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Page 36 February 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Our Neighborhood Veterans
by Jim Houck, Jr. For A Soldier
“There is discipline in a soldier
you can see it when he walks,
V e t e r a n s a n d W h y t h e y There is honor in a soldier you
hear it when he talks, There is
courage in a soldier you can see
M e a n s o M u c h t o M e it in his eyes, There is loyalty
in a soldier that he will not
compromise, There is something
I was born in 1943. My us to a movie at their post movie
father, James A. Houck Sr., was theater. That visit made quite an in a soldier that makes him stand
somewhere in Germany serving impression on me, and I thought apart, There is strength in a
our country. I hadn’t met him yet, that when I was old enough, I was soldier that beats from his heart,
because he was deployed before going to join the army. I had quite A soldier isn’t a title any man
I was born. I was three years old a few uncles on my grandmother’s can be hired to do, A soldier is
when I finally got to meet Dad. My side of the family (Eylers) that the soul of that man buried deep
mother, her siblings (there were gave service to their country in the inside of you, A soldier’s job isn’t
thirteen of them), and her parents armed services, and I would enjoy finished after an 8 hour day or a
told me about Dad and showed listening to their experiences while 40 hour week, A soldier is always
me pictures of him. I was told that serving. I was full of questions; a soldier even while he sleeps, A
when he stepped off the train, I some would provide me with soldier serves his country first and
recognized him and ran straight to answers, and some did not want to his life is left behind, A soldier
him. talk about it, and I respected that
When I was about three-and- also. has to sacrifice what comes first
a-half years old, my grandfather The men on the Houck, Blessing, in a civilian’s mind, If you are
Wantz went for a walk in the Grabel, and Frounfelter sides a civilian I am saying this to
woods behind his house—as he served in the armed services, too. you...next time you see a soldier
often did—and sat down on a I had plenty of family members remember what they do, A soldier
rock and passed away. This was to keep me excited about serving is the reason our land is the ‘Home
very hard on me, as he was like a our country. I wanted a good of the free,’ A soldier is the one
father to me the first three years education, so I stayed in school that is brave protecting you and
of my life. He was the one who until I graduated. I was going to me, If you are a soldier I am
gave me horsey rides and got down enlist after graduation, but the draft saying this to you... Thank God
on the floor and played with me, was still in and they called me. for every soldier, Thank God for
and now he would no longer be So instead of enlisting, I accepted what you do.”
in my life. Granddaddy was a the draft. The day came for my
railroad mechanic for the railroad physical exam, and I was on a bus ~ Caleb Jones
that ran through Emmitsburg. to Fort Holabird. That day, I came
Granddaddy was gone, and now back with probably the biggest you enjoy the stories I write about
my grandmother, Annie (I called disappointment of my life. I was Veterans as much as I enjoy writing
her Nanny), was left to raise my classified 1-Y (in case of emergency them. I plan to write Veteran stories
aunts and uncles alone. Her son, only). I asked why and they said until I am too senile to control my
(my uncle) John Joseph Wantz, was due to high blood pressure. I thoughts (I have been told by a few
in the army, and since he was the waited a few months and then tried that I’m already there).
oldest, he felt it was his job to now to enlist, because I was told that I have received a lot of positive
help Nanny raise the family. He even though I was turned down feedback about my column, and I
asked for a hardship discharge and by the draft physical, if I enlisted, appreciate it. So, if you should have
received one, and he came home they would take me. Well, they any comments, send them to The
to help support his mother and didn’t, and that was another great Catoctin Banner, and they will see
the family. He did a great job of disappointment to me. that I receive them.
helping the family survive, and the My brother, Robert Dennis
rest of the siblings and their spouses Houck, was drafted into the army
pitched in and helped where they about four or five years later and
could. served. I have nephews, great
The Korean War broke out nephews, and even a granddaughter
around 1951, and two of my who served, or are serving, their
uncles—David Bernard Wantz and country in the military. I now
James Edward Wantz—were old serve the best way I know how by
enough and were drafted into the honoring our military Veterans in
army to fight in the Korean War. print, and by having the privilege
I can still remember my uncle of interviewing our armed
Ed—he was the baby of the family service heroes and informing our
and twelve years older than me— community of their life in people’s
inviting Mom, Dad, Nanny, and I neighborhoods.
to Fort Indiantown Gap, where he I belong to several Veteran
was taking basic training, to watch organizations (Sons of Men’s
him graduate. While we were there, Auxiliary) and participate in every
he took me to the firing range and function for honoring Veterans that
let me shoot a rifle. He then treated I am able to attend. Folks, I hope
