1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,260 >> My name is Adina Langer, 2 00:00:02,260 --> 00:00:04,540 and I'm the Curator of the Museum of History and 3 00:00:04,540 --> 00:00:07,580 Holocaust Education at Kennesaw State University. 4 00:00:07,580 --> 00:00:10,560 Today is October 30th, 2018, 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,180 and I'm here at Sturgis Library with 6 00:00:13,180 --> 00:00:16,015 Bill Wallace for a Legacy Series Interview, 7 00:00:16,015 --> 00:00:17,320 during which we will remember 8 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:20,220 his father, William Hall Wallace. 9 00:00:20,220 --> 00:00:22,095 Do you agree to this interview? 10 00:00:22,095 --> 00:00:22,730 >> I do. 11 00:00:22,730 --> 00:00:25,315 >> Wonderful. Could you please state your full name? 12 00:00:25,315 --> 00:00:27,955 >> Yes. William Hall Wallace Junior. 13 00:00:27,955 --> 00:00:29,340 >> And can you please tell 14 00:00:29,340 --> 00:00:31,550 me when and where you were born? 15 00:00:31,550 --> 00:00:34,540 >> I was born on June 26, 16 00:00:34,540 --> 00:00:37,495 1954 in Macon, Georgia. 17 00:00:37,495 --> 00:00:40,290 >> So before we talk more about your life, 18 00:00:40,290 --> 00:00:41,670 I'd like to go back a bit 19 00:00:41,670 --> 00:00:43,530 further and talk about your father. 20 00:00:43,530 --> 00:00:45,655 Can you please state his full name? 21 00:00:45,655 --> 00:00:48,730 >> Yes. William Hall Wallace Senior. 22 00:00:48,730 --> 00:00:50,430 >> And could you please tell me 23 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:52,530 where and when your father was born? 24 00:00:52,530 --> 00:00:54,405 >> He was born April 1st, 25 00:00:54,405 --> 00:00:57,645 1922 in Milan, Georgia. 26 00:00:57,645 --> 00:01:01,710 >> And what was his family like? 27 00:01:01,710 --> 00:01:03,405 What did his parents do? 28 00:01:03,405 --> 00:01:06,630 >> Well, in sharing with me, 29 00:01:06,630 --> 00:01:08,330 his mother and father passed 30 00:01:08,330 --> 00:01:11,370 away by the time he was 11 years old. 31 00:01:11,370 --> 00:01:14,670 So he was raised basically by his grandfather. 32 00:01:14,670 --> 00:01:16,450 He had two brothers. 33 00:01:16,450 --> 00:01:19,030 He was the oldest of the three. 34 00:01:19,030 --> 00:01:21,830 Grew up during the great depression 35 00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:23,790 down in the rural South 36 00:01:23,790 --> 00:01:25,690 and basically they were 37 00:01:25,690 --> 00:01:29,430 farmers, agriculture, focused individuals. 38 00:01:29,430 --> 00:01:35,470 And my father joined the military when he was age 17. 39 00:01:35,470 --> 00:01:38,030 And then became a prisoner of 40 00:01:38,030 --> 00:01:40,130 war in the Philippines and in 41 00:01:40,130 --> 00:01:44,610 Japan when Philippines were led by General MacArthur. 42 00:01:44,610 --> 00:01:46,970 >> So we're going to go into a little more detail. 43 00:01:46,970 --> 00:01:47,450 >> Sure. 44 00:01:47,450 --> 00:01:50,000 >> On each of these areas. 45 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,560 So you mentioned that he was raised by his grandparents? 46 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:55,200 >> Correct. 47 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,570 >> What was their home line? 48 00:01:57,570 --> 00:02:02,095 Did they own land or did they rent or share crop? 49 00:02:02,095 --> 00:02:05,240 >> I don't know. To the best of my knowledge, 50 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,800 I believe they probably owned property, 51 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,325 but it would have been a minimal amount. 52 00:02:11,325 --> 00:02:16,240 And my father often talked about the heat of being 53 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,400 raised in South Georgia and the lack 54 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,340 of amenities that one would have. 55 00:02:21,340 --> 00:02:25,320 If you think back in the 20s 30s, 56 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,440 no air conditioning, no running water basically 57 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,320 other than a well from which 58 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,350 one would have to draw water, things like that. 59 00:02:34,350 --> 00:02:37,440 But not having a mother and 60 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,020 father when one is age 11 and being raised by 61 00:02:40,020 --> 00:02:42,640 a grandfather is also 62 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:45,920 something that helped mold him as well. 63 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:49,060 The one thing I am confident of 64 00:02:49,060 --> 00:02:52,580 was his faith and that that helped to 65 00:02:52,580 --> 00:02:54,660 develop his focus in 66 00:02:54,660 --> 00:02:57,580 later life in which he was a minister 67 00:02:57,580 --> 00:02:59,680 in small rural churches 68 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,225 throughout rural Georgia for over 50 years. 69 00:03:03,225 --> 00:03:05,700 >> So can you tell me more about that faith? 70 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:09,250 What were they members of the particular church? 71 00:03:09,250 --> 00:03:11,840 >> I'm sure it was Millen Baptist Church. 72 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,550 My father became a Baptist Minister. 73 00:03:14,550 --> 00:03:16,800 And most of the churches he pastored at 74 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,475 probably had less than 50 members. 75 00:03:19,475 --> 00:03:21,740 But he pastored all 76 00:03:21,740 --> 00:03:25,340 throughout Trutlan County, Lawrence County. 77 00:03:25,340 --> 00:03:30,980 And it was I guess rewarding to my mother 78 00:03:30,980 --> 00:03:33,320 and me and my sister to see 79 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,500 how he was recognized upon his retirement. 80 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:42,760 He actually conducted his last sermon in 1991, 81 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,320 and he passed away in 1995. 82 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,130 >> So growing up in this rural area, 83 00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:53,870 was there a sense that the depression was affecting 84 00:03:53,870 --> 00:03:55,150 everyone or was there 85 00:03:55,150 --> 00:03:57,745 a sense that they had always been hard? 86 00:03:57,745 --> 00:04:00,555 Did he talk about that at all? 87 00:04:00,555 --> 00:04:02,590 >> What he basically shared was 88 00:04:02,590 --> 00:04:04,770 how difficult it was growing up at 89 00:04:04,770 --> 00:04:06,930 that time and lack of 90 00:04:06,930 --> 00:04:09,600 amenities and it was across the board. 91 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,060 And a lot of 92 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:14,360 folks may not know what the depression really was, 93 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,440 but it truly was a great depression back 94 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,640 then in which there were no jobs. 95 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,560 There was limited access to travel. 96 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,000 Basically, people were land based 97 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,960 and to be able to have a farm and grow 98 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,800 your own food was 99 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,220 very meaningful and very important back then. 100 00:04:33,220 --> 00:04:34,600 You couldn't run to your local 101 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,880 grocery store and buy items. 102 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,755 You'd literally had to grow your own food back then. 103 00:04:40,755 --> 00:04:42,800 >> Did he work on the farm in 104 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,935 addition to any education that he had? 105 00:04:45,935 --> 00:04:48,905 >> He did graduated from high school, 106 00:04:48,905 --> 00:04:52,490 and I think they probably graduated around 107 00:04:52,490 --> 00:04:54,510 age 16 back then rather than 108 00:04:54,510 --> 00:04:57,110 going to age 18, which we see today. 109 00:04:57,110 --> 00:04:59,970 But the one thing he talked about was 110 00:04:59,970 --> 00:05:03,710 the difficulty in terms of work. 111 00:05:03,710 --> 00:05:05,890 It really made him 112 00:05:05,890 --> 00:05:09,350 muscular and what he shared with me later, 113 00:05:09,350 --> 00:05:11,310 he thinks that that's what prepared 114 00:05:11,310 --> 00:05:13,245 him for the Bataan Death March. 115 00:05:13,245 --> 00:05:15,030 He told me quite often, 116 00:05:15,030 --> 00:05:18,810 had he not experienced the heat, 117 00:05:18,810 --> 00:05:21,430 the hard physical labor that he 118 00:05:21,430 --> 00:05:24,030 endured to build muscle 119 00:05:24,030 --> 00:05:26,250 and endurance and things like that, 120 00:05:26,250 --> 00:05:29,220 he would never have survived the Bataan Death March. 