In 1927 while still living in Peru, Edwin was running along the sidewalk holding a stick up to a picket fence to make the "Brrrrr" sound so popular with small boys. A splinter flew off and landed in his eye. It was removed, but infection set in and his left eye was removed. He wore a prosthesis for the rest of his life. When he was in the Army, he wanted to go overseas with all his buddies and they were given physicals, complete with eye exams. He passed the vision test 20/20 in both eyes by peeking through his fingers! Someone "squealed" on him and he was not allowed to go overseas.