Justice and Independence
Written for the 75th Carnival of Genealogy
This 1951 photo is the only picture I know of that includes all my dad’s siblings plus their parents.
Four of his five brothers served in the military. Kneeling down in front is my Uncle Ray, the only one of this group still living. He served in the Korean Conflict. The youngest at the left is my Uncle Landrum who was in the Army, as was Uncle Pete, the rather round (ahem) man standing at the right. Uncle Jack, the man standing next to Uncle Landrum (in the hat) was in the Navy. I believe Uncle Pete and Uncle Jack were part of World War II. My guess is that each of these men were drafted, but I have not done enough research to know this for sure.
When I asked my dad why he didn’t serve, he told me I was his “out.” He and my mom married in 1950, I was born in 1951 and my brother was born in 1952. I’m grateful for the service my uncles provided and wish I’d asked them more questions when I had the chance.
I don’t remember celebrating July 4 as a family in any of the “typical” ways–it was too hot to cook out and there was no body of water near enough for swimming or boating, even if those activities had been part of our family activities. I’ve posted previously about the July the 4th rodeo we attended the years we were in South Dakota. Whether at home in Texas or in South Dakota, my brothers and I always had firecrackers and various other fireworks–we made rockets out of tin cans and put firecrackers in the ends of the clothesline poles–just so they’d make more noise–no harm to the iron poles. We managed to survive and some of my friends put themselves through college on the proceeds of their summer fireworks stand. It was a different time.