My Day
By Dr. J. Ester Davis
#1. A Living Legend. A Distinguished Career
Lt. Colonel Clyde Orr (Retired) is a hero living among us. He is a dedicated member of New Hope Baptist Church, Dallas. In my first interview with him after church one Sunday about five years ago, he was masterful in his accounting of his days in service for our country. Included in his days as an instructor for the United States Army was a student we all know now as General Colin Powell. And he remembered the ‘young man’.
We thank you for your service. We are so grateful. God’s richest blessings continue.
#2. James Scott USMC (Retired), spent 28 years as an active duty Marine. He was very proud of his days as a champion wrestler on the Marine Corps’ Wrestling Team. He and his family had endless memories of their duty station and time stationed in Hawaii and his days as a Drill Instructor, Parrish Island, North Carolina. A proud family man, the Scotts had eight(8)children and a joyous marriage of at least (4)decades. In 2015, I was the honored speaker at the Black Marine Reunion held in Reno, Nevada, and a blogger for their network.
#3. This is one of my all-time favorite stories.
General Richard Dix, US Army (Retired), was highly and fondly remembered by soldiers who came home from one of the recent wars. The VA Hospital, Dallas, is reportedly one of the largest and best hospitals in the nation. A group of soldiers invited General Dix to stop in Dallas for a brief visit. He was actually on his way somewhere else. I was asked to set up a simple, timely schedule for his visit. I was profoundly and absolutely naïve about the necessary protocol, plus duties and details attached to a black General-in-Uniform. I am using the word ‘black’ because we do not see many of them in person. This “General” received high marks and praise reports from his fellow men and women in uniform. The date and time finally arrived. Everything was in order. The entourage proceeded to the floors where he would be visiting with some of the soldiers. Meanwhile, on the main floor, a lady approached me asking how long “this General Dix” has been in the building. Her request was for us to detain the General while she went to obtain her husband from “dialysis”. She finished with ‘….my husband cannot miss this’. And he did not. To this day, I have no idea who this couple was.
Thank you, America and…. Beyond for your followship. And to publishers for this opportunity.
EsterDavis2000@gmail.com
