Veterans share about their sense of duty to their country
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SHELLEY — For some Independence Day means liberty and freedom, for others it reminds them of their sense of duty.
For two veterans at The Gables Assisted Living and Memory Care in Shelley it means both. Recently the two veterans sat down with EastIdahoNews.com to reflect on what it meant to serve their country.
Neil Williams, 93, known as ‘Sandy’ began his service in the military in 1943. The then-19-year-old was nicknamed for his blond hair and was a member of the anti-aircraft artillery of the U.S. Army during Word War II. He served in Battery C of the 124th AAA Battalion.
“I took my basic training out at San Diego,” Williams said.
Williams fought in various battles and boasts a medal for at least four, including honors for participating in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
He said while serving he thought little of his survival and more about the responsibility he had to his country.
“I didn’t think too much about it, I just thought that, hell it was my duty,” Williams said.
Malvern Wallace, 82, said he felt that same sense of patriotism when he served in the U.S. Army after the Korean War.
Wallace began service in Korea in 1955, two years after the Korean War had ended. He said he and five friends volunteered for the army at the same time.
“Some of us ended up going to Korea and it was nice to have buddies in at the same time I was,” Wallace said.
Wallace didn’t have to fight any battles fortunately, but he was in Korea during a time of economic depression, and reconstruction.
“We stood guard most of the time and most of the time I spent up on the front lines north of the Imjin river,” Wallace said.
“It was interesting to see the difference in the other countries. They didn’t have as much freedom as we do and there were a lot more restrictions on their choices and so forth,” Wallace said.
During his service Wallace gained gratitude for the freedom we have in the United States.
“Really appreciated being able to serve and I’ve always appreciated my country knowing that it’s free and that it does so much good throughout the world,” Wallace said.