Jack Shank (see his picture, posted 9-12-09) taught me history at Meridian Junior College in 1960.
Jack was an Army photographer and landed with the second or third wave on D-Day. One day he brought up D-Day in class and told us he was stunned when he landed and saw all the dead bodies. Jack said he thought all of the men that hit the beach on the first wave had been killed. Up until then I had never really realized how terrible D-Day was. I think that day Jack had a great impact on my decision to pursue a degree in History and I never forgot what he had said about D-Day.
I accomplished my degree goal while in the Air Force at Eglin AFB, FL. My super civilian boss Lou Vegas made this possible. Lou was a retired Air Force Colonel who had flown B17s over Germany in WWII. With his help, I was allowed to attend the U. of West Florida in Pensacola for a year to complete requirements for a degree in History.
(fyi - My older brother Lester lived at the Silver Leaf Manor in Meridian the last year of his life. It is very nice place.)
(Reporter: James E. Minor Smith)
Jack was an Army photographer and landed with the second or third wave on D-Day. One day he brought up D-Day in class and told us he was stunned when he landed and saw all the dead bodies. Jack said he thought all of the men that hit the beach on the first wave had been killed. Up until then I had never really realized how terrible D-Day was. I think that day Jack had a great impact on my decision to pursue a degree in History and I never forgot what he had said about D-Day.
I accomplished my degree goal while in the Air Force at Eglin AFB, FL. My super civilian boss Lou Vegas made this possible. Lou was a retired Air Force Colonel who had flown B17s over Germany in WWII. With his help, I was allowed to attend the U. of West Florida in Pensacola for a year to complete requirements for a degree in History.
(fyi - My older brother Lester lived at the Silver Leaf Manor in Meridian the last year of his life. It is very nice place.)
(Reporter: James E. Minor Smith)
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