Memorial Day 2014—A Tribute
May 26, 2014
This blog is about my family, especially on this day, all my family members who have served in the military, starting with my two uncles who both served in Vietnam as teenagers. My uncle, my mother’s brother, Marine Corporal Robert “Sonny” Hollins “Hoo-rah”, who at the age of 19 was wounded in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart. My Uncle Sonny, when he came home from Vietnam, would always take me with him in his 1972 Road Runner. I loved that car and seeing him drive it. He was a great example, even as a teenager to all the boys in the family. My Uncle Joe McGee, who served in the United States Army and later died at a VA Hospital from the effects of Agent Orange. Uncle Joe was a strong man who had a profound impact on my life and we all miss him. My wife’s cousin, Specialist James L. Hawthorne who was killed in action as a 19 year old Army soldier in Vietnam. And James’ mother, Aunt Dorothy who was and will forever be a “Gold Star Mother”. My sister Allison, who served in the Army. My cousin, Sgt. Larry Williams who was like my brother growing up, who served ten years in the United States Air Force. Larry’s wife MSgt Dorothea Williams, who retired after twenty years in the Air Force. My cousin, SFC Jory Curry, who retired in 2013 after serving twenty years in the United States Army. If you’ve ever met anyone who cared about family and who is loyal to the core, it’s Jory Curry. He loves his family deeply and that’s what he lives for. My cousin MSgt Thelma Williams who served twenty years in the United States Air Force, and now sells real estate in San Antonio, Texas. My cousin MSgt Laverne Williams Parker, who served twenty-one years in the United States Air Force. She always opened her home and her heart to me, and made me feel like she was my big sister. Shortly after retiring from the Air Force, Laverne died of cancer; God rest her soul. My cousin SSgt Ernestine Williams who retired, after twenty years of service, from the United States Army. I always admired my cousin Ernestine; she was always inquisitive about life and society. My cousin MSgt Verna Williams who served over twenty years in the United States Air Force and now lives a peaceful country life in Alabama.
Our family get-togethers were quite a sight. Strong men and women who served with honor, integrity, courage, and distinction. They served in Vietnam, Korea, Germany, England, Alaska, Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia; they served in the Atlantic, California, South Carolina, Louisiana, Iraq, and many other places. Serving in the infantry, serving as medics, serving as airborne paratroopers, serving in civil affairs; and then a family whose blood was spilled in defense of this nation. A family not unlike many other American families, who had triumphs and setbacks, and victories and disappoints; who collectively had nearly 200 years of combined military service. Our parents and grandparents who were siblings and whose blood and character courses through our veins. Memorial day is a day that many American families pay homage and respect to those who have stood the line; to those who have manned the post; to those who answered when they were called. My Uncle Sonny, my Uncle Joe, and cousin James all paid for our freedom with their blood. They were all young men who were drafted, fighting abroad for our freedom and facing many challenges and obstacles when they returned home.
Fighting abroad in the name of freedom, defending the Constitution and what it’s supposed to stand for. As for me, I served twenty-eight years in the United States Army and never regretted a minute of it. I have met and served with men and women of tremendous character and personal courage. They exemplified the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, and integrity, and all they required was competent leadership who possessed the same qualities. I remember as a young Lieutenant sitting in a class whose focus was leadership. Fundamentally, that person must first possess character, then competence. You were taught and had it drilled into you that you had to have skills with people, ideas, and things, and above all war fighting. I remember my instructor referred to those qualities as conceptual, technical, tactical, and sometimes interpersonal. But even skill is not enough. You have to know how to influence people by providing them with purpose, direction, and motivation. That’s what the Army infantry school taught me. And so, on this day, we honor the men and women of the U. S. Armed Forces past and present, and those still to come, and pass them the baton of character, courage, and leadership. Be not afraid to change and accept change.
