I’m ashamed to say this, but sometimes I feel like I don’t respect the role of veterans nearly as much as I should. I don’t want to make excuses, but I feel like I just don’t know enough about the armed forces and how those that join, continue to fight for my freedom.
It’s something that my Pop Pop agreed with during our conversation about his time in the Navy when I asked if he thought veterans are respected by younger generations. He said “A lot of young people don’t know what the service is so they are not aware of it.” He maintained that it was especially true for those learning black history saying “it’s kind of put on the back burner.” I agree.
The conversation was long overdue and the more that I listened to him tell the abbreviated version of those years, the more I learned about what makes him an amazing man.
I learned that he joined the Navy in 1952 after graduating high school. He joined the same year that one of his friends joined. He grew up learning about the armed forces from his father who was either in the Navy or Marines. He couldn’t remember which one.
During his time in the Navy, he worked with the Zeppelin Squadron working on engines, something he had learned from Bok Technical in Philly when he studied auto mechanics. He also got the opportunity to travel to Cuba among many other places before being discharged after getting hurt. He wouldn’t go into details about his injury except that he hurt his shoulder and hit his head. He said it was a mistake and was not during battle.
Upon returning home, he worked at garage and as a shipping clerk before joining the Philadelphia Police Department. He worked there for 30 years before retiring with a slew of awards that he never talks about. He is so modest.
Talking to him about his life and his decision to join the Navy was exciting. It was almost like a short history class, but instead of reading it in textbooks or half-heartedly listening to teachers, I was hearing it from my Pop Pop and it made everything more interesting.
I knew about the many difficulties that black people faced when he was growing up, but I never thought about what that must have been like for those serving their country. He explained that black people fought for their country oversees, but when they returned home, they came back to the same old way things had been referring to segregation. He was specifically talking about the role African Americans played in World War 2.
And to piggy back off of that, he told me that the thought that the Tuskeegee Airmen were the best thing to happen to that war. He also informed me that Eleanor Roosevelt was the one who thought that the country should not be segregated anymore encouraging her husband and President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, to utilize the black pilots.
But most importantly, I learned about a man who goes for what he wants without any hesitation. He constantly tries to do what is right especially if it is going to make things better. He truly values his family and is pleased with the life that he has made for himself and all of his loved ones. And he loves this country regardless of the many challenges we have faced.
He described his love for the country similar to having having a child. “You love them, but sometimes you know they are doing wrong things and wish things could be better, but I definitely love this country,” he said.
The one thing that he will always cherish is the opportunity to see a black man voted into office for presidency. “I know one thing, I never thought I would see a black man be a president and I am very proud of that,” he said.
He doesn’t plan on doing anything special today, but hopes to watch a parade on TV.
Happy Veterans Day!
