The World War II Veteran, Jack Dawson

World War II and Jack Dawson, a contradiction for history and movie buffs, alike.

Here are some quick facts from the movie as well as some from history you may or may not know:
1. The main character was Jack Dawson, Duh.
2. The ships' Port of Registry was Liverpool, England.
3. The ship hit the iceberg on April 14 and sank on April 15, 1912.
4. World War 2 began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939.

My grandfather, Jack Dawson, was born in Dardanelle, Ark. on April 14, 1919, one of four children born to Sid and Gordie Dawson. Growing up poor, he had to learn that one bullet meant one shot, which made him an excellent marksman and hunter.

On January 12, 1943 he was drafted into the army's 453rd Ordnance Evacuation Company where he earned the EAME Campaign medal with 5 bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War 2 Victory Medal. His areas of campaigns were Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. Jack served the army as an Automotive Mechanic and a Heavy truck driver, in which he has told quite a few stories of driving a tank in the military.

While in Liverpool, England, he met a mortician, Marjorie Hurst, whom he fell deeply in love with and married. They returned to the United States and settled in Texas where they began their family, one daughter and four sons. His acts of kindness knew no boundaries, he built a home for his parents behind his own so that they could be taken care of. When one of his sons died as a baby from water on the brain, an unknown malady at the time, he unselfishly allowed research to be done in order to help future children. His third child, a son, was born April 15, 1954 and was his only child to attend college, a feat someone with a 5th grade education was very proud of.

In 1962, Jack moved his family, as well as his mother, to East Texas and opened Dawson Grocery a meeting place for the community in which they had moved into. Not able to sit still for long, he started a hay bailing business along with the grocery store and raising cattle. Because of his good fortune, he was able to help some of his employees to further their education and attend college in which enabled them to begin their own businesses.

Later in 1966, he began having grandchildren, the two oldest, he and his wife would later take in and help support, more than just financially. All of their children and grandchildren were taught English customs as well as farming and ranching in the piney woods of East Texas. Be it known that being female did not excuse you from learning to drive a tractor, help with cattle, or work in the garden as well as learning to cook and proper etiquette.

Jack lost many loved ones in his life, his parents, his brothers, two sons and a grandson, but nothing could prepare him for February 16, 2001 when his wife of 55 years drew her last breath and left a strong man, as well as his remaining family, devastated and broken. Dealing with his own depression, he still continued to help others in any way that he could until his dying day. Jack Dawson passed away April 16, 2004, two days after his 85th birthday.

Jack rarely spoke of his days in the military until his later years when he would tell of some of his escapades driving the tank. Some of his memoirs described some of the disturbing things he saw, but none of this was found until after his death. No one knew of his military accomplishments or had even seen his military papers until then. The only Jack we knew, was the loving, caring and helping man.

When you celebrate Veteran's Day or Memorial Day, remember all of the men and women who fought to give you the liberties you enjoy today.