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Old friends, war buddies keep in touch
After basic, Samuel Calhoun and Dave Bates were sent to Ft. Bliss, Texas; Robert Calhoun was sent to Ft. Hood, Texas; Brady Woods, Henry Clarke and Esau Phrone were sent to East Windsor, Ct.; and Allen Reese was sent to Ft. Lewis, Wash. Later S.L. Calhoun was sent to Kaiserslautern, Germany; Robert Calhoun was sent to Honolulu; Brady, Esau and Henry were sent to Ft. Hancock, N.J.; and Allen remained stationed at Ft. Lewis.
S.L. Calhoun retired from Scotch Plywood after 43 years and Robert Calhoun retired from Scotch Lumber after 45 years. Later they both retired from the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard - S.L. after 26 years and Robert after 29 years of dedicated service. Robert and his wife Ora Lee have been married for 49 years. Elder Samuel L. Calhoun currently pastors Sunflower A.O.H. Church in Thomasville and owns Calhoun Trucking. Robert Calhoun is currently employed at Life Tech in Thomasville where he is an inmate security guard. Brady Woods Jr. worked at Scotch Lumber Company prior to moving to Detroit where he worked for both Chrysler and Ford Motor companies. Later he went to work for the city of Detroit in the DOT department where he retired after 20 years. Brady returned home to Thomasville and retired as a truck driver for Barnes Trucking in Monroeville after 10 years. Later he retired to drive for Barnes Trucking and has been back three years. Henry Clarke moved to Mobile where he retired after 40 years and one month as a longshoreman. He and his wife of 47 years, Minnie, still live in Mobile and are foster home providers. Henry still has his original issued complete OD green basic training uniform (with the original buttons) and basic training book, which he brings to these gatherings. It makes for quite a conversation piece. Only his basic uniform cap fits and it's a little tight. Esau Phrone moved to Tuscaloosa and retired from a local bank. Allen Reese passed at an early age. Retired Sergeant Major David Bates passed in 2006. The Lord placed it on Brady Woods Jr.'s heart late in 2005 to reunite his old Army buddies. So in Feb. 2006 the five remaining men - the Calhoun brothers, Brady Woods Jr., Esau Phrone and Henry Clarke - met at The Garden in Thomasville for lunch. All five had not been together for many years. They made a pact to have lunch every six months and keep in touch. After the first six months Henry and Minnie Clark had a feast for their friends at their home in Mobile. They really spread the table. It was a delightful afternoon and highlighted with Henry's special fish and barbecue and Minnie's seafood gumbo and homemade ice cream. The next six months meeting was delayed due to the Calhoun brothers having to funeralize one of their brothers. It was then agreed that Brady Woods Jr. would host the next meeting at his home in Thomasville. On Saturday, Sept. 8, 2006, Brady had the food catered and this was another delightful afternoon. The food was prepared to perfection and there was so much food that after carryout plates were prepared there were many food dishes and deserts untouched. The next get-together is planned for Feb. 23, 2008, in Tuscaloosa with Esau Phrone. One of the men is now 69, two are 70, another is 71 and the other is 72 years old. They say they have never argued or had any type of falling out and have remained friends from childhood.
It is an honor and a blessing to be able to get together with these old friends. They have much conversation and many fond memories of days past and always open each gathering with prayer. The Lord has been exceptionally good to them. Everyone is still in pretty good health and three of the five remaining buddies still enjoy working while Henry enjoys fishing. The Lord has been very good to all of them, where of they are glad.
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