121 00:05:29,220 --> 00:05:35,840 >> So being a student 122 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:39,710 with his family with not very many resources, 123 00:05:39,710 --> 00:05:40,970 did he ever tell you much 124 00:05:40,970 --> 00:05:42,670 about how they learned about the world, 125 00:05:42,670 --> 00:05:44,830 how they got their news? 126 00:05:45,050 --> 00:05:48,350 >> He did not. Basically what he shared 127 00:05:48,350 --> 00:05:50,970 with me and this is related more to 128 00:05:50,970 --> 00:05:54,150 his experience in terms of military and 129 00:05:54,150 --> 00:05:57,490 joining the used to be called the Army Air Corps, 130 00:05:57,490 --> 00:06:01,150 not just the Air Corps or Air Force or not just the Army. 131 00:06:01,150 --> 00:06:05,630 It was a joint unit back then. 132 00:06:05,630 --> 00:06:09,690 But what he talked about was how that prepared 133 00:06:09,690 --> 00:06:11,530 him and he was looking for 134 00:06:11,530 --> 00:06:14,390 escape to be quite honest with you. 135 00:06:14,390 --> 00:06:16,750 So he did not tell 136 00:06:16,750 --> 00:06:19,860 the truth about his age when he joined the military. 137 00:06:19,860 --> 00:06:21,730 But he did so to get off of 138 00:06:21,730 --> 00:06:25,070 the form and he ended up in Savannah, Georgia. 139 00:06:25,070 --> 00:06:28,180 And Savannah is probably about an hour, 140 00:06:28,180 --> 00:06:30,505 15 minutes from Milan, 141 00:06:30,505 --> 00:06:31,950 which is where he was born. 142 00:06:31,950 --> 00:06:35,510 And that's where he entered the military was at that era. 143 00:06:35,510 --> 00:06:37,990 >> And this was what year? 144 00:06:37,990 --> 00:06:40,365 >> 1939. 145 00:06:40,365 --> 00:06:43,110 >> So he entered just as things were 146 00:06:43,110 --> 00:06:47,190 escalating in Europe before the United States? 147 00:06:47,190 --> 00:06:48,360 >> That's correct. 148 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:52,160 >> So at that moment, at that time, 149 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,180 did he talk at all about 150 00:06:54,180 --> 00:06:59,640 his family's opinion of the President Franklin Roosevelt, 151 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,715 did that enter into the conversation about? 152 00:07:02,715 --> 00:07:04,960 >> He did not share that with me. 153 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,920 My belief is from knowing my father, 154 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,240 he's always been very 155 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,225 respectful of the Office of the President. 156 00:07:12,225 --> 00:07:17,160 And in reading the materials and talking with him. 157 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,460 And one thing I'll say, my father did 158 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:21,980 not talk significantly or a great 159 00:07:21,980 --> 00:07:24,360 amount with individuals other 160 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,480 than those who had experienced the Bataan Death March. 161 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,790 I witnessed that a lot in terms of prisoners of 162 00:07:30,790 --> 00:07:32,610 war that they would 163 00:07:32,610 --> 00:07:34,810 not discuss their personal experience, 164 00:07:34,810 --> 00:07:36,535 other than with individuals who 165 00:07:36,535 --> 00:07:39,230 had also experienced that. 166 00:07:39,230 --> 00:07:41,810 So my wife and I went quite often, 167 00:07:41,810 --> 00:07:43,830 they would have an annual reunion 168 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:46,170 in Fontana, North Carolina. 169 00:07:46,170 --> 00:07:48,710 And that's where I got to meet a lot of the veterans. 170 00:07:48,710 --> 00:07:50,230 And I heard more about 171 00:07:50,230 --> 00:07:54,070 my father's experiences there than I ever heard at home. 172 00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:57,150 But I never heard him to get back to your question and 173 00:07:57,150 --> 00:08:00,210 say an unkind word about President Roosevelt. 174 00:08:00,210 --> 00:08:03,010 I don't think that he had 175 00:08:03,010 --> 00:08:05,870 any concern that the president 176 00:08:05,870 --> 00:08:08,620 had any choice other than the one he had. 177 00:08:08,620 --> 00:08:12,430 I know that he honored and respected the president. 178 00:08:12,430 --> 00:08:15,610 And that's what he instilled in us growing 179 00:08:15,610 --> 00:08:18,630 up was the importance of freedom 180 00:08:18,630 --> 00:08:21,130 and the importance of respecting 181 00:08:21,130 --> 00:08:25,835 the presidency and so that's what we did growing up. 182 00:08:25,835 --> 00:08:29,170 >> So when your father enlisted in the Army Air Corps, 183 00:08:29,170 --> 00:08:30,330 he went to Savannah, 184 00:08:30,330 --> 00:08:31,870 is that where he did his training? 185 00:08:31,870 --> 00:08:33,260 >> That's true. Well, 186 00:08:33,260 --> 00:08:36,350 where he did his actual training was 187 00:08:36,350 --> 00:08:40,390 Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. 188 00:08:40,390 --> 00:08:42,750 That's where he did his basic training. 189 00:08:42,750 --> 00:08:45,230 And I have a book that was 190 00:08:45,230 --> 00:08:49,430 written about the Survivors of the Bataan Death March. 191 00:08:49,430 --> 00:08:50,810 And one of the comments 192 00:08:50,810 --> 00:08:53,570 my father made that was fascinating to me. 193 00:08:53,570 --> 00:08:55,290 He was interviewed by 194 00:08:55,290 --> 00:08:57,430 a colleague of ours at Georgia Southern, 195 00:08:57,430 --> 00:08:59,545 Sue Hansen many years ago. 196 00:08:59,545 --> 00:09:02,280 And he talked about his experience at Barksdale. 197 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,960 And what he said was that they had actual training 198 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:11,040 in terms of gas because if you think back to World War I, 199 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,570 mustard gas, those things. 200 00:09:13,570 --> 00:09:15,860 So part of their training was to 201 00:09:15,860 --> 00:09:18,560 go into areas where they would be 202 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:24,000 exposed to mustard gas or other types of gases with mask 203 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,280 and things like this so that they could be 204 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:27,760 cognizant and aware that if 205 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:29,880 they experience this in battle, 206 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,620 this is what you've experienced 207 00:09:31,620 --> 00:09:33,120 and this is how you deal with it, 208 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,720 which was fascinating to me. 209 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,085 Something I had not thought about. 210 00:09:37,085 --> 00:09:41,705 >> There was a lot done after World War I. 211 00:09:41,705 --> 00:09:42,470 >> Correct. 212 00:09:42,470 --> 00:09:45,395 >> That changed how training was done, 213 00:09:45,395 --> 00:09:49,230 the hire infantry school 214 00:09:49,550 --> 00:09:54,415 that was built here in Georgia came right out of that. 215 00:09:54,415 --> 00:09:56,400 >> I think he said his training, 216 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,090 basic training was 12 weeks, 217 00:09:58,090 --> 00:10:01,440 if I'm not mistaken, and that was in 1939. 218 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,940 >> So when was he shipped overseas, 219 00:10:05,940 --> 00:10:07,340 did he talk at all about 220 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:10,280 Pearl Harbor and his memory at that moment? 221 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,220 >> He did not talk with me, 222 00:10:12,220 --> 00:10:14,260 but he did with Miss Hanson. 223 00:10:14,260 --> 00:10:17,706 If you don't mind, I did jot a couple of notes down. 224 00:10:17,706 --> 00:10:18,100 >> Sure. 225 00:10:18,100 --> 00:10:19,780 >> And I did so 226 00:10:19,780 --> 00:10:21,880 because I thought you might ask me some dates. 227 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,850 So that's what I had jotted down. 228 00:10:24,850 --> 00:10:29,235 Let's see, he enlisted on October the 14th, 229 00:10:29,235 --> 00:10:33,280 1939, 17 years old. 230 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,010 Basic training was at Barksdale. 231 00:10:36,010 --> 00:10:40,060 As I said, he was part of the 16th Bomb Squadron, 232 00:10:40,060 --> 00:10:42,875 the 27th Bomader Group. 233 00:10:42,875 --> 00:10:45,890 He was stationed at Fort McKinley in 234 00:10:45,890 --> 00:10:50,325 the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was attacked. 235 00:10:50,325 --> 00:10:52,490 And one of the things that he had 236 00:10:52,490 --> 00:10:55,030 been asked that was an interesting question to me, 237 00:10:55,030 --> 00:10:58,090 what were your thoughts about Pearl Harbor? 238 00:10:58,090 --> 00:11:00,570 And what he said was that they were 239 00:11:00,570 --> 00:11:03,270 surprised and that they were 240 00:11:03,270 --> 00:11:06,250 apprehensive after learning about Pearl Harbor 241 00:11:06,250 --> 00:11:09,530 while they were over in the Philippines. 242 00:11:09,530 --> 00:11:12,810 He said they were frightful and that most people 243 00:11:12,810 --> 00:11:16,990 were until you experienced a bombing yourself. 244 00:11:16,990 --> 00:11:20,070 Once you were on an Air Force base that had been 245 00:11:20,070 --> 00:11:23,610 strafed or bombed or and later, 246 00:11:23,610 --> 00:11:25,630 he was talking about he had to fight 247 00:11:25,630 --> 00:11:27,950 in the jungles against the Japanese. 248 00:11:27,950 --> 00:11:30,470 When one is placed in the term 249 00:11:30,470 --> 00:11:33,870 used not to be sexist but no man's land, 250 00:11:33,870 --> 00:11:37,680 which is a place where no one generally survives. 