Honor Thy Father – Chapter 15

First and foremost, thank you to all who have read my past blog posts and my book, “Homey’s Adventures.” 

As promised, I am writing this book as a sequel to the happy ending of my first book. I recently started writing this book, and I have been inspired lately. I decided to share this with you. So, without delay here is Chapter 15 of my third book: 

Chapter 15 – In the Spotlight 

My father’s 15^th mission was over Tokyo: 

I can just imagine what my mother and Aunt Shorty would say about the search lights and bullet hole in plane: 

“Hey sis, I got another letter from Andy. He says there were a lot of search lights, and they got a bullet hole in their plane.” 

“For land sakes, let me see.” 

Aunt Shorty reads the journal entry. 

“Well Andy does like to be the center of attention.’ 

My mom looks like she is about cry: “Yes, he does like that. Did you know that his father was a sheriff in that little town in northern Oklahoma?” 

Aunt Shorty senses mom’s sadness and puts her arm around my mother: “Well that’s interesting.” 

“His father died when Andy was 4 years old. So, he really didn’t know him.” 

“Our father died when you were young too.” 

“Yes, we do have that in common. Did you know that his father was married to an Indian squaw before he was married to his mother?” 

“Really?” 

“Yes, he has half-brothers and half-sisters who are Cherokee. His grandfather came to Oklahoma during the land rush.” 

“Well mom was born in a covered wagon during the land rush.” 

“Sis, you know I always thought the Indians didn’t get a fair shake. I mean the government gave Oklahoma to them and then took it away with the land rushes.” 

“Well, you know our family received land and the oil wells from the land rush.” 

“The little town Andy grew up in was the center of an oil boom at one time.” 

Aunt Shorty reflects awhile: “It looks like you and Andy have a lot of history in common.” 

“Sis, he said there was a bullet hole in the plane!” 

Aunt Shorty tightens her grip on my mom: “I know sis. We just need to pray and ask God to protect him. Okay?” 

My mom sobs a little: “Okay.” 

My dad had four older sisters, one older brother and a younger brother.  His dad died in 1924 and the Great Depression started in 1929. He lived through extreme poverty. His mother became a fry cook to feed the family of seven children.  

I never met any of his native American half-sisters or half-brothers.  I remember my mom told me that one of his half-brothers visited us once and he slept in the backyard rather than in the house because he didn’t like sleeping in houses.  

My grandfather certainly had his Homey going on. He had seven children with my grandmother and God knows how many children with his native American wife. I have cousins and half-cousins all over Oklahoma that I never met. I could write another book based on meeting all those cousins and half-cousins. 

I met the daughter of one of my father’s older sisters for the first time at my aunt’s funeral, her mother’s younger sister. She took me to the grave of our grandmother. I don’t remember seeing her or her mother at my grandmother’s funeral. At my aunt’s funeral, I remember wondering who else is out there that I have never met. 

I heard rumors that my grandfather was friends with the Dalton gang. My dad’s older brother said this was not true and his father carried a bullet inside of him from a shootout with the Dalton’s. The Dalton gang lived in Kansas and raided northern Oklahoma, so, I tend to believe my uncle. The Dalton Gang met their untimely demise in their hometown of Coffeeville, Kansas in 1892 when they tried to rob a local bank. 

The contrast between growing up in northern Oklahoma and being in the spotlight over Japan could have overwhelmed most men. I have lived all over the United States, and I have found myself questioning how I got there more than once.  My dad exclaims that he did not start this war! Somehow, his was hanging on and he was my true hero. 

End Of Chapter 15 

I recently started drafting this about 3 months ago and I still have a lot of research to do. I plan to share some of my work as time and resources allows. I am hoping by next Father’s Day, my new book will be completed and published.  

I encourage anyone who had a parent or grandparent who flew in the B29’s from Tinian Island in 1945 to contact me. Without these heroes protecting our freedoms, we would not be able to celebrate our country’s founding on Independence Day. 

Originally, I started this blog as an eclectic mix of what I was thinking during the week and book reviews. I will do some of that too. So, you do not want to miss what follows. Follow my blog to make sure you receive it. 

If you do not want to wait that long and you have not read my first book. I encourage you to go to my website, www.homeysadventures.com. You can read the first two chapters for free, and you can also buy it. Or you can buy it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other fine retailers. Just search for it using the words: Homey’s Adventures by Jim Wish. 

If you liked this blog post, please click on the like button at the bottom of this page. If you Love my work, then please donate to my future writing: 

I liken myself to the Vienna Violinist described in chapter 5 of Homey’s Adventures Too. I play (write) for your enjoyment and mine. God bless you all.