Wicker Remembers Ordinary Heros

WICKER REMEMBERS ORDINARY HEROES
December 19, 2005

Mississippians Past and Present Far From Home on Christmas

It has been five years since I last enjoyed the annual December 23rd breakfast at the home of Herschel and Lu Jumper. Herschel died in November 2001 at the age of 78, and the couple's traditional event in Jumpertown ended with his death.

But the Christmas season, a novel I have been reading about the Battle of the Bulge, and reports from our service personnel in Iraq have combined to remind me of the special observance held each year by the Jumpers. It was an elaborate country breakfast with ham, bacon, eggs, grits, biscuits and gravy, but the event was much more than that. It represented a chance for Herschel and his cousin, Troy Cox, to reflect on another Christmas when they were far from home on the World War II battlefields of Europe.

FIGHTING TYRANNY

Their story of heroism and camaraderie is worth remembering at Christmas-time 2005 when a present-day group of heroes prepares to celebrate the season away from the comforts of home. They will be serving us in defense of freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan, and at other duty stations around the world.

Herschel and Troy joined the Army on the same day in their native Prentiss County and served together in Europe as allied forces fought Adolph Hitler's tyranny. The war was raging across the continent in late 1944 with the pivotal Battle of the Bulge under way in Belgium and Luxembourg and allied forces pushing through occupied France. The fierce fighting was chronicled in the book I am reading by Scott Turow entitled Ordinary Heroes. In the Colmar Pocket of eastern France, the two cousins' lives were changed forever on December 23rd, when they were wounded in battle.

A DRAMATIC RESCUE

As Troy was being treated, he was informed his cousin had been killed. Refusing to believe the report but unable to go himself, he convinced a fellow soldier to search for Herschel. The comrade found Herschel suffering from life-threatening wounds, placed him in a wheelbarrow, and brought him back to a field hospital. A tank round had severed Herschel's right arm at the elbow, caused massive internal injuries, shattered his hip, and paralyzed his right leg. He used his belt to tie off his arm and after putting his intestines back inside his abdomen, he stuffed handkerchiefs around the wounds. The below-zero weather froze and sealed those wounds and likely saved his life.

Like so many others from "the greatest generation," the two men returned home and made contributions to their community and region. Despite his war injuries, Herschel served as Prentiss County chancery clerk and highway commissioner. Troy was a successful farmer. But their war experience was never too far out of mind. It prompted them to spend each December 23rd together to remember that day in 1944 and enjoy the occasion with family and friends. It became one of my cherished holiday events.

Herschel and Troy were in Europe to defend democracy and protect America from a grave threat. The same is true today for U.S. service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places around the globe. It is welcome news that many members of the Mississippi National Guard's 155th Brigade Combat Team have completed their tour of duty in Iraq and will be home for the holidays. They have served with great distinction and made us proud.

HONORING TODAY'S SACRIFICES

While many members of the military will be home for Christmas, thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines will not be with family and friends this holiday season. We honor their commitment and the sacrifices they have made. We offer a special salute to those who have died in the performance of their duties.

From Revolutionary War days to ordinary heroes like Herschel and Troy in World War II and on to the present, succeeding generations of Americans have been willing to take up arms to protect our great republic. They have always answered the call. We should pause during this Christmas week to remember and give thanks for their service.

http://www.house.gov/wicker/Heroes.htm