251 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:41,310 Then he was able to understand and was not as fearful 252 00:11:41,310 --> 00:11:42,690 and frightful but because once 253 00:11:42,690 --> 00:11:45,390 you've experienced that personally, 254 00:11:45,390 --> 00:11:48,950 the surprise and apprehension is over 255 00:11:48,950 --> 00:11:51,350 because your own personal survival 256 00:11:51,350 --> 00:11:52,990 then depends upon that. 257 00:11:52,990 --> 00:11:56,230 It's not something that happened to someone else, 258 00:11:56,230 --> 00:11:57,750 it happened to you personally. 259 00:11:57,750 --> 00:11:59,125 >> Absolutely. 260 00:11:59,125 --> 00:12:01,160 >> So what did your father 261 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,275 tell you about serving in the Philippines? 262 00:12:03,275 --> 00:12:07,295 Did he ever talk about that later with his? 263 00:12:07,295 --> 00:12:12,590 >> He did. Particularly his friendships that he made 264 00:12:12,590 --> 00:12:15,920 with fellow soldiers or 265 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,275 fellow air corpsmen that were there. 266 00:12:18,275 --> 00:12:24,395 And he talked about the difficulty, 267 00:12:24,395 --> 00:12:27,800 I guess, of that experience. 268 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,400 I think the things that really resonated with him, 269 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,455 and it's not to be gruesome, 270 00:12:33,455 --> 00:12:36,440 but the first time one experiences someone else being 271 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,145 killed is something that one will never forget. 272 00:12:40,145 --> 00:12:43,340 And on the death march itself, 273 00:12:43,340 --> 00:12:44,705 the term that they use, 274 00:12:44,705 --> 00:12:47,240 there were approximately 10,000 American 275 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,375 soldiers at that time, 10,000-12,000. 276 00:12:50,375 --> 00:12:55,340 And after they were, I guess, 277 00:12:55,340 --> 00:12:57,800 survived or after they were 278 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,815 freed from prison camp in Japan, 279 00:13:00,815 --> 00:13:03,950 there were only about 3,500-4,000 280 00:13:03,950 --> 00:13:06,500 individuals that had survived. 281 00:13:06,500 --> 00:13:10,055 But he talked about walking through the jungle. 282 00:13:10,055 --> 00:13:15,455 And when a Japanese infantry would come through, 283 00:13:15,455 --> 00:13:16,925 they would have to get off 284 00:13:16,925 --> 00:13:20,435 the one road that was basically there into the jungles. 285 00:13:20,435 --> 00:13:24,140 If anyone complained or anyone did 286 00:13:24,140 --> 00:13:28,490 anything that the Japanese soldiers did not like, 287 00:13:28,490 --> 00:13:30,155 they literally would bayonet 288 00:13:30,155 --> 00:13:32,195 those individuals and kill them. 289 00:13:32,195 --> 00:13:36,125 And then to remove the bayonet from the individual, 290 00:13:36,125 --> 00:13:37,400 they would literally shoot 291 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,610 the gun and just leave them where they were. 292 00:13:40,610 --> 00:13:45,725 So that was something that he never, ever forgot. 293 00:13:45,725 --> 00:13:47,600 And one thing that a lot of folks 294 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,745 don't think about or may not know, 295 00:13:49,745 --> 00:13:52,865 there were actually women at that time. 296 00:13:52,865 --> 00:13:56,060 We don't think about Nurses of Bataan. 297 00:13:56,060 --> 00:14:01,250 So in our meetings with survivors of that era, 298 00:14:01,250 --> 00:14:05,240 we literally met nurses who had served with these men. 299 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,700 And I could not 300 00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:11,930 imagine the challenges or what they faced. 301 00:14:11,930 --> 00:14:14,930 But the men and the women and 302 00:14:14,930 --> 00:14:19,400 the mutual respect that was demonstrated, 303 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,920 the bravery is something 304 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,605 that should be honored and remembered. 305 00:14:24,605 --> 00:14:26,810 >> Absolutely. Now, you mentioned that 306 00:14:26,810 --> 00:14:28,670 your father was a man of faith? 307 00:14:28,670 --> 00:14:29,060 >> Yes. 308 00:14:29,060 --> 00:14:31,190 >> Did you talk about what role that may have 309 00:14:31,190 --> 00:14:34,850 played during his experiences in [inaudible]? 310 00:14:34,850 --> 00:14:37,550 >> I think more so it came into play 311 00:14:37,550 --> 00:14:40,925 prior to his liberation from prison camp in Japan. 312 00:14:40,925 --> 00:14:43,625 It's not that he did not have faith, 313 00:14:43,625 --> 00:14:48,695 but a lot of folks who feel a calling to the ministry, 314 00:14:48,695 --> 00:14:51,320 or that there is someone urging 315 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,815 them to go in one direction or another in their life. 316 00:14:54,815 --> 00:14:57,890 He stated that while in prison camp, 317 00:14:57,890 --> 00:15:00,590 and he was a prisoner for 3 and 1/2 years. 318 00:15:00,590 --> 00:15:02,300 Toward the end of that, he felt 319 00:15:02,300 --> 00:15:05,250 this inner calling that said, 320 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,560 if you would make a commitment to go into the ministry, 321 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,450 things will work out, and he said, 322 00:15:11,450 --> 00:15:14,075 once he made that commitment himself, 323 00:15:14,075 --> 00:15:17,525 soon thereafter the war ended, 324 00:15:17,525 --> 00:15:19,385 and he came back home. 325 00:15:19,385 --> 00:15:25,265 And what he did upon his return in 1942, he had the, 326 00:15:25,265 --> 00:15:27,260 I guess it was called the GI bill 327 00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:29,510 or whatever the term was at that time, 328 00:15:29,510 --> 00:15:32,195 so he went to Mercer University 329 00:15:32,195 --> 00:15:35,120 in Macon to their School of Theology, 330 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,080 went through in 12 consecutive quarters. 331 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,705 He did four years work in three years 332 00:15:41,705 --> 00:15:44,810 and became a minister and then pastored 333 00:15:44,810 --> 00:15:47,300 in small rural churches from that point 334 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:51,510 forward for over 50 years as a matter of fact. 335 00:15:52,330 --> 00:15:58,445 >> So going back a little bit just to his experiences 336 00:15:58,445 --> 00:16:03,815 of the death march and the very beginning, 337 00:16:03,815 --> 00:16:05,540 did he talk to you at all about 338 00:16:05,540 --> 00:16:08,060 his memories of the moment when 339 00:16:08,060 --> 00:16:10,550 General Edward King surrendered and 340 00:16:10,550 --> 00:16:13,655 they were left in this situation? 341 00:16:13,655 --> 00:16:16,700 >> I think his comments from what I've read. 342 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:19,670 Like I said, he did not talk with me or the family, 343 00:16:19,670 --> 00:16:22,040 but these are things that I've read from 344 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,620 his first-hand verbal account with others. 345 00:16:25,890 --> 00:16:30,885 He was concerned that the officers, 346 00:16:30,885 --> 00:16:33,620 a majority of the officers went with 347 00:16:33,620 --> 00:16:36,770 MacArthur and they went to Australia, I believe, 348 00:16:36,770 --> 00:16:39,290 is where they eventually ended up, 349 00:16:39,290 --> 00:16:41,210 that there were very few officers 350 00:16:41,210 --> 00:16:42,530 and any that remained with 351 00:16:42,530 --> 00:16:47,105 the enlisted men when they became captured. 352 00:16:47,105 --> 00:16:51,090 And that was of concern to him 353 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:56,185 because having not experienced 354 00:16:56,185 --> 00:16:59,425 what the enlisted individuals did, 355 00:16:59,425 --> 00:17:02,020 it was hard for them to fathom and understand 356 00:17:02,020 --> 00:17:05,910 the difficulty of what had gone on. 357 00:17:05,910 --> 00:17:10,220 One of the fascinating things that I discovered 358 00:17:10,220 --> 00:17:14,150 about my father is upon his release, 359 00:17:14,150 --> 00:17:16,610 he was given back pay 360 00:17:16,610 --> 00:17:18,995 for while he was a prisoner of war, 361 00:17:18,995 --> 00:17:22,565 and that came in a lump sum check, 362 00:17:22,565 --> 00:17:28,085 and that was from 1941 through 1945. 363 00:17:28,085 --> 00:17:29,600 So for those four years, 364 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:30,710 I think it was less than 365 00:17:30,710 --> 00:17:36,290 $4,000 that he received in terms of back pay. 366 00:17:36,290 --> 00:17:40,430 His comment was that so often, 367 00:17:40,430 --> 00:17:43,700 there were no reparations paid to any of 368 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:48,440 the men and women who survived Japanese prison camp, 369 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,660 but a lot of the individuals who did 370 00:17:50,660 --> 00:17:53,030 not go to war or whatever, 371 00:17:53,030 --> 00:17:55,520 Japanese individuals, 372 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,105 some of them were given reparations of up to $20,000. 373 00:17:59,105 --> 00:18:00,860 So that was something, 374 00:18:00,860 --> 00:18:04,760 that inconsistency that lingered with 375 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:09,305 him later in life with respect to the US government, 376 00:18:09,305 --> 00:18:11,810 of how did we treat those who had actually 377 00:18:11,810 --> 00:18:14,570 been in battle versus those 378 00:18:14,570 --> 00:18:17,030 who had been a part of 379 00:18:17,030 --> 00:18:21,065 the Japanese encampment or whatever. 