Seven area veterans share their stories, hopes for America

Veteran’s Day originated as Armistice Day on November 11th, 1919, the first anniversary of World War One. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11 became a national holiday, beginning in 1938 and celebrated since to give honor to the men and women who served valiantly to protect this country.

My deceased father, Victor Long, served in the Navy in WW2. and was awarded medals for his heroism. I joined the Kerrville VFW to help living veterans and, in my own small way, honor him along with so many veterans deserving respect for their sacrifices.

This story is about seven veterans from this area shared with me their experiences and hopes for America.

William J. Allen

William J. Allen, Kerrville VFW Post Commander, was in the Air Force for 21 years. Originally from Forest Hill, Texas, and residing in Kerrville for the last five years, he has been Post Commander for the last six months. He was a Master Sargent serving in Desert Storm in 1991 and 1995 and was also a historian in the Air Force.

Billy, as he calls himself, stated, “I was working, had my own apartment and car and was sacking groceries and got bored, so I joined the Air Force after my Uncle Jack in the Air Force convinced me my best fit was the Air Force.”

He smiled as he continued, “When I was an airman first class in 1976 in the Munitions Maintenance Squadron in Minot, North Dakota, my chief asked me if I wanted to go on the flight line, so I jumped at the occasion to do so and was sent to conventional munitions to help the people their load 20m bullets for B 52’s and its flares.

“We loaded up and went to the flight line, and I got to load ammo flares on B-52’s being a tech; and that is where I found out I belonged in the Air-Force!” he stated.

“With the technical order in my hand, I saw my initials written on a change that had been made to it and in 1987, I crosstrained to historian which was the best job I ever had. I thought to myself, ‘if you can’t fly them, you might as well write about them!’”

Billy said leaving my wife and kids in Alaska to go to Desert Storm was his worst experience because he worried about his family if something happened to him.

“War is not worth it,” he said. “When I got to Kuwait and saw all the dead fighters, dead bodies and unexploded munitions everywhere, I couldn’t understand how anyone could like doing this.”

Billy said he hopes veterans returning will get the care they need, adding that’s the reason the VFW in Kerrville exists.

“I hope America will team up and help each other in the way we try to help our veterans!” he said.

Ed Jackson

Ed Jackson is on the House committee for the VFW in Kerrville was happy to speak of his experiences.

Originally from Erding, Germany, Jackson was in the Navy for 8 years, serving on a River Patrol Boat in the Vietnam War in 1969 for a year befor switching to a submarine duty electrician through 1976.

After leaving the Navy, he started his own broadcast engineering company, securing contracts with ABC, NBC and CNN. In 1986 he worked on the Whitehouse travel team for President Reagan, Bush and Clinton.

He currently lives retired in Kerrville.

Jackson said his worst experience was being shot in Vietnam, and his best was traveling the world with three Presidents, reporting the news as a technical engineer behind the scenes.

“I would like to see America come back together again, respecting each other’s opinions without being pre-judged and see America independent from purchasing so much overseas, he said. “I’d like to see our own government take care of our own people, especially the children before taking care of the current onslaught of immigrants!” he remarked with conviction.

Robert Bookman

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Robert Bookman said he got to Texas as soon as he could.

He served in the Army and Navy for 12 years, 8 months and 23 days in demolition, straight leg infantry and as a medic and MP.

“Since I was a kid, I always wanted to join the military,” he stated. “The Vietnam war was going on, and I joined to be able to serve my country. Meeting people from all over the world and the comraderie in the military was rewarding but getting shot at was no fun at all.”

Bookman said he’d like to go back to a time when people had a say in government instead of the government running everything.

“I want to see people get back to work making a decent living again. I’d like the pipeline back in construction, the wall built and our first and second amendment rights protected!” he concluded.

Larry Sutton

Drafted at the age of 19, Larry Sutton of San Saba, Texas, was in the Army for two years, spending 11 months in the war zone of Vietnam. He came to Kerrville 33 years ago and spent 44 years in the lumber business after his service.

Sutton said his best experience was meeting his wife, insisting he’s never had a bad experience in life.

“I want America to unite and stop dividing and fighting against each other and remain one for all and all for one!” he remarked passionately.

Richard Ferris

Richard Ferris, originally from New York, served two years in the Korean War and four years in the reserves, enlisting at the age of 18, where he served as a tank driver securing the 38th parallel in the Korean War. He then moved to Florida for college before moving to Kerrville.

He continued, “Not having to deal with Korean extreme hot, muggy days or extremely cold winters was appreciated when I got out; “but being in the service gave me a sense of responsibility and maturity, it would have taken longer to achieve without the service!” he smiled.

“I think we should complete the wall to secure our borders, and I’d like to have American policies protect our secon amendment rights that we are losing today!” he concluded.

Guadalupe “Rick” Ramos

The latest in a seven-generation long family tradition of serving, Guadalupe “Rick” Ramos joined the Army at the age of 17, served four times in Iraq and once in Afghanistan as a Medic and was in several combat operations till he retired at 38.

“Enduring hell on earth in combat was terrible, but divine intervention kept me alive.” he said. Ramos said he enjoyed traveling the world and having the opportunity to live and experience many parts of the world, such as Alaska and Hawaii.

“I wish America had better veteran suicide prevention programs, better elderly care and educational opportunities for disadvantaged kids; more domestic jobs so not dependent on foreign trade,” he said.

Joe Hunter

Joe Hunter, originally from Sherman and now residing in Kerrville, served as a Navy Seal for six years in the Vietnam era, completing 250 parachute jumps.

Hunter said he was inspired to enlist after seeing “The Frogman,” which chronicles the beginning of underwater demolition teams. “Out of the six months Navy Seal

“Out of the six months Navy Seal program, I was one of the 19 who graduated, and that is my best memory; and once had to swim 10 miles in open water which lasted 8.5 hours straight and even hit a storm but survived, thank GOD!” he remarked enthusiastically.

“I would like to see the immigration policies strictly enforced so our borders are secured and want our second amendment rights protected but requiring proper gun training classes and more funding for veteran programs,” Joe stated with conviction.

Hopefully going forward, we all have a greater appreciation of the cost and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans to protect the America we all love.