My father joined the Air Force when he was 13 years old. Up to that point, he had lived in Coos Bay, Ore., as the son of a lumberjack. Money was tight, and he decided he would be better off in the military than he was at home. His decision still baffles me. It’s hard for me to imagine that things were so bad that going to war seemed like a good idea to him. He served in World War II and the Korean conflict. He was awarded the Silver Star for carrying a soldier some 20 miles after the weather plane he was assigned to was forced to land for some reason.
I will be forever haunted by the fact that I did not have more discussions with my father about his time in war at such a young age. Truth be told, what I have told you is about all he told me about his experience. Actually, he never told me that he got the Silver Star. I didn’t learn that until he died 10 years ago. The war was something he just did not talk about. The problems at home and the abject poverty that he lived in prior to leaving home at 13 was talked about even less. I can only imagine the stories he had to offer about that time of his life. Unfortunately, he never took it upon himself to talk about them, and I wasn’t smart enough to ask.
This is the first Veteran’s Day that will pass without one of the great attorneys in Arkansas history alive to see it. Phil Carroll passed away this year at the age of 87. Several years ago, I heard him tell his story about escaping from the Germans on a bicycle. When I first heard the story, I have to admit I kind of laughed at the thought of escape by bicycle. After I heard him tell the story, I realized there was nothing to laugh about. It was a very serious story, and a tale of great heroism in which he and another soldier escaped with their lives. To me, the most notable part of the story is that as soon as he was reunited with the American forces, he immediately went back into battle.
It’s been a few years since Phil Carroll told that story to the Pulaski County Bar Association, and like the stories of my father, I wish he was still here to tell us more about what he experienced in the defense of our country. Every day, we have fewer and fewer of those that fought for our freedom in the middle of the twentieth century still with us. Every day, stories are lost and will never be told again. Many more stories are lost that have never even been told.
This is the time of year we have set aside to recognize and honor those that have fought, suffered, and even died for the United States of America. As important as it is to remember the service of those like my father and Phil Carroll, it’s even more important to remember that the mold for bravery and service to this country was not broken after the service of the “Greatest Generation.” There are stories of bravery, service, and sacrifice written every day all over the world. The sacrifices made by our servicemen and women are ongoing. We need to recognize them year-round and thank them while they are with us.
If you do nothing else this Veteran’s Day, take a moment to consider all that has been sacrificed for you to live as you do in this great country. Things are not perfect, and there are things that can be improved, but America is still great because of the sacrifices of its people. It’s important to remember that - not just once a year but every day. The easiest way to lose what you have is to ignore what it took to get you where you are. The story of America is sacrifice. THANK YOU to all those that have served and are serving. I can tell you that your service and sacrifice are greatly appreciated, even way up in the CHEAP SEATS!
Bill James is a co-founder of the James Law Firm with offices in Little Rock, Conway and Fayetteville, Arkansas. His primary area of practice is criminal defense. He can be contacted at Bill@JamesFirm.com