380 00:18:21,065 --> 00:18:23,930 And then in terms of reparation, 381 00:18:23,930 --> 00:18:26,900 that was fascinating to me to have been a prisoner and 382 00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:31,220 get a lump sum check for less than $4,000. 383 00:18:31,220 --> 00:18:34,775 >> Did your father describe in any of his accounts 384 00:18:34,775 --> 00:18:38,225 the removal of all the captives possessions? 385 00:18:38,225 --> 00:18:38,600 >> He did. 386 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:39,605 >> That is something that. 387 00:18:39,605 --> 00:18:42,455 >> He did. He said upon their capture 388 00:18:42,455 --> 00:18:46,070 and prior to their beginning of the death march, 389 00:18:46,070 --> 00:18:47,570 the first thing that happened was 390 00:18:47,570 --> 00:18:50,135 they had to give all of their jewelry away. 391 00:18:50,135 --> 00:18:52,520 So any rings or any things like 392 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:54,830 that were literally taken, 393 00:18:54,830 --> 00:18:58,520 and I'm sure that they were used in the war effort by 394 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:00,800 the Japanese to assist 395 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:02,945 their government and to assist their military? 396 00:19:02,945 --> 00:19:04,505 But that's one of the statements that 397 00:19:04,505 --> 00:19:06,995 literally was made, you're exactly right? 398 00:19:06,995 --> 00:19:08,975 >> And did he have, 399 00:19:08,975 --> 00:19:11,540 because one of the major concerns were if people had 400 00:19:11,540 --> 00:19:14,240 Japanese artifacts or souvenirs, 401 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,040 that that would never get them into big trouble. 402 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:17,180 Did he ever talk about it? Did he have 403 00:19:17,180 --> 00:19:18,800 anything he had to hide? 404 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,590 >> He did not. Basically, 405 00:19:21,590 --> 00:19:23,450 what he talked about was 406 00:19:23,450 --> 00:19:28,400 his experience after being transported to Japan. 407 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:32,240 He literally had to work in the coal mine, 408 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,460 and I think it was Rinko coal mine, 409 00:19:34,460 --> 00:19:35,870 I think is what it was. 410 00:19:35,870 --> 00:19:40,220 But literally, they would have to shovel coal, 411 00:19:40,220 --> 00:19:42,530 put it in box cars, 412 00:19:42,530 --> 00:19:44,705 push it up a hill to a ship, 413 00:19:44,705 --> 00:19:48,575 and unload either to the ship or to the train. 414 00:19:48,575 --> 00:19:51,695 My father basically unloaded his coal 415 00:19:51,695 --> 00:19:55,220 onto a train and they would put them in groups of four. 416 00:19:55,220 --> 00:19:59,495 And so my father talked about going from prison camp. 417 00:19:59,495 --> 00:20:03,275 If this is of interest to you, his personal experience. 418 00:20:03,275 --> 00:20:05,360 They would leave around four o'clock 419 00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:06,800 in the morning is when they would be 420 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,600 awakened and they would 421 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,940 literally have to walk to the coal mine, 422 00:20:10,940 --> 00:20:13,805 which was in Japan itself. 423 00:20:13,805 --> 00:20:16,400 They would have coal shoveled, 424 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,975 push the carts up to the train cars, groups of four. 425 00:20:20,975 --> 00:20:24,710 And what they would say is the Japanese expected them to 426 00:20:24,710 --> 00:20:28,985 fill two railroad cars daily. 427 00:20:28,985 --> 00:20:31,640 And what he said, most people didn't realize, 428 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:35,405 there might be small cars and there might be large cars. 429 00:20:35,405 --> 00:20:38,675 And what he meant by that, 10-ton, 25-ton. 430 00:20:38,675 --> 00:20:40,550 But each group of four was 431 00:20:40,550 --> 00:20:42,950 expected to fill two coal cars. 432 00:20:42,950 --> 00:20:47,300 So if you got a 25 and a 10 rather than two 10s, 433 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:50,855 you might not finish up until eight o'clock at night. 434 00:20:50,855 --> 00:20:53,420 So then you had to go back to camp, 435 00:20:53,420 --> 00:20:57,305 and if you failed to fill a car, 436 00:20:57,305 --> 00:21:00,320 you knew you were subject to a beating. 437 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,355 And so that's the one recollection that he never forgot, 438 00:21:04,355 --> 00:21:08,185 was the physical beating and the physical torture. 439 00:21:08,185 --> 00:21:12,565 And he talked quite often about his term, 440 00:21:12,565 --> 00:21:15,460 and I'm sure I heard this from a lot of other survivors, 441 00:21:15,460 --> 00:21:18,625 it became literally survival of the fittest, 442 00:21:18,625 --> 00:21:21,085 it became dog eat dog. 443 00:21:21,085 --> 00:21:24,945 You'd literally have to look out for yourself. 444 00:21:24,945 --> 00:21:27,530 When my father was liberated, 445 00:21:27,530 --> 00:21:29,165 he was 6'2'', 446 00:21:29,165 --> 00:21:30,470 which is my height, 447 00:21:30,470 --> 00:21:33,260 he weighed 87 pounds. 448 00:21:33,260 --> 00:21:40,180 When he came back, he was liberated to California. 449 00:21:40,180 --> 00:21:42,510 And I think one story I'd 450 00:21:42,510 --> 00:21:44,955 like to make sure I share with you. 451 00:21:44,955 --> 00:21:47,580 My father passed away and was buried on 452 00:21:47,580 --> 00:21:50,670 February 27th, 1995. 453 00:21:50,670 --> 00:21:55,470 The day of his funeral he had done many funerals in 454 00:21:55,470 --> 00:22:00,680 Dublin Georgia with Townson Brothers funeral home. 455 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:04,700 And Mr. Forrest Townsend was the main owner of that. 456 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:06,485 And the reason I bring this up, 457 00:22:06,485 --> 00:22:08,360 Mr. Townsend came up to 458 00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:11,460 me prior to my father's funeral and he said, Bill, 459 00:22:11,460 --> 00:22:14,220 he said, "Did your father ever tell you how 460 00:22:14,220 --> 00:22:17,295 he and I first met?" 461 00:22:17,295 --> 00:22:19,665 And I said, Mr. Townsend, he didn't. 462 00:22:19,665 --> 00:22:21,300 He said, "Well, you know your father 463 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:22,560 and I've conducted funerals 464 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,935 throughout this area together for over 50 plus years". 465 00:22:25,935 --> 00:22:29,910 He said, "I was in the US Marine Corps in World War II". 466 00:22:29,910 --> 00:22:32,070 He said, "I was one of the people that 467 00:22:32,070 --> 00:22:34,485 went to Niigata Japan. 468 00:22:34,485 --> 00:22:36,420 That's where my father was a prisoner 469 00:22:36,420 --> 00:22:38,715 of war, Niigata Japan. 470 00:22:38,715 --> 00:22:41,640 He said, The first time I met your father is when I 471 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,075 liberated him from prison camp. 472 00:22:45,075 --> 00:22:50,115 So if you sit here and think 50 years later, 473 00:22:50,115 --> 00:22:54,225 here are two men that met for the first time and 474 00:22:54,225 --> 00:22:59,790 so I also believe in a higher being. 475 00:22:59,790 --> 00:23:03,120 I believe that the Lord puts us where 476 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:06,315 we're supposed to be when we're supposed to be there. 477 00:23:06,315 --> 00:23:10,575 And these are the stories one could not make up. 478 00:23:10,575 --> 00:23:12,615 How could two people 479 00:23:12,615 --> 00:23:15,630 meet for the first time ever and then end up in 480 00:23:15,630 --> 00:23:18,930 a small town of maybe 10,000 481 00:23:18,930 --> 00:23:22,890 citizens and work together for 50-plus years? 482 00:23:22,890 --> 00:23:27,810 That gave me a sense of comfort at 483 00:23:27,810 --> 00:23:30,300 my father's passing and 484 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:34,725 literally to fulfill the entire circle. 485 00:23:34,725 --> 00:23:39,495 My mother passed away this year at age 96. 486 00:23:39,495 --> 00:23:44,760 She passed away on February 23rd, 2018. 487 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:51,945 We laid her at her final rest on February 27th, 2018, 488 00:23:51,945 --> 00:23:57,435 the very day that my father passed away in 1995, 489 00:23:57,435 --> 00:24:01,890 my mother and father were reunited in 2018. 490 00:24:01,890 --> 00:24:05,730 So it's just something that says 491 00:24:05,730 --> 00:24:08,280 Someone is in charge and 492 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,760 leading us to be where we need to be. 493 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,925 I never heard my father say 494 00:24:14,925 --> 00:24:19,860 anything unkind about his experience. 495 00:24:19,860 --> 00:24:22,290 The only thing he would not do. 496 00:24:22,290 --> 00:24:25,605 And this was true of most of the people in this book, 497 00:24:25,605 --> 00:24:29,550 they would not buy an automobile that was made in Japan. 498 00:24:29,550 --> 00:24:34,215 They bought exclusively USA and American-made, 499 00:24:34,215 --> 00:24:40,260 and that was their protest against what they had endured. 