Many elementary school children of my generation came to remember the World War I armistice as 11- 11-18. This hour, month, and year portrayed the then “great war” or “world war” as ending at 11 am, 11 November, in 1918. After World War I ended, November 11 became an annually celebrated national holiday known as Armistice Day. In 1942 America entered yet another World War (World War II). After World War II ended, the word “armistice” was deleted from legislation and the word “veterans” inserted.
November 11 then became officially known as veterans day in 1945. Of course, many aged World War I veterans continued referring to the 11th of November as Armistice Day until all their voices were silenced in 2011. In that year the last known American World War I veteran passed away at the age of 110. The history of Veteran’s Day is important but not as important as why we honor all veterans of all past, present, and future American wars. We honor Veterans because of the sacrificial nature of military service. If the need arises, military service people are prepared to sacrifice life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to ensure American civilians can enjoy the same.
The 11-11-18 designation of the then armistice day were relatively easy for school children and some world war I veterans to recall as some were semi-literate. My grandfather was among veterans of that war who encountered difficulties while attempting to read or write. However, as an 18-year-old U. S Army volunteer he learned to speak a little France language while stationed in that nation for about a year.
Despite his literary handicap, he served his tour of duty with honor. Later in life he would tell his grandchildren he relied upon his mother-wit and common sense when making life-changing decisions. When asked what he did in World War I he simply answered, “they worked us.” After a very brief question and answer session he then leaned back in his cowhide seated rocker and stared over his small farm near the Winn Parish village of Sikes. In a very low and somewhat dismal sounding voice he would add “we weren’t allowed to wear our army uniforms in Sikes.”
With help from ancestry.com, we learned my grandfather served in a labor battalion while stationed in France during World War I. The practice of assigning African American soldiers and sailors to labor or engineering units possibly dates to the American Revolutionary War. During World II, my father recalled serving on burial details and building roads through mosquito and snake infested jungles of New Guinea. He remembered his unit being ordered to carry machetes to break the powerful and deadly coiled rachet type hold of huge snakes of that island. Other than extreme heat there were many other non-combat dangers on that island. He also recalled contracting malaria but refusing to take the prescribed anti-dope quinine. Much later in life he heard those who did take quinine died shortly after World War II ended. While I served in the then called South Viet Nam, we were also ordered to take malaria tablets. Even though I was 18 years old I’d never taken any tablet type medication before. After seeing another Marine who had contracted malaria, I quickly decided to take the tablet.
Much has been recorded on African Americans contributing to American wars. Sadly, it’s possible most records have either been lost or destroyed as time passed. More records seem to exist on the American civil war than any previous war. While researching the ill-fated red river campaign of the civil war, a local historian discovered union African American soldiers/ laborers were used at grand encore, Coushatta, and near Pineville. Their duties included but weren’t limited to bridge building, road building, and dam building. They were also assigned stevedore duties which required off/on loading the “beans and bullets” needed for the campaign. Further up stream of the red river, the Confederate command also built at least one dam. While it wasn’t clear who built this dam, at that time there was an ample amount of slave labor available. I hadn’t yet found an answer as to who built the first bridge across red river at grand encore. Most bridges built during the civil war were the ponton type.
As we honor veterans today, we are reminded of the changing make-up of the military. Today America’s military is essentially all volunteer. Some branches are showing up a 20 percent enlistment rate for females. Today’s military is also older, more educated, and more technically proficient. I recall while in boot camp in 1970, my drill sergeant asked all high school graduates to raise their hand. It appeared less than half raised their hands. While the make-up of the military is different so is the sacrifices these service people are required to make. Often service people nowadays have families. During my time as a young Marine, we were discouraged from starting families fearing the effect they would have upon unit readiness. Nevertheless, I’m convinced the military is always improving. Furthermore, we can be assured we have the best military in the world.
Respectfully,
Willie M Calhoun,MSG,USAR,ret.