The Shadow
On Saturday, June 8, Curtis A Smith VFW Post 1033 and Auxiliary hosted a special birthday celebration for a very special 99 year old World War II veteran. Jerry Humphreys turned 99 and celebrated with two other World War II veterans – Marion Noel (age 99 Navy) and John Owens (age 102 Army).
There is so much to be said about these three heroes but today we will focus on the birthday boy, Jerry Humphreys.
Humphreys entered World War II in the Army at age 18 along with his brother Bill who was 20. They were told they were being shipped to Italy but, when they arrived, Italy had surrendered. Their next stop would be France where Humphreys would be assigned to the tank and armor division and was wounded on two separate occasions by enemy fire. His first wound occurred in France and the second wound came in Germany. A true American soldier here. Both Humphreys and his Brother Bill.
His final remark as nobody went to war – it still goes on. This war was something never to be forgotten by him and all the other young men and women who served their country.
Commander Shawn Wright opened the celebration with the following words:
How does one put into words the magnitude of your sacrifice that enabled us to be where we are today? Your lives have led the way in war and peace. Each day memories of World War II – its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs – disappear. Yielding to the unalterable process of aging, the men and omen who fought and won the great conflict are no in their 90s or older. The victories won and terrible sacrifices made are such that we cannot feel anything but great humility to stand in the boots you once filled.
Your actions are the standard by which we measure ourselves every day. Our generation, like yours, has been called to war and we have answered that call to the best of our ability. But, as we stepped forth to defend our country, we fully recognize that we could not have done so without those who have gone before us. It is often said that your generation was the greatest generation. We are honored and obligated to honor you with our lives by fulfilling our duty, the duty to carry on your noble mission.
In the years to come, I hope our generation will continue to live up to the standard you have set for us, and perhaps be able to give some of the greatness you have bestowed upon us through your actions to those that come after. We walk our streets with pride. We hold our heads up high and we know that we couldn’t be where we are today without you. I truly hope that it grants you some measure of peace to now that those of us who fill your shoes today are humbled by you and your comrades.
People may seem to carry on with their lives. Forgetting the past and the people it took to get where we are today, but here are people like me and the members of VFW Post 1033 who realize without the past. There is no future – you gave us our future, fighting for our freedom and defending our country. We are privileged to have to have you in our lives, and we honor who you are. For you have learned to bear the weight of defending freedom’s call and came home, and that is what we give thanks for today.
At my church this week Rusty Hammond made the following remarks. It touched me and I wanted to share with these three special veterans to help them truly understand our gratitude and appreciation for what they did for America and the fight for freedom – not just in Europe but our country as well.
“D-Day is the commemoration of the Allied Forces landing on the beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. General Dwight Eisenhower commissioned his troops, in part, with this charge: ‘You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.’ He stated further “I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill to battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.”
“In one of history’s bloodiest battles, young men sacrificed life and limb to put an end to the great Nazi domination of Europe. This invasion forever changed history. Most of our population weren’t alive on this day but have reaped the benefits of those many sacrifices during that time. As time passes, I often feel that these sacrifices, these people and our belief in, and understanding of, our liberties are fading.”
So many people. So many thoughts. We say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jerry Humphreys and THANK YOU to these gentlemen – Jerry Humphreys, Marion Noel and John Owens and all the other men and women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today in our country.