500 00:24:40,260 --> 00:24:41,490 They just would not buy 501 00:24:41,490 --> 00:24:44,130 a product that had been made there. 502 00:24:44,130 --> 00:24:47,310 >> So your father was 503 00:24:47,310 --> 00:24:50,805 liberated and able to come back home to Georgia. 504 00:24:50,805 --> 00:24:53,505 Went through University, 505 00:24:53,505 --> 00:24:55,770 Theological Seminary at Mercer? 506 00:24:55,770 --> 00:24:56,385 >> Correct. 507 00:24:56,385 --> 00:24:59,415 >> And in 1945, 508 00:24:59,415 --> 00:25:02,280 he would have been done with that. 509 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,280 Did he tell you about his feelings upon 510 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,110 the end of the war 511 00:25:07,110 --> 00:25:09,885 when the atomic bombs were dropped in Japan? 512 00:25:09,885 --> 00:25:12,600 >> He did not, but we were with 513 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,600 my father and as I had shared with you earlier today, 514 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,440 one of the guest speakers at one of 515 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:25,290 the reunions in Fontana, 516 00:25:25,290 --> 00:25:28,845 North Carolina, was the bomber during Enola Gay. 517 00:25:28,845 --> 00:25:31,785 And his name was Colonel Thomas Farabe. 518 00:25:31,785 --> 00:25:34,350 And so, we literally heard 519 00:25:34,350 --> 00:25:38,715 this story about how the atomic bomb was made, 520 00:25:38,715 --> 00:25:40,770 the direct contact between 521 00:25:40,770 --> 00:25:44,385 the Enola Gay and the president of the United States. 522 00:25:44,385 --> 00:25:47,040 The president literally wanted to 523 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,295 know what the target site looked like. 524 00:25:50,295 --> 00:25:52,815 Was there any clouds? 525 00:25:52,815 --> 00:25:56,580 Was there a clear observation because he wanted 526 00:25:56,580 --> 00:26:00,915 a direct report of what was the outcome of that. 527 00:26:00,915 --> 00:26:02,730 The thing I had not known and 528 00:26:02,730 --> 00:26:04,770 perhaps many citizens don't know, 529 00:26:04,770 --> 00:26:06,870 Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 530 00:26:06,870 --> 00:26:08,910 not the only two target sites. 531 00:26:08,910 --> 00:26:13,920 There were multiple target sites because had one not 532 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:19,160 been available to drop the bomb, 533 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,515 then they would have to move to another site. 534 00:26:21,515 --> 00:26:23,060 And the interesting thing that 535 00:26:23,060 --> 00:26:24,830 caught my father's attention 536 00:26:24,830 --> 00:26:29,105 and Colonel Ferebee identified various sites. 537 00:26:29,105 --> 00:26:31,595 One was Niigata Japan. 538 00:26:31,595 --> 00:26:34,970 Which is the prison camp where my father was at. 539 00:26:34,970 --> 00:26:37,430 And from what I've been told Niigata is in 540 00:26:37,430 --> 00:26:40,845 very close proximity to Tokyo. 541 00:26:40,845 --> 00:26:44,490 But he did talk about the shapes of the bomb, 542 00:26:44,490 --> 00:26:45,990 how they had gone from 543 00:26:45,990 --> 00:26:49,830 a small barrel size to an elongated bomb. 544 00:26:49,830 --> 00:26:52,470 So that was fascinating to watch 545 00:26:52,470 --> 00:26:57,330 my father react to that was interesting to me. 546 00:26:57,330 --> 00:26:59,640 And I think one of the other experiences 547 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,205 I think was interesting for me. 548 00:27:02,205 --> 00:27:06,770 In 1983, my wife 549 00:27:06,770 --> 00:27:09,410 and I were married and one of the gifts that she gave 550 00:27:09,410 --> 00:27:18,735 me was a life magazine collection from March, April 1945. 551 00:27:18,735 --> 00:27:20,910 These were discarded by 552 00:27:20,910 --> 00:27:23,220 the library at Georgia Southern University. 553 00:27:23,220 --> 00:27:26,625 So I have it in a bound volume. 554 00:27:26,625 --> 00:27:28,830 And so my father came and took 555 00:27:28,830 --> 00:27:31,590 Lana and I out to dinner one night and I said, 556 00:27:31,590 --> 00:27:33,660 I have a surprise for you, Dad. 557 00:27:33,660 --> 00:27:38,520 I want you to look at life magazine from when you 558 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,980 were over a prisoner 559 00:27:40,980 --> 00:27:43,860 of war or immediately after your release. 560 00:27:43,860 --> 00:27:46,230 And he sat there on the sofa for 561 00:27:46,230 --> 00:27:50,280 about an hour to watch him read 562 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:52,680 through or flip through and see 563 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:54,300 not only the stories but 564 00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:57,300 the advertisements and those things. 565 00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:01,530 It's like this was the first time he had ever seen 566 00:28:01,530 --> 00:28:06,120 these materials and I watch the reaction on his face. 567 00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:10,110 He said, during his time of imprisonment. 568 00:28:10,110 --> 00:28:14,340 He received one package from the American Red Cross. 569 00:28:14,340 --> 00:28:17,625 And what it had was it had 13 letters 570 00:28:17,625 --> 00:28:21,960 and I think some candy bars or things like that. 571 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,710 So that was the only mail that they ever got, 572 00:28:25,710 --> 00:28:29,025 and to keep up with what was going on in the world 573 00:28:29,025 --> 00:28:32,865 prior to their surrender to the Japanese, 574 00:28:32,865 --> 00:28:36,345 they would listen to the American radio voice of America. 575 00:28:36,345 --> 00:28:38,865 And so he talked about that, 576 00:28:38,865 --> 00:28:44,670 that literally is how they found out about Pearl Harbor. 577 00:28:44,670 --> 00:28:47,730 So he knew from 578 00:28:47,730 --> 00:28:50,880 that point on that it was going to be challenging, 579 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,520 but didn't get many, 580 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:54,750 if any, other than 581 00:28:54,750 --> 00:28:58,065 that one package from the American Red Cross. 582 00:28:58,065 --> 00:29:01,530 And the one thing that I will never forget. 583 00:29:01,530 --> 00:29:07,210 The last question asking my father is was it worth it? 584 00:29:11,060 --> 00:29:13,635 I apologize. 585 00:29:13,635 --> 00:29:17,115 He said that to 586 00:29:17,115 --> 00:29:21,495 have the freedom that we have in this country, 587 00:29:21,495 --> 00:29:25,680 it was worth it and asked if he would do it again, 588 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,170 he said if it would protect the freedom that 589 00:29:28,170 --> 00:29:31,575 we as citizens experience today, 590 00:29:31,575 --> 00:29:33,240 he would do it again. 591 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:39,615 And I don't know that we appreciate the freedoms that we 592 00:29:39,615 --> 00:29:44,370 have or the sacrifice that 593 00:29:44,370 --> 00:29:46,770 has been made to ensure that each of 594 00:29:46,770 --> 00:29:49,335 us can do what we're doing today. 595 00:29:49,335 --> 00:29:51,210 Say what we wish to say, 596 00:29:51,210 --> 00:29:53,415 read what we wish to read. 597 00:29:53,415 --> 00:29:57,240 That's why individuals wish to come to this country. 598 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:00,255 I truly believe it's the greatest country in the world, 599 00:30:00,255 --> 00:30:03,225 and we have traveled extensively. 600 00:30:03,225 --> 00:30:05,520 There are lovely people throughout 601 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,910 this world and I feel honored and 602 00:30:08,910 --> 00:30:11,670 blessed along with my wife to have met 603 00:30:11,670 --> 00:30:14,970 these individuals, kind people everywhere. 604 00:30:14,970 --> 00:30:19,530 But when I read and know what he went through 605 00:30:19,530 --> 00:30:24,795 to say for freedom and risking one's life, 606 00:30:24,795 --> 00:30:27,540 it's worth it, that resonates with me. 607 00:30:27,540 --> 00:30:30,780 And that's something I shall never, ever forget. 608 00:30:30,780 --> 00:30:34,170 Growing up, my father as a minister, 609 00:30:34,170 --> 00:30:37,165 never saw one activity that I was in. 610 00:30:37,165 --> 00:30:38,810 The reason I bring that up, 611 00:30:38,810 --> 00:30:41,510 it was his dedication to his parish, 612 00:30:41,510 --> 00:30:44,555 his church, those types of things. 613 00:30:44,555 --> 00:30:48,950 He would preach every Sunday, every Wednesday. 614 00:30:48,950 --> 00:30:53,090 He would go visit people in hospitals, 615 00:30:53,090 --> 00:30:55,280 on Saturday, he visited all day. 616 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:59,645 So never saw any sporting events or anything that I did, 617 00:30:59,645 --> 00:31:03,810 but I know that he loved my sister and me, 618 00:31:03,810 --> 00:31:06,780 and his commitment to others, 619 00:31:06,780 --> 00:31:09,520 and I know that he loved my wife. 620 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:13,155 Some things you don't have to say. 621 00:31:13,155 --> 00:31:15,750 You just know that it's there. 622 00:31:15,750 --> 00:31:18,780 To me, he was a man of honor, 623 00:31:18,780 --> 00:31:23,955 and I thank you for allowing me to share his story today. 