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Page 36 April 2017 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Our Neighborhood Veterans For A Soldier
by Jim Houck, Jr. There is discipline in a soldier you can see it when he walks, There
is honor in a soldier you hear it when he talks, There is courage in
This month’s column was originally featured in the February 2013 issue of The Catoctin Banner. a soldier you can see it in his eyes, There is loyalty in a soldier that
he will not compromise, There is something in a soldier that makes
The Reason I Write About him stand apart, There is strength in a soldier that beats from his
Veterans and Why They heart, A soldier isn’t a title any man can be hired to do, A soldier
Mean So Much to Me is the soul of that man buried deep inside of you, A soldier’s job
isn’t finished after an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week, A soldier is
The picture to Courtesy Photo behind his always a soldier even while he sleeps, A soldier serves his country first and his life is
the right is me at a house—as he left behind, A soldier has to sacrifice what comes first in a civilian’s mind, If you are
young age, posing often did—and a civilian I am saying this to you...next time you see a soldier remember what they do,
with my grandfather, sat down on a A soldier is the reason our land is the ‘Home of the free,’ A soldier is the one that
Harry Wantz, who rock and passed is brave protecting you and me, If you are a soldier I am saying this to you... Thank
is making sure away. This was God for every soldier, Thank God for what you do.
the rifle and I’m very hard on
holding didn’t fall me, as he was — by Summer Sandercox
over. This picture like a father
was taken in 1945, to me the first He asked for a hardship discharge day came for my physical exam, and
while World War three years of and received one, and he came I was on a bus to Fort Hollabird.
II was still being my life. He was home to help support his mother That day, I came back with probably
fought. My father, the one who and the family. He did a great job of the biggest disappointment of my
James A. Houck Sr., gave me horsey helping the family survive, and the life. I was classified 1-Y (in case
was somewhere in rides and got rest of the siblings and their spouses of emergency only). I asked why,
Germany, serving down on the pitched in and helped where they and they said due to high blood
our country. I hadn’t floor and played could. pressure. I waited a few months and
met him yet, because with me, and then tried to enlist, because I was
he was deployed now he would The Korean War broke out told that even though I was turned
before I was born. no longer around 1951, and two of my down by the draft physical, if I
I was three years old when I finally uncles—David Bernard Wantz and enlisted, they would take me. Well,
got to meet Dad. My mother, her be in my life. Granddaddy was a James Edward Wantz—were old they didn’t, and that was another
siblings (there were thirteen of them), railroad mechanic for the railroad enough and were drafted into the great disappointment to me. My
and her parents told me about Dad that ran through Emmitsburg. Army to fight in the Korean War. I brother, Robert Dennis Houck, was
and showed me pictures of him. I Now Granddaddy was gone, and can still remember my uncle Ed— drafted into the Army about four
was told that when he stepped off of my grandmother Annie (I called he was the baby of the family and or five years later, and served. I
the train, I recognized him and ran her Nanny) was left to raise my twelve years older than me—inviting have nephews, great nephews, and
straight to him. aunts and uncles alone. Her son Mom, Dad, Nanny, and me to Fort even a granddaughter who served,
(my uncle), John Joseph Wantz, Indiantown Gap, where he was or are serving, our country in the
When I was about three-and- was in the army, and since he was taking basic training, to watch him military. I now serve the best way I
a-half years old, my grandfather the oldest, he felt it was his job to graduate. While we were there, he know how: by honoring our military
Wantz went for a walk in the woods now help Nanny raise the family. took me to the firing range and let Veterans in print, and by having
me shoot a rifle. He then treated the privilege of interviewing our
us to a movie at their post movie armed service heroes and informing
theater. That visit made quite an our community about their
impression on me, and I thought lives. I belong to several Veteran
that when I was old enough, I was organizations (Sons of AMVETS,
going to join the army. I had quite Sons of the American Legion, and
a few uncles on my grandmother’s VFW Auxiliary), and participate
side of the family (Eylers) that gave in every function for honoring
service to their country in the armed Veterans that I am able to attend.
services, and I would enjoy listening Folks, I hope you enjoy the articles
to their experiences while serving. I I write about Veterans, as much as I
was full of questions; some would enjoy writing them. I plan to write
provide me with answers, and some Veteran stories until I am too senile
did not want to talk about it, and to control my thoughts (I have been
I respected that also. The men on told by a few that I’m already there).
the Houck, Blessing, Grabel, and I have received a lot of positive
Frounfelter sides served in the armed feedback about my column, and I
services, too. I had plenty of family appreciate it. So, if you should have
members to keep me excited about any comments (pro or con), send
serving our country. I wanted a good them to The Catoctin Banner, and
education, so I stayed in school until they will see that I receive them.
I graduated. I was going to enlist
after graduation, but the draft was God Bless America, God Bless the
still in and they called me. So instead American Veteran, and God Bless
of enlisting, I accepted the draft. The You.
Correction: March’s issue of Our Neighborhood Veterans Column featured “My
Father – James Houck.” The author was listed as Deb Spalding, but was actually
Jim Houck, Jr. Our apologies for the error.
