Honoring those who serve
Veteran's Day 2007
By Arthur McLean Editor

PHOTO BY ARTHUR MCLEAN David Lewis, 94, was the oldest surviving veteran at a luncheon provided to veterans Monday by Alpha Kapa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta.

Some served on the front lines in World War II or Vietnam. Some served aboard ships or played one of countless other vital roles in the nation's military. Some made it home safe and sound, and some didn't.

They are our nation's veterans. On Monday, the service organizations Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta held a luncheon to honor our local veterans.

About 50 men attended the luncheon where they were treated to turkey and dressing, praise dance and door prizes. The service ended with a tribute to those who lost their lives in defense of liberty.

The oldest veteran attending was David Lewis. The 94-year - old served in numerous duties during his military service, and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant.

One of his jobs was the proper loading of ships that were moving supplies to the troops overseas. "You had to know the specific gravity of water everywhere the ship was going," he said.

James Sneed served in Europe and the Pacific in World War II.

Like many others, after the war, Lewis resumed life as a civilian. He became an educator, spending 32 years in the calling before retiring as principal of Sweet Water Junior High. He still keeps active today, teaching a Bible class at Shiloh Baptist Church in Dixons Mills.

James Sneed, who grew up in Shiloh, served in both Europe and the Pacific during World War II. He was drafted out of Dixons Mills and went on to serve as a tank driver under the 5th Army during the heavy fighting in Northern Italy.

After victory was declared in Europe, Sneed's unit was sent to the Pacific where he was to serve as an engineer. He served about six months when the Japanese surrendered.

"It was another new world, that experience," he said. "The training and the tanks, it was rough."

After the war, Sneed came back home where he went to work for Scotch Lumber until his retirement.

Elliott Ford was not drafted. He volunteered to serve in the Air Force in 1955. He served for 15 years in special weapons programs and another five years as a medic for the space program working with astronauts in Florida.

"I wouldn't trade it for anything," he said. "It made a man out of me. It taught me the most important thing in the world is respecting people and it taught me discipline."

After his service in the Air Force, Ford served as a forester in Marengo County.

Joe Dodds served as a boiler operator on Liberty Ships, the ships that were made in massive numbers and their crews braved submarine infested Atlantic and Pacific waters to supply British and U.S. troops during World War II.

"It was just something we did," said the New Orleans native who now lives in Tallahatta Springs. "Two months after I got off, I heard it blew up in Guadalcanal."

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