624 00:31:23,955 --> 00:31:26,340 And I did bring a book 625 00:31:26,340 --> 00:31:29,415 called Death March that was written by Donald Knox. 626 00:31:29,415 --> 00:31:31,155 And Donald Knox interviewed 627 00:31:31,155 --> 00:31:35,460 200 survivors and put 65 of their stories in this book. 628 00:31:35,460 --> 00:31:37,440 My father's story is one that was 629 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:39,240 in here and there literally 630 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:44,805 are pictures of him from when he was a prisoner of war. 631 00:31:44,805 --> 00:31:48,495 I think the other thing was the lack of food, 632 00:31:48,495 --> 00:31:51,180 water, and the cold, 633 00:31:51,180 --> 00:31:53,415 they were given one blanket, 634 00:31:53,415 --> 00:31:57,585 and that was it and they were put in an open air arena. 635 00:31:57,585 --> 00:32:01,215 They were told, this is a story my father shared with me, 636 00:32:01,215 --> 00:32:04,560 that if any of you try to escape, 637 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,410 we will put you in a group of 10. 638 00:32:07,410 --> 00:32:12,360 We will make you dig literally a hole or 639 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:15,510 a trench and then we will shoot all 640 00:32:15,510 --> 00:32:19,050 10 of you and have 10 other people cover your bodies. 641 00:32:19,050 --> 00:32:21,540 And my father talked about that while on 642 00:32:21,540 --> 00:32:25,830 the Bataan Death March individuals who died quite often, 643 00:32:25,830 --> 00:32:28,080 there were trenches, or once they 644 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:33,160 were under Japanese, authority. 645 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:34,510 If individuals died, 646 00:32:34,510 --> 00:32:38,080 literally they would die from travel in ships, 647 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:41,545 travel on trains, those types of things. 648 00:32:41,545 --> 00:32:44,245 They literally would dig trenches, 649 00:32:44,245 --> 00:32:47,470 put the individuals in there and cover them with dirt. 650 00:32:47,470 --> 00:32:49,570 So years later, 651 00:32:49,570 --> 00:32:51,880 they remembered where these were and they put 652 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:55,885 crosses there to honor the family members 653 00:32:55,885 --> 00:33:01,075 and the members of the ones who had not survived. 654 00:33:01,075 --> 00:33:03,550 And I think that's probably something Mr. 655 00:33:03,550 --> 00:33:06,595 Knox said that resonated with me as well. 656 00:33:06,595 --> 00:33:08,995 They tell their story 657 00:33:08,995 --> 00:33:11,950 to remember those who did not come back. 658 00:33:11,950 --> 00:33:15,625 It's not to identify 659 00:33:15,625 --> 00:33:19,405 themselves or request to be identified as a hero, 660 00:33:19,405 --> 00:33:23,260 as much as it is to remember an individual who fought 661 00:33:23,260 --> 00:33:25,015 by them side by side 662 00:33:25,015 --> 00:33:27,400 and to honor them and their families. 663 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:32,650 So when I said he was a man of honor and integrity, 664 00:33:32,650 --> 00:33:35,650 he was and he instilled that in us 665 00:33:35,650 --> 00:33:40,240 that treat others as you'd wish to be treated. 666 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:44,270 So that's been my focus. 667 00:33:46,230 --> 00:33:49,180 >> Yeah, absolutely. Did he meet your mother when 668 00:33:49,180 --> 00:33:52,105 he was in secondary? 669 00:33:52,105 --> 00:33:55,030 >> No, they went to school together. 670 00:33:55,030 --> 00:33:57,235 My mother was from Milan, Georgia, 671 00:33:57,235 --> 00:34:00,145 and my mother was his high school sweetheart. 672 00:34:00,145 --> 00:34:05,395 So when he returned from prison camp, 673 00:34:05,395 --> 00:34:08,860 what he did was he reconnected with my mother and 674 00:34:08,860 --> 00:34:12,505 they married almost immediately upon return. 675 00:34:12,505 --> 00:34:16,105 And so they were married. 676 00:34:16,105 --> 00:34:19,840 Good Lord, 45 or 50 years. 677 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:21,985 I don't know the exact number. 678 00:34:21,985 --> 00:34:23,920 But my mother, like I said, 679 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:28,825 lived to be aged 96 and my father passed away in 95, 680 00:34:28,825 --> 00:34:31,540 so she passed away this past year or this year. 681 00:34:31,540 --> 00:34:32,755 >> And what was her name? 682 00:34:32,755 --> 00:34:35,650 >> Her name was Mary Dickey Wallace. 683 00:34:35,650 --> 00:34:44,305 But I can remember the love that they had for each other. 684 00:34:44,305 --> 00:34:47,260 And my dad was awarded 685 00:34:47,260 --> 00:34:50,995 the bronze star at one Robins Air Force Base, 686 00:34:50,995 --> 00:34:57,750 and we attended that ceremony and to see the pride in 687 00:34:57,750 --> 00:35:01,440 my father's face and just the smile on 688 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:06,510 his face with his family there and my mother there. 689 00:35:06,510 --> 00:35:12,055 That was really important to us as a family. 690 00:35:12,055 --> 00:35:13,750 And the other thing that a lot of 691 00:35:13,750 --> 00:35:15,520 folks may not recognize, 692 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:20,275 my father also was awarded a prisoner of war medal, 693 00:35:20,275 --> 00:35:21,700 and that was approved by 694 00:35:21,700 --> 00:35:24,835 President Ronald Reagan when he was president, 695 00:35:24,835 --> 00:35:27,730 that anyone who was or had been a prisoner of 696 00:35:27,730 --> 00:35:31,705 war would be awarded a prisoner of war medal. 697 00:35:31,705 --> 00:35:36,040 And Congressman Roy Roland from Dublin awarded 698 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:37,540 that to my father in 699 00:35:37,540 --> 00:35:40,615 January before he passed away in February. 700 00:35:40,615 --> 00:35:43,090 So my father had his prisoner of war medal 701 00:35:43,090 --> 00:35:46,580 for one month before he passed away. 702 00:35:52,410 --> 00:35:54,850 >> Did he talk about how that made him 703 00:35:54,850 --> 00:35:57,280 feel to get that medal? 704 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:01,375 >> He did. He was always grateful to the president, 705 00:36:01,375 --> 00:36:04,270 particularly President Reagan for having 706 00:36:04,270 --> 00:36:06,970 recognized the importance of that 707 00:36:06,970 --> 00:36:10,540 to those who had served and to their families. 708 00:36:10,540 --> 00:36:16,615 He had to apply to receive the medal as did everyone. 709 00:36:16,615 --> 00:36:19,180 They had to be able to document 710 00:36:19,180 --> 00:36:22,720 that they had served or had been a prisoner of war. 711 00:36:22,720 --> 00:36:25,780 And he did that and according to 712 00:36:25,780 --> 00:36:29,875 his interview earlier in December, 713 00:36:29,875 --> 00:36:33,085 it was approved almost immediately. 714 00:36:33,085 --> 00:36:36,880 It was awarded in January and then he passed away, 715 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:39,250 but he was always grateful to 716 00:36:39,250 --> 00:36:42,175 President Reagan and my father, 717 00:36:42,175 --> 00:36:45,370 I know, was not a long term Republican. 718 00:36:45,370 --> 00:36:47,965 He had grown up in an era, 719 00:36:47,965 --> 00:36:50,620 which Democrats basically were 720 00:36:50,620 --> 00:36:52,765 in the presidency during that time. 721 00:36:52,765 --> 00:36:56,500 But party affiliation had nothing to do with that. 722 00:36:56,500 --> 00:36:59,770 And for that, I'm grateful to 723 00:36:59,770 --> 00:37:03,505 President Reagan for having recognized that as well. 724 00:37:03,505 --> 00:37:07,255 >> Now, I know that you brought his bronze with you. 725 00:37:07,255 --> 00:37:08,180 >> I did. 726 00:37:08,180 --> 00:37:10,890 >> Would you be willing to show that for the camera? 727 00:37:10,890 --> 00:37:13,425 >> I would if that would be agreeable with you. 728 00:37:13,425 --> 00:37:15,330 I did not bring the medal itself, 729 00:37:15,330 --> 00:37:18,420 but I did bring the plaque and award. 730 00:37:18,420 --> 00:37:21,000 >> Where should he put that 731 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:22,865 up so that the camera can see it? 732 00:37:22,865 --> 00:37:24,385 >> In front of his face. 733 00:37:24,385 --> 00:37:28,120 >> This was awarded by the Department of the Air Force. 734 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:28,870 >> Can you hold that 735 00:37:28,870 --> 00:37:29,890 up in front of your face so that [inaudible] 736 00:37:29,890 --> 00:37:35,830 >> Yes, I will. So this is the outside cover, 737 00:37:35,830 --> 00:37:41,635 and this is the inside cover of the award itself. 738 00:37:41,635 --> 00:37:43,840 And what the citation says, 739 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:46,255 if I may read that for you, 740 00:37:46,255 --> 00:37:49,150 it says, citation to accompany 741 00:37:49,150 --> 00:37:52,795 the award of the bronze star medal to William H. Wallace. 742 00:37:52,795 --> 00:37:55,840 Staff Sergeant William H. Wallace distinguished 743 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,870 himself by meritorious achievement during 744 00:37:58,870 --> 00:38:03,460 combat while serving in the Southwest Pacific theater of 745 00:38:03,460 --> 00:38:09,835 operations between 7th December 1941 to 10 May 1942. 746 00:38:09,835 --> 00:38:12,070 The actions of Sergeant Wallace were 747 00:38:12,070 --> 00:38:14,470 in keeping with the highest traditions 748 00:38:14,470 --> 00:38:16,360 of the military service and 749 00:38:16,360 --> 00:38:19,030 reflect distinctive credit upon himself, 750 00:38:19,030 --> 00:38:22,060 his unit, and the United States Air Force. 