Niece recognizes uncle's face in photos of WWII album


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SALT LAKE CITY — While watching KSL news Wednesday, Pam Helsten saw a familiar face in a story about an album full of old photos and newspaper clippings found among a man's father's belongings.

"It brought tears to my eyes. I could hardly talk. I yelled at my husband to come look and I got very emotional," Pam Helsten, Gordon's niece said.

Helsten recognized her uncle Woodrow Gordon's face in a few photos of the WWII-era photo album found among the belongings of William Epperson's father, in Casper, Wyo.

The album details a lot of Corporal Gordon's army days, including his time building the famous AlCan Highway. It's a bit of history that Epperson wants to return to Gordon's relatives.

Gordon lived across the street from Helsten in central Utah for years. He was an Army Corporal during World War II. It appears the photos came to be in Wyoming through Gordon's wife.

"I don't know if these are photos that are photos that they took, because Uncle Woodrow met Mary in Wyoming, married her and brought her to Clear Creek," Helsten said. "So maybe those photos were left up there at that time."

Woodrow Gordon died in 1978, after a career working in Utah's coal mines. He was one of 10 children. His youngest sister Dona Hartin, 93, the last of his siblings living, was thrilled when she heard about the photo album.

"Oh, I can't believe this is happening. It's such a wonderful thing. Something from the past," Hartin said.

That's exactly why Epperson never even considered keeping, selling or otherwise getting rid of the album. He knew someone would be thrilled to get it.

"If it was me, and all of the sudden someone brought me something that was from my dad that has been missing for 60 years, it would bring tears to my eyes."

Gordon's sister will most likely receive the album, and share it with her large family.

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Keith McCord

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