The 25th Veterans Appreciation Day is now history, but it will be remembered as bringing back the interviews with local veterans and showing an inspiring example of the reason Jones County veterans are respected and beloved by the community.
Ret. Col. Richard Combs, chairman of the Jones County Veterans Committee, began the Nov. 8 program by welcoming all in attendance.
Those remarks were followed by the Armed Forces Medley, during which veterans stand as the anthem for their branch of service is played. Somehow the Marine Corps is always the last and loudest group.
The Jones County JROTC presented the colors, and every veteran in the room rose to salute as the Stars and Stripes went by. Many of those salutes were with shaking hands that nevertheless remained in place.
JROTC cadet Hollie Walton sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Her beautiful voice rang out at first but stopped as the notes got higher. She was encouraged to continue by the audience. Hollie hesitantly started again but soon realized she was no longer singing alone. This roomful of veterans sang every word of of that song and the next, “God Bless America,” with her, and then gave her a rousing ovation.
Following a moment of silence for fallen veterans, Chairman of the Jones County Board of Commissioners Chris Weidner read a joint proclamation by the county and City of Gray, declaring Nov. 8 as Veterans Appreciation Day.
Paul Holmes was presented with a plaque on behalf of Jones County veterans in recognition of St. Rep. Susan Holmes’ unwavering dedication to veterans during her service in the Georgia House of Representatives.
A marker in her honor with that information was also placed at the Jones County Veterans Memorial.
Roger Hawke
Combs then introduced the veterans’ interviews, beginning with Chief Petty Officer Roger Hawke, who is a member of the Veterans Committee. Each of the veterans were interviewed by Combs. Hawke said he was in the Submarine Service and served from 1970-93. When asked why he joined the military, he said it was probably because of old war movies.
The veteran said he joined during the Vietnam War era, but he never went to Vietnam. His first ship was on an old WWII ship as a boatswain’s mate. He said, somehow, he volunteered for submarine duty.
Hawke said on his first duty, he was to be a torpedo mate but ended up a cook. He said the underwater missions on the submarine were usually five to six weeks. However, the veteran recalled one occasion that the expected length of the mission was four days and ended up being three months.
In addition to submarine duty, Hawke spent two tours as a recruit commander in Milledgeville and three years on a guided missile destroyer.
Combs remarked the deployments were tough on family life, and Hawke agreed it could be.
At the conclusion of the interview, the veteran was asked if he had any advice for young men and women considering joining the military.
Hawke said he believes it is a good career path.
“The military is a fine career, especially if you don’t want to go to college,” he said. “It’s also a good way to build up money to go to college later, if that’s what you want.”
Russell Curry
Combs said Curry served in the Navy from 1963-67, and he is also a Veterans Committee member. Curry said he joined the Navy two weeks after graduating high school.
“I left the same day I joined and had basic training in San Diego,” he recalled.
Curry was a gunner’s mate, serving first on the USS Cunningham out of Long Beach. He said his duty was the Pacific. The veteran said the first time he saw Pearl Harbor was especially memorable because they were ordered to battle stations.
“We later found out why. It was the day President Kennedy was assassinated,” he said.
Curry said he had three tours to Vietnam during his time in the Navy.
The veteran’s advice to a young person considering the military is also positive.
“It’s a good thing to do. You learn a lot, see a lot, and it will change your attitude,” the veteran said.
He said military service provides the opportunity to be around people of different cultures and provides education experiences.
Curry is the commandant for Post 142 of the American Legion, a member of the Patriot Guard as well as the Jones County Veterans Committee.
“I enjoy doing everything I can for our veterans,” he said.
Jerry Mansfield
The final interview was with Ret. Senior Master Sgt. Jerry Mansfield, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956-82.
Mansfield said he joined the Air Force after his uncle came back from Korea. The veteran said he was impressed with the uniform and the whole package.
Mansfield said he selected the Air Force because it was new at the time. He served in communications and began his service with four years in Japan. His service included two tours in Hawaii as well as stateside duty.
He said all together he spent 16 years oversees with 14 years in the Pacific.
Mansfield said his duty in communications included support during the Bay of Pigs and assisting with diplomacy in Tripoli.
“It was exciting for this country boy from Indiana to see the world,” he said. “You receive an education you can’t get in school.”
The veteran said the Air Force sent him to his first foreign country when he was 18.
Mansfield’s advice to those considering the military was a bit different. He suggests talking to veterans and asking their experiences.
“But once you decide, just do it; don’t hesitate, just do it,” he said.
Mansfield ended his interview with a tribute to a Tuskegee Airman he heard speak in 1971 in Washington D.C. The airman’s name was James Barbee III. He said Barbee talked about the importance of the three As for success: Attitude, Altitude and Aptitude.
“I was impressed. It’s good advice whether you are military or civilian,” he said.
Following the Retrieval of the Colors, the program ended with “Taps” played by Robbie Thomas.