751 00:38:22,060 --> 00:38:24,535 And then the other thing I brought, 752 00:38:24,535 --> 00:38:26,395 so you probably can't read this, 753 00:38:26,395 --> 00:38:28,840 but this literally is the autograph of the 754 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:33,380 bombardier of the Enola Gay, Colonel Thomas Farabe. 755 00:38:35,370 --> 00:38:40,750 And this also is the program that every year 756 00:38:40,750 --> 00:38:42,790 would be held is called 757 00:38:42,790 --> 00:38:45,550 Bataan Corregidor Veterans Reunion, 758 00:38:45,550 --> 00:38:48,520 and this was at Fontana, North Carolina. 759 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,590 So I got to meet a lot of 760 00:38:50,590 --> 00:38:53,965 the folks and I have even photographs of 761 00:38:53,965 --> 00:38:57,355 my dad with other 762 00:38:57,355 --> 00:38:59,530 I guess fellow servicemen that 763 00:38:59,530 --> 00:39:01,840 he had experiences this with. 764 00:39:01,840 --> 00:39:05,980 I guess the thing just really 765 00:39:05,980 --> 00:39:07,960 touched my heart in each of 766 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,720 these photographs, they're holding hands. 767 00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:12,970 It's not that they got arms wrapped 768 00:39:12,970 --> 00:39:15,580 around each other or they're standing straight up, 769 00:39:15,580 --> 00:39:18,745 but they're literally holding hands 770 00:39:18,745 --> 00:39:23,065 and it might only be two or three of them together. 771 00:39:23,065 --> 00:39:26,230 But the sense of brotherhood, 772 00:39:26,230 --> 00:39:27,970 the sense of sharing. 773 00:39:27,970 --> 00:39:32,350 Like I said, they would talk with each other, 774 00:39:32,350 --> 00:39:34,870 whereas they would not talk with you or me. 775 00:39:34,870 --> 00:39:38,440 My father would never tell you what he experienced. 776 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:43,855 It just was not appropriate in his opinion 777 00:39:43,855 --> 00:39:46,180 to discuss that in 778 00:39:46,180 --> 00:39:48,130 company other than those 779 00:39:48,130 --> 00:39:50,605 who knew what he had experienced. 780 00:39:50,605 --> 00:39:55,105 So when you asked me about the officers earlier, 781 00:39:55,105 --> 00:39:57,100 his feelings about that, 782 00:39:57,100 --> 00:40:00,085 I don't think he would ever state this, 783 00:40:00,085 --> 00:40:06,040 but there was some disappointment that some of them had 784 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:08,380 fled to safety while 785 00:40:08,380 --> 00:40:12,910 leaving some under their command at risk. 786 00:40:12,910 --> 00:40:15,430 And that's not true of everybody, 787 00:40:15,430 --> 00:40:18,550 but some of those he felt that way. 788 00:40:18,550 --> 00:40:20,620 The other interesting person that 789 00:40:20,620 --> 00:40:22,555 we met at one of these reunions, 790 00:40:22,555 --> 00:40:25,435 and I have his autograph as a matter of fact, 791 00:40:25,435 --> 00:40:29,665 is a pilot named Pappy Boington. 792 00:40:29,665 --> 00:40:30,970 If you ever saw 793 00:40:30,970 --> 00:40:33,610 Black Sheep Squadron that was on television, 794 00:40:33,610 --> 00:40:36,310 that was about these individuals who 795 00:40:36,310 --> 00:40:40,780 flew in the Marine Corps and fought the Japanese. 796 00:40:40,780 --> 00:40:43,375 They were called Black Sheep Squadron. 797 00:40:43,375 --> 00:40:45,190 We literally got to meet 798 00:40:45,190 --> 00:40:49,045 Pappy Boington and I have his autograph as well. 799 00:40:49,045 --> 00:40:51,430 So every year, they're trying to have some type of 800 00:40:51,430 --> 00:40:54,370 keynote speaker come in that could 801 00:40:54,370 --> 00:40:57,010 relate to the men and the women 802 00:40:57,010 --> 00:41:00,950 who had incurred or experienced this. 803 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:04,060 >> What were your earliest memories of your father 804 00:41:04,060 --> 00:41:07,325 before you knew about all of this experience? 805 00:41:07,325 --> 00:41:11,530 >> To be honest with you probably at Christmas. 806 00:41:11,530 --> 00:41:15,265 I can remember Christmas presents and 807 00:41:15,265 --> 00:41:19,060 I probably was five or six years old, 808 00:41:19,060 --> 00:41:20,860 something like that, my sister 809 00:41:20,860 --> 00:41:25,530 and see him sitting in his recliner. 810 00:41:25,530 --> 00:41:27,720 My mother would fix breakfast. 811 00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:31,620 And just the four of us sharing Christmas together 812 00:41:31,620 --> 00:41:35,835 is something that I'll always remember. 813 00:41:35,835 --> 00:41:38,145 And the other thing is 814 00:41:38,145 --> 00:41:40,860 when we got married for him to participate in 815 00:41:40,860 --> 00:41:45,195 our wedding was very meaningful to me 816 00:41:45,195 --> 00:41:47,940 and to watch his friendship with 817 00:41:47,940 --> 00:41:51,570 Lana's parents and that bond. 818 00:41:51,570 --> 00:41:55,095 The four of them were very close, 819 00:41:55,095 --> 00:41:59,380 and it's just meaningful. 820 00:41:59,380 --> 00:42:01,540 And then, like I said, 821 00:42:01,540 --> 00:42:04,600 growing up probably when I remember 822 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:08,515 most is once I had gone to college. 823 00:42:08,515 --> 00:42:11,950 Because my dad was the first to receive 824 00:42:11,950 --> 00:42:14,830 an undergraduate degree in our family, 825 00:42:14,830 --> 00:42:17,920 I was the first to receive a master's degree. 826 00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:20,665 So him attending graduation, 827 00:42:20,665 --> 00:42:22,330 Lana was the first to get an 828 00:42:22,330 --> 00:42:24,730 undergraduate master's in a doctorate. 829 00:42:24,730 --> 00:42:30,775 So higher education was a pathway for each of us 830 00:42:30,775 --> 00:42:33,475 to move from our place in life 831 00:42:33,475 --> 00:42:37,435 and to accomplish and achieve what we wanted to. 832 00:42:37,435 --> 00:42:41,440 But I guess the most other tender moment 833 00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:43,660 for me is when I was looking 834 00:42:43,660 --> 00:42:46,000 back at the pictures of when he was awarded 835 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:50,440 the Bronze Star to see the smile on his face. 836 00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:53,500 And I guess the last memory was not a pleasant memory, 837 00:42:53,500 --> 00:42:56,500 but it's the one I can see my father basically had 838 00:42:56,500 --> 00:42:59,380 rheumatoid arthritis so severe 839 00:42:59,380 --> 00:43:02,260 that he became completely immobile. 840 00:43:02,260 --> 00:43:04,840 So he basically was restricted either to 841 00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:07,690 the bed or to a recliner and to 842 00:43:07,690 --> 00:43:10,240 see representative Roland awarding 843 00:43:10,240 --> 00:43:14,260 him the prisoner of war medal, 844 00:43:14,260 --> 00:43:17,920 and my dad had oxygen on at that time. 845 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:22,090 But the meaning of being there and witnessing 846 00:43:22,090 --> 00:43:26,575 that it was meaningful to me, 847 00:43:26,575 --> 00:43:29,335 and I'm very proud of him. 848 00:43:29,335 --> 00:43:32,860 >> What lessons do you think your father would want 849 00:43:32,860 --> 00:43:36,860 to impart to students of history? 850 00:43:37,740 --> 00:43:41,620 >> That there are always 851 00:43:41,620 --> 00:43:46,405 consequences for actions or inactions. 852 00:43:46,405 --> 00:43:49,960 I think his message truly would be when I said earlier, 853 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:53,930 treat others as you would wish to be treated. 854 00:43:55,540 --> 00:43:58,895 Higher education is important. 855 00:43:58,895 --> 00:44:00,650 Any type of education, 856 00:44:00,650 --> 00:44:02,330 whether it be technical college, 857 00:44:02,330 --> 00:44:04,730 whatever the case might be, 858 00:44:04,730 --> 00:44:09,480 take advantage of opportunities that you have. 859 00:44:09,610 --> 00:44:13,505 And it doesn't matter if people know your name or not. 860 00:44:13,505 --> 00:44:16,400 A kind deed is something 861 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:19,325 that will be observed by someone else 862 00:44:19,325 --> 00:44:22,430 whom you may not recognize and maybe they 863 00:44:22,430 --> 00:44:26,285 integrate that into their life and pass that on. 864 00:44:26,285 --> 00:44:29,270 So how we treat people either 865 00:44:29,270 --> 00:44:32,660 kindly or if we treat them unkind, 866 00:44:32,660 --> 00:44:36,965 someone's always watching and paying attention. 867 00:44:36,965 --> 00:44:41,480 But I truly believe he was 868 00:44:41,480 --> 00:44:45,710 a man of God and his faith was important to 869 00:44:45,710 --> 00:44:53,840 him and how we treat others I think he valued freedom. 870 00:44:53,840 --> 00:44:56,420 Don't ever take freedom for 871 00:44:56,420 --> 00:44:59,375 granted if I had to say another message of his. 872 00:44:59,375 --> 00:45:02,630 So that's what I would believe he would share. 873 00:45:02,630 --> 00:45:06,440 >> And you as the son of a veteran and 874 00:45:06,440 --> 00:45:09,410 a survivor of the POW camps 875 00:45:09,410 --> 00:45:11,495 in Japan and the Bataan Death March, 876 00:45:11,495 --> 00:45:14,000 what do you think are the most important lessons that 877 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:15,520 students should take from 878 00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:18,500 studying World War II two and the Holocaust? 