Who he was

“I was born in Galveston, Texas, and enjoyed a good family life, but in the 1930s, the world was a very different place. While stories of racial prejudice were prevalent, Momma taught us that what was most important was for us to be good people, despite the injustices in the world around us. Eventually, we moved to California in the hopes of a better life. Instead, my life changed profoundly when, at the tender age of 12, my best friend and mentor, my father, died.

“Deeply grieved, I prayed to God to help me understand the meaning of what happened, to know him, and to know what he wanted me to do. As I got older, I committed to becoming a father figure to my younger brothers and sisters. I went to school and qualified to be a beautician to support the family. The Korean War was raging in the early 1950’s, and I felt an obligation to join the military. In my mind I was protecting my family so that they would have a better life. What happened next changed the course of history in my life.
“I promised my best friend that I would look after his girlfriend, Clara, if anything ever happened to him. Tragically, within a few days, he was killed in the line of fire. I sought out Clara, and in time, we were married in 1954. Now, over 71 years have passed.”