Published: November 06, 2009 04:03 pm      

Remember courage and sacrifice of those who defended our freedom

Bob Howell graduated from Richlands High School in 1938 — the same year that my mother graduated from Bethany High School. Bob took the time to write me a four-page letter, encouraging me to remind people in Richlands and Tazewell County that 2010 is the centennial year for RHS. He even copied a few pages of the 1926 Le Petit Annual, RHS’s yearbook that includes some historical background information.

Boyd Boggess Sr., was the first RHS graduate. Mr. Boggess was the father of two of Bob’s classmates, twins Boyd Boggess Jr., and Mary Frances Boggess. Bob knew the senior Mr. Boggess before he (Bob Howell) attended RHS. Mr. Boggess the elder was a salesman for the Dixie Grocery Co., in Richlands, and he called on Bob’s father, J.B. Howell, who managed the general merchandise store at Red Ash. Bob Howell attended school at Red Ash through 7th grade before heading off to RHS.

“Four wonderful years passed,” he wrote. “Even in the Great Depression, we had a lot of fun and (I have) memories that have lasted all of these years.”

The senior Mr. Boggess — RHS’s first graduate — presented diplomas to his twins, Boyd Jr., and Mary Frances. Bob Howell attended Perry Business School, met some great friends and was attending a party on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. “Then, the party ended,” Howell wrote. Twenty-nine days later, Howell was in the Army. Eight months later, he was in England, serving with the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group (H).

In late November of 1943, Howell was on leave in London, England. “You could have picked a safer leave city,” he wrote. He was sitting in a pub, waiting for the “leave bus” to transport him back to his base in the city of Norwich, when someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was his high school pal, Boyd Boggess Jr. “My friend, Boyd Boggess said: ‘Bob Howell! I can’t believe it,’ ” Howell wrote. Boggess was a staff sergeant on a B-24 bomber crew, serving with the 44th Army Air Corps Bomb Group.

After Boggess introduced Howell to his fellow crewmen, he took his friend aside and confided to him that his father, Boyd Sr., was really worried about him. He asked Howell to write the senior Mr. Boggess and tell him that he saw him. He wanted Howell to tell Mr. Boggess that young Boyd was doing OK and tell him not to worry. Boyd Jr., promised to write Howell’s dad and tell him the same thing.

“Mail moved slow in World War II,” Howell wrote. “A few weeks later, I received a letter from dad. Boggess family received notice War Department, Boyd Jr., had been KIA over Germany,” he wrote, duplicating the economy of a typical telegram cadence of the time. “Then they received your letter Not to worry. We had met. It has caused great concern in Boggess family.”

Bob Howell celebrated his 90th birthday on Sept. 11. His buddy, Boyd Boggess Jr., was killed in action on Dec. 11, 1943. God willing, my mother will celebrate her 90th birthday next month, on Dec. 11.

“I go to Clinch Valley Cemetery on Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day and put a flag on Boyd’s grave site,” Howell wrote. “I lost other friends in war. This was different.” According to information posted online by the Veterans War Memorial of Texas, 79,265 men serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps were killed in action during the air war over Europe.

Bob Howell asked me to write something to remind people about the Richlands High School centennial, and to encourage people to have a “great celebration” for the Boggess family. He prefaced his letter with a note indicating that Veterans’ Day is approaching, and I’ll do the same with this column.

As a free American who can drive from state to state without being challenged, eat a candy bar any time I want to and pray to God to give me strength to deal with the challenges of my life, I fully understand that the sacrifices of S. Sgt. Boyd Boggess Jr. gave me that freedom and the lifelong commitment of guys like Bob Howell demonstrate the proper way of honoring that sacrifice. It’s important for all free Americans to remember the sacrifice and commitment of all of this nation’s sons and daughters who have served in the armed services to defend our freedom.

When Bob Howell’s hand can no longer plant the American flag on his buddy’s grave, it is up to us who live under the blanket of freedom that they paid such a great price to defend ... it is up to us to see that the tradition continues as long as freedom lives.

Bill Archer is a Daily Telegraph senior editor. Contact him at barcher@bdtonline.com.