Full Description
Every veteran has a story to tell--often ones they have not told their own families. But as one vet in this collection of original interviews succinctly said of his combat experiences: "Some things are better left unsaid." Documenting recollections from survivors of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts--all residents of the Texas Panhandle--this book presents narratives from men and women whose young lives, for good or ill, were defined by their participation in warfare in service to their country.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction: The Cost of Freedom
Part I—World War
1. Alvira Agee: "I Can Do That"
2. M.T. Allen: Quonset Hut Expert
3. Robert Anderson: Battling on Two Fronts
4. Clyde Bearden: "At the Convenience of the Government"
5. Stanley J. Bobrowski, Jr.: Son of a Russian Officer
6. Bill Boyles: "Straight into Combat"
7. James Braxton: A Lifetime of Music
8. Roger Britt: "Go, Get 'em!"
9. Claude Brown: Life and Death in the Hands of the Parachute Packer
10. Lon Colvin: The Liberator Becomes the Prisoner
11. Wilma Coon: A Patriotic Calling
12. Phil Crenshaw: Finding His Calling
13. Robert F. Cummings: Small-Town Navy Veteran
14. Jack DuLaney: F4U Fighter Pilot
15. Lena Skaggs Duncan: Dedicated to Family and Country
16. Garland Ellis: With the 4th Armored Division
17. Thomas Esparza: Tank Commander at Age 19
18. Orville Fleming: The Million-Dollar Wound
19. Robbie Gill: Lucky #13 and the "Miracle Survivor"
20. Carl Gilly: Cobb's War
21. Jim Guyton: Dunbar Alum Serves Twice
22. Roger Haberer: Normandy, Days after the Invasion
23. Bob Hail: Navy Boat Driver Dropped off Marines
24. J.W. Hamby: Businessman at an Early Age
25. Wallace Haney: A Member of the "Caterpillar Club"
26. Ted Hartman: Sherman Tank Driver and Orthopedic Surgeon
27. Billy Hendrix: Circling the Globe after World War II
28. Ted Hill: P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot
29. Charles J. Hoye: Old Newsie Serving with a Pen
30. Don Jones: A Life of Service to Country and Community
31. Homer Jones: The Long Road Home
32. Justin T. Jones: Glider Recovery
33. Lamar Jones: Always a Merchant
34. R.D. Jones: Sailing the Pacific
35. Bob Kiser: Pipeline, Purdue, Petroleum and People Like Us
36. Cleatus Lebow: "He Saved My Life Twice"
37. George Lewis: Occupied Germany
38. Nathan Luger: The Aleutian Islands
39. C.B. Martin: Life as a Seabee
40. Herschel Martin: One Man, Three Branches of Service
41. John McDonough: The Tall Texan
42. Gene McLendon: A Good Citizen
43. Teddy McMillan: A Hero and a Good Man
44. Frank Miller: From a Quartermaster to a Headmaster
45. Horace Morgan: From the Alcan to the Battle of the Bulge
46. Frank Odom: On the Front Lines in Europe
47. Vernon Odom: Helping Those Who Can't Help Themselves
48. Wayne Owen: Smart and Lucky
49. R.L. Owens: "Red Arrow Division—First In, Last Out"
50. Bill Pasewark: Spreading Freedom's Message
51. Marvin Platten: An Artful Journey
52. Leon Pope: From POWs to Paradise
53. James Rich: A "Rich Life"—Flirting with Death
54. Eugene Roberts: "Hard to Turn Off the Switch"
55. Max Robertson: Navy Battles Mother Nature
56. Earl Robinson: "The Good Lord Had My Hand"
57. James T. Rodewald: "Hot Meals and a Place to Sleep"
58. Eldie Scheffel: "The Coldest Winter I Ever Saw"
59. Harold Schultze: D-Day Remembered by Former Higgins Boat Driver
60. Charles Sears: Blinded by the Light
61. J.L. Slaughter: A Final Mission
62. Clifford Solomon: "God Bless America"
63. Elmer Tarbox: Texas Tech All-American
64. Dominic Tartaglione: Survivor of Three "Wars"
65. Pat Thurman: Twice as Lucky during Two Wars
66. Truett Tyler: Following His Brothers
67. Ed Ward: "If You're Not Scared, You're Lying"
68. Wayne Webb: Three Years on the Water
69. Gene Williams: A World Traveler
70. Robert Elton Wilson: "The Good Lord Was Always with Me"
71. Andy Winnegar: Naval Aviator Receives the Distinguished Flying Cross
Part II—Korea
72. Paul Archinal: From Airman to Admiral
73. William Bridge: Korean War Vet Makes a Difference
74. James Cathey: The Ghosts of the Korean War
75. Jerold Dyess: A Sixteen Year Old Sees the World
76. Clyde Fisher: "Finish What I Start"
77. Alton Garner: Witness to History
78. Gordon Hambright: Naval Postmaster Wins "Best Beard Growing Contest"
79. Fred Harvey: "Growing Up" on the USS Hornet
80. Rodney Manning: From a Policeman to a Preacher
81. Cleveland McMillan: Cooking Under Fire
82. Gordon Musick: Near the Front Lines in Korea
83. Asa Oliver: From Family Farm to Foreign Field to Faithful Follower
84. Billy Rudd: A Case of Mistaken Identity
85. Curtis Ruff: It Just Wasn't His Day
86. Welby Smith: Crew Chief to Two of the Air Force's Fastest Bombers
87. Lawrence Walker: Triple "Service" for Lubbock Man
88. Fred Watson: Faith Helps Him through Korean War Memories
89. Charles Williams: Coming Home
Part III—Vietnam
90. George Bradley: "Follow Your Dreams"
91. Charles Brimberry: Danger Was Everywhere in Vietnam
92. Doug Foster: The Healing Wall
93. Jannie Greenway: Around the World and Back
94. Charles Hankson: BBQ and a Slice of Sunshine
95. Bernhard T. Mittemeyer: A Lifetime of Service to His Adopted Country
96. Charles Scarborough: "Recycled for a Reason"
Part IV—Additional Stories
97. Various Veterans: "Geezers" Reunite
98. Chad and Renee Gross: A Simple Song about a Soldier
99. Gary Harber: Lubbock's Southern Brigadier General
100. Gordon Musick and Ernest Sears: Two Love Stories from the Texas South Plains Honor Flight
101. Frances Pierce: Gold Star Wife and Widow
102. Opal Roberts: Living Intentionally
103. Wayne Shawn and Justin Jones: Flight into Yesteryear
104. Michael Vasquez: From Combat Casualty to Veteran Advocate
Veterans' Honor Roll
Bibliography
Index
