At age 14, Jess (also a talented writer) wrote an editorial for a newspaper about John Maddox, a WWII veteran that served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes.
When I first read it, I was really moved. Even though she wrote this 9 years ago, her piece still stands strong today.
With her permission I’m sharing it with you guys.
“He moved dirt.
He moved it back and forth from an old creek in Nashville, TN. Pushing a rusted wheelbarrow full of river dirt to his backyard. He was in the 28th Cavalry Recon, served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. He died with over 200,000 in the bank, and yet he slept on a bed of bricks and plywood that a mattress balanced precariously on. There was no functioning plumbing in the house and no heater. No family to witness the honor of the five bronze stars on his chest, and no wife and children to come home to and forget the horror of war. Pvt. John W. Maddox lived a simple life, a voiceless veteran in a world that seems to scream if someone even steps on their toe.
I hold his Honorable Discharge papers in my hand and I wonder why we let such treasures slip through our fingers, no one would have even known he was in WWII had my grandfather not found these papers hidden in his tiny home. No one would have known the mental and physical sacrifice he made for his country and most of all, no one would’ve known that he died alone. John Maddox had no one and apparently nothing to live for except life itself and it would seem he was content with that.
So would someone out there inform me why we pay so much attention to mud-slinging and the high life of the rich and famous? During this election year, how could we possibly endorse two parties that clearly hate each other and will say anything and everything to discredit the honor of the other? This is America people, wake up - lets present ourselves like the honest good working people we are supposed to be. Let’s give credit to the workers and not to the ones who make the commands. Let’s stop being the laughing stock of the world, and keep the democracy we have worked so hard for not to fall to shame.
How about we wish to be like John Maddox, a veteran who was humble enough for over ten people, a veteran that never felt the need to brag about his accomplishments in the war or use them as some advantage over someone else. Why can’t we see how blessed we are?
-Jessica Watson”
This entry was posted on Monday, May 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm and is filed under Rant. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Kudos to Jess! At age 14? wow.
The line that struck me the most was John Maddox had no one and apparently nothing to live for except life itself and it would seem he was content with that.
It’s amazing how we so easily depend on others to be happy, This guy knew that life was worth living and how to enjoy it without anyone or anything. Just him. It’s a real eye-opener. Someone who suffered so much was still able to be content with his life. There are so many others, myself included, that sometimes let their circumstances get the best of them and lose sight of all the joys life has to offer. This is a great reminder to enjoy and appreciate life to the fullest, no matter what. It’s also a great reminder of what Memorial Day is really about.
From one writer to another, awesome job, Jess! Very insightful.
:)
Written 9 years ago…and still so true today (especially the election year comment). Beautifully done, Jess, and thanks for posting it, Hawk.
Anytime! =)
It is amazing how true these words from 9 years ago ring in my ears. Even as a Canadian I feel the sting of these words, mostly because Canada has such strong ties to America. The part that moves me the most is when Jess makes the statement about how much we focus on the rich and famous when we should really focus on the people that make our countries so great by their blood, sweat and tears. I only wish that more people would realize this. Thanks Jess for writing this, and thank you Hawk for posting this or else I would never have had the chance to read this inspiring piece of writing.
This moved me closer to tears than anything I have read in a long while. This is as eloquent as it is true (and sad).
I’m almost speechless, so one billion internet credits to Jess.
Thanks for giving me something to remember today, everyone.
As an active duty military member, this really moved me. I’ve known people like that, old vets that when you asked them what their purple heart was for they’d say things like “It meant I was lucky, or stupid, or both.”
People who were walking history books.
It’s both touching and tragic to see presented this way, but she’s 100% right.
Thanks Jess, and thanks Hawk. That was perfect.
No problem =)
Pretty cool and, more importantly, well said. As true nine years ago as it is today… and unfortunately society is no closer to realizing its truth.
Wow Jess. I’m astonished at how good you were at writing at the tender age of 14, and the fact that you managed to compact so much meaning and statement into a very short piece. This definitely hits home for a lot of people, applause for you~
Wow, that was beautifully written. Props to Jess, and props to Hawk too for posting it. Amazing how it speaks even today. A shame that people like that come so few and far between.
If my greatgrandparents were still alive, they’d probably say the same thing.
On behave of them, I thank you Jess for writing this, even if it was 9yrs ago, and shareing it so we could all learn and appreciate what our fore fathers/mothers did.
And I also thank you Hawk for posting it.
And again. I’m certain my late great grandparents would appreciate your work Jess and on their behave, again, I think you for writing it.
Utterly speechless.
This should be printed and mailed to every trash and gossip magazine editor who thinks that they are presenting “worthwhile news” to a breathless public. They’re wrong. Tragically so.
simply. amazing.
thank you.
Amazing writing - props to Jess for creating that at 14 – shows a maturity and a sensitivity that’s hard to find.
wow, this story made me want to call in to work tomorrow and go spend the day with my great grand pa, he was a p.o.w, and I wish more people gave him and other like him the respect they deserve for the sacrifices theyve made.
nice text indeed .. WW2 should never ever be forgotten.
but don’t you get in trouble with US brain police for saying thing like: “Let’s give credit to the workers and not to the ones who make the commands.” ? Revolution! :)
A really touching peace…i am not one who leaves time to read just about anything…god damn i don’t even take time to read my lessons. But i took some to read this. I’d do it again. The story really touching the writer true to himself and anything else. I have no idea what she’s working now but if she wrote in a news paper id surely blog it and read it every day. thx for the share. lets not forget whats important.
As much as we say we want to change, and perhaps as much as we do want to change, nothing ever does by our own powers.
That was an absolutely excellent piece Jess (at 14 no less) and many, many thanks to Hawk for posting this. I especially love this: “Pvt. John W. Maddox lived a simple life, a voiceless veteran in a world that seems to scream if someone even steps on their toe.” So true considering what Pvt. Maddox went through mentally and physically. I had four family members who served their country (three have died) and my brother is joining the Army so this really touches me on so many levels. Again great job you guys. :’)
Beutiful. Just beutiful.
A great find, Hawk.
Who really knows what he did during the war. He might have died ashamed, and guilty for all we know. People do atrocious things in times of war — things they would never do under normal circumstances. And then again, he might have been the best human ever as I don’t mean to disparage him. We’ll never know, though. As for why we pay attention to the rich and famous — isn’t there a Roman saying, something about bread and circuses? Makes sense to me.
I’m not so sure he was a real person.
I think he was used to represent the thousands of peopel who matched that description who died fighting.
Johnny Whoa,
In fact, he was a real man. He lived just behind my grandfather. He never really spoke to anyone, so as a child, I didn’t know much about him. All I knew is that all day until night, he’d take an old wheel barrel and move dirt from spot to spot.
It wasn’t until I was older and he had passed away alone in his home that the truth came out about his past.
I can add this: He was abandoned at birth, lived in an orphanage until he was of military age. Then he went into the military, came home to the US and never married. He had no descendent’s or recorded relatives, so all the money that was saved in his account went to the state.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
Very, very moving…
A voice of reason within a world that seems to have forgotten what reason is.
It’s unfortunate that all too often we only learn about the deeds of many of that generation of hero’s, only by their passing.
I’m impressed most that the author was 14 when she wrote that. Very touching indeed.
Thank you Hawk for posting this. It really makes you take a moment and think about what is important. And great writing Jess.
Rhineland wtf that just looks wierd
touching, I wish mainstream America was on the same page.