On behalf of the American Legion and the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), I want to thank all the organizations for the Veterans Day programs in and around town. The celebration at Houston High School was excellent!
On Dec. 8 is the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas parade, and again the American Legion and FRA will have a float and participate. Every veteran in the area is invited to attend to ride on the float.
I would like to warn people of unsolicited request for money. This time of year, a great many questionable to outright corrupt organizations are asking for money for homeless vets. It is true and unfortunate that individuals will use the plight of any disadvantaged person to put money in their pockets. Yet it happens year round. If you get a phone call asking for money be exceptionally wary. Even within our county are veterans and others who are either homeless or just about homeless. In talking to them, I’ve found that they have not received any assistance from these groups collecting money.
The Boys/Girls State fundraising drive went well and with the change in weather I will not be out door to door, so you can all unlock your doors now.
As you all may know Dec. 7 is in a couple of weeks. The bombing of Pearl Harbor arguably is the single event that brought the U.S. into World War II. Prior to the bombing, the U.S. seemed to be isolationist, with a “not our circus, not our monkeys” train of thought. The feeling was so strong that a series of movies were made called “Why We Fight.”
The Second World War reaches into every nook and cranny of the country, even into the community of White Rock west of Houston where in the spring of 1943 the draft board is reputed to have made a circuit of all the county schools, gathering all males of age and sending them off to induction centers.
In White Rock was Gene D. Douglas. Mr. Douglas is the forgotten hero of Texas County. You see, Gene was one of the 319 survivors on the USS Indianapolis, the cruiser that carried parts of the first atomic bomb dropped on Japan. There is a lot more of the story of Gene Douglas. Considering Veterans Day and the anniversary of Pearl Harbor are so close to each other, I feel it is worth mentioning and bringing a bit of his story to the public.
Mr. Douglas is not the only survivor of the Indianapolis in the area; Gary Poor lived at the veterans home in St James until his passing three years ago.
So at the parade on Dec. 8, keep in mind what our veterans have sacrificed.
And be leery of scams.
Houston resident Keith Ford is a retired infantryman and an amateur writer whose work has appeared in publications around the world. Email kf4tap@yahoo.com.
