surprise me at all, considering Larry’s loyalty and good senses.

I never got a chance to pay my last respects to Larry, so Larry this is my best shot. You taught me a lot in our short friendship and I can only hope that some of your wisdom and sense of humor rubbed off on me. I remember you with fondness and I smile because you touched my life.

The world needs your wisdom,Larry. If you’re listening, send some down here because I fear we are not being vigilant and tolerant enough and we are repeating history and are on the verge of making a big mistake that we will regret.

If you would like to see Larry’s photographs, some of his collection is on display at the New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum.

You may want to check the schedule and find out what the policies are for photos and special policies rules at this time concerning Covid.