Our Neighborhood Veterans For A Soldier
by Jim Houck, Jr. There is discipline in a soldier you can see it when he walks, There
is honor in a soldier you hear it when he talks, There is courage in
This month’s column was originally featured in the February 2013 issue of The Catoctin Banner. a soldier you can see it in his eyes, There is loyalty in a soldier that
he will not compromise, There is something in a soldier that makes
The Reason I Write About him stand apart, There is strength in a soldier that beats from his
Veterans and Why They heart, A soldier isn’t a title any man can be hired to do, A soldier
Mean So Much to Me is the soul of that man buried deep inside of you, A soldier’s job
isn’t finished after an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week, A soldier is
The picture to Courtesy Photo behind his always a soldier even while he sleeps, A soldier serves his country first and his life is
the right is me at a house—as he left behind, A soldier has to sacrifice what comes first in a civilian’s mind, If you are
young age, posing often did—and a civilian I am saying this to you...next time you see a soldier remember what they do,
with my grandfather, sat down on a A soldier is the reason our land is the ‘Home of the free,’ A soldier is the one that
Harry Wantz, who rock and passed is brave protecting you and me, If you are a soldier I am saying this to you... Thank
is making sure away. This was God for every soldier, Thank God for what you do.
the rifle and I’m very hard on
holding didn’t fall me, as he was — by Summer Sandercox
over. This picture like a father
was taken in 1945, to me the first He asked for a hardship discharge day came for my physical exam, and
while World War three years of and received one, and he came I was on a bus to Fort Hollabird.
II was still being my life. He was home to help support his mother That day, I came back with probably
fought. My father, the one who and the family. He did a great job of the biggest disappointment of my
James A. Houck Sr., gave me horsey helping the family survive, and the life. I was classified 1-Y (in case
was somewhere in rides and got rest of the siblings and their spouses of emergency only). I asked why,
Germany, serving down on the pitched in and helped where they and they said due to high blood
our country. I hadn’t floor and played could. pressure. I waited a few months and
met him yet, because with me, and then tried to enlist, because I was
he was deployed now he would The Korean War broke out told that even though I was turned
before I was born. no longer around 1951, and two of my down by the draft physical, if I
I was three years old when I finally uncles—David Bernard Wantz and enlisted, they would take me. Well,
got to meet Dad. My mother, her be in my life. Granddaddy was a James Edward Wantz—were old they didn’t, and that was another
siblings (there were thirteen of them), railroad mechanic for the railroad enough and were drafted into the great disappointment to me. My
and her parents told me about Dad that ran through Emmitsburg. Army to fight in the Korean War. I brother, Robert Dennis Houck, was
and showed me pictures of him. I Now Granddaddy was gone, and can still remember my uncle Ed— drafted into the Army about four
was told that when he stepped off of my grandmother Annie (I called he was the baby of the family and or five years later, and served. I
the train, I recognized him and ran her Nanny) was left to raise my twelve years older than me—inviting have nephews, great nephews, and
straight to him. aunts and uncles alone. Her son Mom, Dad, Nanny, and me to Fort even a granddaughter who served,
(my uncle), John Joseph Wantz, Indiantown Gap, where he was or are serving, our country in the
When I was about three-and- was in the army, and since he was taking basic training, to watch him military. I now serve the best way I
a-half years old, my grandfather the oldest, he felt it was his job to graduate. While we were there, he know how: by honoring our military
Wantz went for a walk in the woods now help Nanny raise the family. took me to the firing range and let Veterans in print, and by having
me shoot a rifle. He then treated the privilege of interviewing our
us to a movie at their post movie armed service heroes and informing
theater. That visit made quite an our community about their
impression on me, and I thought lives. I belong to several Veteran
that when I was old enough, I was organizations (Sons of AMVETS,
going to join the army. I had quite Sons of the American Legion, and
a few uncles on my grandmother’s VFW Auxiliary), and participate
side of the family (Eylers) that gave in every function for honoring
service to their country in the armed Veterans that I am able to attend.
services, and I would enjoy listening Folks, I hope you enjoy the articles
to their experiences while serving. I I write about Veterans, as much as I
was full of questions; some would enjoy writing them. I plan to write
provide me with answers, and some Veteran stories until I am too senile
did not want to talk about it, and to control my thoughts (I have been
I respected that also. The men on told by a few that I’m already there).
the Houck, Blessing, Grabel, and I have received a lot of positive
Frounfelter sides served in the armed feedback about my column, and I
services, too. I had plenty of family appreciate it. So, if you should have
members to keep me excited about any comments (pro or con), send
serving our country. I wanted a good them to The Catoctin Banner, and
education, so I stayed in school until they will see that I receive them.
I graduated. I was going to enlist
after graduation, but the draft was God Bless America, God Bless the
still in and they called me. So instead American Veteran, and God Bless
of enlisting, I accepted the draft. The You.
Correction: March’s issue of Our Neighborhood Veterans Column featured “My
Father – James Houck.” The author was listed as Deb Spalding, but was actually
Jim Houck, Jr. Our apologies for the error.
