A Tribute on Independence Day

At an early age, William enlisted in the Army as a way to escape the poverty of his childhood in the Ozark Mountains and to create a future for himself and his new wife Kay; and frankly, it was a way to pay for college. Not an option available to him in 1964. Can you imagine, enlisting in the infantry, during Vietnam, because of deep held personal beliefs and the desire to achieve more. Not protesting, not deferring (which was an option as an only son), but doing what was felt as right by joining.

After acquiring a bachelor's degree in 3 years in Business with the support of his wife, he was shipped out as a young officer, a second lieutenant. His first tour was on a patrol boat in the delta's of Vietnam, basically, a large target to draw fire so that it could be returned. A man that cared for his men as well as himself, making sure as many if them would return home to their families because of his decisions. Because of insight and a fair amount of luck, he was able to return home at the end of his thirteen month tour as a decorated Captain.

After trying to return to some sense of normality in their world, Bill and Kay were devastated when Kay was diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer. Through months of personal hell and torture, Bill continued to stand by the side of his near death wife, thinking nothing of himself, only her. Miraculously, Kay actually survived her cancer, to the shock of her doctors, and the joy of her family. During this time, Bill had been on temporary leave, but was due to return to active duty as soon as was possible.

Taking advantage of the boot strap fund, he was able to earn a MBA while on active duty and Kay was in the process of remission. Life continued on as normal for the next few years, except Kay couldn't have children due to the massive amounts experimental treatments given to her. By some sort of strange luck, Bill and Kay were able to adopt twin infant sons. Their life was complete, except that Bill was going back to Vietnam in the next 6 weeks for his second tour as an infantryman and this time as a Major. Unbelievably, he volunteered for this tour also, in the belief that his experience could save lives. The selflessness is overwhelming.

This time, he was sent to the interior, into full bush combat. Sometimes running patrols, sometimes crawling through midnight dark tunnels, nothing more than a flashlight and a 45 between him and his possible death. Earning one of the lowest combat statistics for his unit during his time in country shows his dedication to his men. Leaving again after 13 months on the one of the last military transport planes before Saigon fell. Again returning home a decorated officer. During his 2 tours, many awards were won, the highlights being a Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars ( both with oak clusters), three combat badges (signifying 100 enemy encounters each) and a declined Purple Heart he declined because too many men lost limbs and other horrendous casualties. His was little more than a flesh wound. I include this because it is further testament to his iron character and selfless morals.

Bill and Kay spent the next 15 years of their lives moving according to the wishes of the U.S. Government. Sometimes living in Germany and other times in lovely places like Ft. Knox. During this time, despite many disappointing losses, Bill and Kay had a daughter while in Ft Benning, GA and a son 3 1/2 years later while in Germany. A running military joke is that you either come back with a cuckoo clock or a kid from Germany. There's no cuckoo clock in their house!

Bill continued in the military for a total of 23 years, retiring as a Major. Not desiring to play the military political games, he never promoted beyond the recognition earned during combat. But continuing to sacrifice for his country by taking a hardship tour in Korea for 16 months with out his family late in his career. But that was Bill, a man that believed in his duty, loved his job, his family, and God. All of these things tied together to make him the man he is.

I'm sure you may have figured out that Bill is my father, Ret. Major William Joe Wells, the most incredible person I know and have ever had the honor to be friends with, much less the privilege to be raised by. Although we disagreed a great deal while I was growing up, I feel lucky to be aware of his greatness while he is alive and to try and share that with him. He is awfully restrained about himself! Despite being retired, he continues to sacrifice for his country. As he says, "I've got one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel!", literally sometimes. Over the past ten years, he has become almost completely deaf, he's had 2 strokes (one of which cost him sight in one eye), he survived prostrate cancer, and replacement hip surgery. Almost all of this can be directly linked to his time spent in Vietnam.

My mom is also applauded today. She held our family together when my father was away. She is an incredibly strong woman that deserves to be decorated as much as any soldier. New twins while her husband is in Vietnam, 4 kids while he is in Korea, and this scenario was repeated numerous times over the years on smaller scales during maneuvers and short term assignments. Not enough can really be said about the soldiers wives that suffered an perseveared while their husbands were away.

This is the basis of my upbringing and my deeply help beliefs about our country. I strive to be half the man my father is and raised me to be. I have a deep respect for the sacrifices he and others have made so that we can complain about the status quo. For some, the fact that our freedom was earned by the blood of men like my father becomes abstract in the relative safety we live in today. Thankfully, that is not something I take for granted or try to gloss over. This post is in dedication of my dad, mom, and all the others who have sacrificed so that we can live in the safety and comfort of the United States of America.