LETTER: Remember heroes on Veterans Day

Last Modified: Monday, November 11, 2013 at 1:22 a.m.

Dear Editor: Growing up in Tuscaloosa our neighborhood was filled with veterans: Mr. Skelton, a Navy demolition team swimmer; Mr. Mott, a Marine in the Pacific; Mr. Swain, although lacking sight in one eye, was still determined to serve and managed to enlist in the Army Air Forces. He was later discharged, but volunteered his time with the local VA the rest of his life.

My father-in-law, Will Goodman, served in the Navy in World War II, as did his four brothers. My Grandmother Cook left Tuscaloosa, her husband and only child to work in an aircraft plant in Mobile during the war.

My friend, Buzz Sawyer, who ran the Demopolis airport for 20-plus years, earned an award for heroism in Vietnam. As a fighter pilot, he held off North Vietnamese Army forces that were overrunning the Army's First Division. “He continued his attacks after running out of ammunition, drawing the fire of enemy gunners to his aircraft, thereby reducing gun fire on the Army's forward positions.” Buzz never told me this story. Like most veterans, he didn't tell “war stories”; I read it years later in his Citation that accompanied his Silver Star.

They are all gone now. Buzz passed away July a year ago. I miss Buzz terribly, as I'm sure many others that fly out of Demopolis' airport do too. It's been said, “poor is the country that has no heroes, but beggared is that country that, having them, forgets.” This Veterans Day, I hope you, too, will remember your heroes.


▲ Return to Top