879 00:45:21,360 --> 00:45:24,640 >> I think the same thing I just shared here, 880 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:26,750 but the thing that concerns 881 00:45:26,750 --> 00:45:29,150 me is too often we don't learn lessons. 882 00:45:29,150 --> 00:45:31,565 We had the Vietnam War after that, 883 00:45:31,565 --> 00:45:35,030 and that was my era and my generation, 884 00:45:35,030 --> 00:45:39,890 and we have war continuing today. 885 00:45:39,890 --> 00:45:46,160 We need to sit down and have dialogue, 886 00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:49,500 but we need to have more than dialogue. 887 00:45:49,750 --> 00:45:52,940 I became associate vice chancellor for 888 00:45:52,940 --> 00:45:54,170 human resources for 889 00:45:54,170 --> 00:45:56,990 the Board of Regents the University System of Georgia. 890 00:45:56,990 --> 00:45:59,330 I've served for every governor in 891 00:45:59,330 --> 00:46:01,250 some capacity from Zell Miller 892 00:46:01,250 --> 00:46:03,275 through the present governor. 893 00:46:03,275 --> 00:46:07,250 So I've served on many task forces, 894 00:46:07,250 --> 00:46:11,155 and my thing is that we should do more than just talk. 895 00:46:11,155 --> 00:46:13,720 We should have action. 896 00:46:13,720 --> 00:46:16,525 We should look at results. 897 00:46:16,525 --> 00:46:19,255 We should look at impact. 898 00:46:19,255 --> 00:46:21,430 Anyone can talk. 899 00:46:21,430 --> 00:46:23,290 But at the end of the day, 900 00:46:23,290 --> 00:46:25,210 did we change anything? 901 00:46:25,210 --> 00:46:27,850 Did we improve anything? 902 00:46:27,850 --> 00:46:30,805 And so that's what I'm looking at at 903 00:46:30,805 --> 00:46:33,985 this current generation and the future generation, 904 00:46:33,985 --> 00:46:37,890 and they're different from when I came through. 905 00:46:37,890 --> 00:46:40,760 The texting, the technology, 906 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:42,440 those types of things are things 907 00:46:42,440 --> 00:46:44,825 with which I'm unfamiliar. 908 00:46:44,825 --> 00:46:47,105 And I've not adopted those and 909 00:46:47,105 --> 00:46:49,220 I've not adopted them intentionally. 910 00:46:49,220 --> 00:46:52,145 I much prefer to do what I'm doing with you. 911 00:46:52,145 --> 00:46:55,640 I'd rather talk one on one and watch a person's face 912 00:46:55,640 --> 00:46:59,165 in their reaction because I can gauge that. 913 00:46:59,165 --> 00:47:02,585 I can't gauge what a text message is. 914 00:47:02,585 --> 00:47:06,680 To often we become so enthralled with that, 915 00:47:06,680 --> 00:47:10,400 we don't see what's going on around us. 916 00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:12,800 I would say pause, 917 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:15,035 talk with your fellow classmate, 918 00:47:15,035 --> 00:47:18,395 talk with your teacher, volunteer. 919 00:47:18,395 --> 00:47:21,575 How many people know what it's like to be homeless? 920 00:47:21,575 --> 00:47:23,660 We have a homelessness awareness week 921 00:47:23,660 --> 00:47:25,760 here at Kennesaw State University. 922 00:47:25,760 --> 00:47:28,580 But how many people have literally gone out on 923 00:47:28,580 --> 00:47:31,790 Highway 41 and seen individuals, 924 00:47:31,790 --> 00:47:37,175 given them clothes, given them food, given them shelter? 925 00:47:37,175 --> 00:47:39,590 We had a pop-up thrift store 926 00:47:39,590 --> 00:47:42,395 last year at the Marietta campus. 927 00:47:42,395 --> 00:47:47,405 We did that, we provided clothing, we provided food. 928 00:47:47,405 --> 00:47:48,950 And what was interesting, 929 00:47:48,950 --> 00:47:50,540 some of the young students had 930 00:47:50,540 --> 00:47:53,555 never had a suit in their life. 931 00:47:53,555 --> 00:47:57,260 So I took four or five of my old suits. 932 00:47:57,260 --> 00:47:59,255 And these young men, I said, 933 00:47:59,255 --> 00:48:01,115 I'd like for you to take a suit 934 00:48:01,115 --> 00:48:04,490 because if you go on a job interview, 935 00:48:04,490 --> 00:48:08,285 appearance is going to have an impact. 936 00:48:08,285 --> 00:48:12,140 And so if you have a suit and tie, 937 00:48:12,140 --> 00:48:15,800 it's going to leave a better impression if you don't. 938 00:48:15,800 --> 00:48:18,980 What we found was that a greyhound bus 939 00:48:18,980 --> 00:48:22,580 stop heads at the campus there. 940 00:48:22,580 --> 00:48:24,380 Many of the individuals who get 941 00:48:24,380 --> 00:48:26,555 off are hungry and homeless. 942 00:48:26,555 --> 00:48:29,360 They need shelter, they need food. 943 00:48:29,360 --> 00:48:32,790 So if I were to say I were a student here, 944 00:48:32,790 --> 00:48:36,490 why not volunteer with care center? 945 00:48:36,490 --> 00:48:40,495 Why not go over to the Marietta campus? 946 00:48:40,495 --> 00:48:43,810 I will promise you there are 947 00:48:43,810 --> 00:48:46,540 students on this campus who are homeless. 948 00:48:46,540 --> 00:48:48,775 You may not believe it, but there are. 949 00:48:48,775 --> 00:48:52,120 They'll use the gymnasium to take a shower in. 950 00:48:52,120 --> 00:48:55,480 They'll stay in the library for heat. 951 00:48:55,480 --> 00:48:59,480 They'll stay in parking garages 952 00:48:59,480 --> 00:49:02,750 and grab a nap or something like that. 953 00:49:02,750 --> 00:49:06,215 Always be aware of your fellow student. 954 00:49:06,215 --> 00:49:10,010 Be aware of employees on the campus. 955 00:49:10,010 --> 00:49:13,235 The staff, many are at risk. 956 00:49:13,235 --> 00:49:16,760 All of us we don't realize how close we are sometimes, 957 00:49:16,760 --> 00:49:19,520 but just a kind deed, 958 00:49:19,520 --> 00:49:21,920 I think would be of great benefit. 959 00:49:21,920 --> 00:49:28,190 >> So you've shared some wonderful stories and wisdom. 960 00:49:28,190 --> 00:49:30,230 Is there anything you'd like to talk 961 00:49:30,230 --> 00:49:32,630 about that I haven't asked you about yet? 962 00:49:32,630 --> 00:49:39,500 >> No. I'm honored to have been asked to be interviewed. 963 00:49:39,500 --> 00:49:43,310 My wife, Lana and I've been married 35 years. 964 00:49:43,310 --> 00:49:46,770 We were here at Kennesaw State University. 965 00:49:47,920 --> 00:49:53,855 I think one of the things I'm most proud of here, 966 00:49:53,855 --> 00:49:57,020 we've created a triumph scholarship. 967 00:49:57,020 --> 00:49:59,690 And what that is, it is a scholarship 968 00:49:59,690 --> 00:50:04,145 available for anyone who has been homeless at some point, 969 00:50:04,145 --> 00:50:05,960 in his or her life. 970 00:50:05,960 --> 00:50:09,305 They can apply for this through the foundation, 971 00:50:09,305 --> 00:50:11,270 and it covers their cost, 972 00:50:11,270 --> 00:50:15,890 I believe of tuition from freshman all the way through. 973 00:50:15,890 --> 00:50:17,705 And so we do that. 974 00:50:17,705 --> 00:50:19,850 We also have a scholarship 975 00:50:19,850 --> 00:50:22,820 we've created at Georgia Southern, 976 00:50:22,820 --> 00:50:28,610 and that help originally single mothers, 977 00:50:28,610 --> 00:50:30,830 be able to secure their degree, 978 00:50:30,830 --> 00:50:33,200 but now it's a sociology major. 979 00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:35,810 The other organization that we work with is 980 00:50:35,810 --> 00:50:38,780 called Orange Duffel Bag that's for 981 00:50:38,780 --> 00:50:41,615 homeless and foster kids who are attending 982 00:50:41,615 --> 00:50:44,480 technical college or university system 983 00:50:44,480 --> 00:50:46,430 of Georgia institution. 984 00:50:46,430 --> 00:50:50,780 If they should be at risk, 985 00:50:50,780 --> 00:50:52,910 let's say they might have to drop out of 986 00:50:52,910 --> 00:50:55,715 college because they don't have sufficient money. 987 00:50:55,715 --> 00:50:57,875 Maybe they don't have money for food, 988 00:50:57,875 --> 00:51:00,515 maybe they don't have money to commute or whatever, 989 00:51:00,515 --> 00:51:03,530 they can apply to our emergency fund, 990 00:51:03,530 --> 00:51:06,260 and we will provide funding so that they 991 00:51:06,260 --> 00:51:09,575 can stay in school and complete their degree. 992 00:51:09,575 --> 00:51:14,370 Our first one was a single mother of three children. 993 00:51:15,190 --> 00:51:17,975 Here's some water, 994 00:51:17,975 --> 00:51:20,150 was a single mother with 995 00:51:20,150 --> 00:51:22,430 three children whose generator 996 00:51:22,430 --> 00:51:23,990 went out during the winter. 997 00:51:23,990 --> 00:51:26,600 So for $600, she got 998 00:51:26,600 --> 00:51:29,690 a generator was able to complete her education, 999 00:51:29,690 --> 00:51:32,840 and they have programs that prepare 1000 00:51:32,840 --> 00:51:36,890 students to go to technical school or hire. 1001 00:51:36,890 --> 00:51:41,000 And so we provide funding of $200 per student that 1002 00:51:41,000 --> 00:51:43,100 graduate through this program 1003 00:51:43,100 --> 00:51:45,050 to help them as they move forward. 1004 00:51:45,050 --> 00:51:48,690 So those are the three things I'm most proud of. 1005 00:51:48,880 --> 00:51:50,930 >> Excuse me, you need to leave? [NOISE] 1006 00:51:50,930 --> 00:51:54,410 >> Yeah. 1007 00:51:54,410 --> 00:51:55,820 >> You may. 1008 00:51:55,820 --> 00:51:57,980 >> I was just going to conclude. 1009 00:51:57,980 --> 00:52:02,105 Thank you very much for sharing your story with us. 1010 00:52:02,105 --> 00:52:05,885 >> Thank you for honoring my wife, me, 1011 00:52:05,885 --> 00:52:07,280 my father, my mother, 1012 00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:10,535 my family by doing this, and the military. 1013 00:52:10,535 --> 00:52:11,885 Thank you for doing that. 1014 00:52:11,885 --> 00:52:12,770 >> We're honored. 1015 00:52:12,770 --> 00:52:14,430 >> Thank you.