Family Heroes

My uncle James is one of the unsung heroes. He lived an ordinary life in Liberty, Texas.

But perhaps not as ordinary as it seems.

My father tells me that James loved motorbikes. Now I don't know if he was a Harley owner or not. But Dad tells the story of how one day James was riding his Indian motorbike and wiped out right in front of the house. Dad thought his brother was a dead man. But James got up and walked away.

In learning about the history of our family I talked to James about his experiences in World War II. It seems that he was a pilot and was stationed in the India area. His job was teaching Chinese pilots to fly. Those pilots would then fly in and fight the Japanese in Japanese- occupied China. Most did not come back. James had high admiration for their guts and courage.

On weekends and holidays, James would get a motorcycle and cycle around India.

After the war, he came back from India to Liberty, Texas and lived there the rest of his life.

Things were not always easy for James. However, I do not ever however remember seeing him being bitter or mad. Like many from that generation, they never talked about their war experiences without being asked. They had a different take on life than those around them. Often these people were quiet and unassuming. But they were ordinary people who had done extraordinary things.

As I get older, I stand in awe of these people. Who else in Liberty knew the adventures of flying over India and touring the country on motorcycle--but he did not say a thing. Just lived his life before God in simplicity trying to do the right thing. Attended church regularly and worked at a number of jobs.

Heroes are where you find them. They are often quiet and unassuming people. Sometimes we find them in our own families. James is dead now-but he is not forgotten.

HarleyDad and Nephew of James