Page 48 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2019- Online Magazine

Brooks Speer Enemies Become Lifetime
ames Brooks Speer was
born at home May 8, 1922 to
JMamie and Roy Speer in the
mountains of Atkins, Arkansas. He
had one brother - J. I. and one sister
– Mary. His dad purchased a half
section of land five miles east of
Monroe, Texas for $50 an acre. This
business deal was accomplished
with a verbal agreement and a firm
handshake. The legal documents
weren’t drawn up at the Lubbock
County Courthouse until some
time later. (Monroe was renamed
New Deal during Roosevelt’s
presidency.)
The family moved to Texas in
1928. They boarded a train with
all their personal and household
possessions, farm machinery, tools
and a wagon. The animals, which
were so important to the future
survival of the young family,
were loaded last - four cows, two
bulls, four mules, five pigs and
48 Lubbock Senior Link
Friends
The Story of a New Deal Farmer and WWII POW
by Beulah Speer
one hundred chickens. The young man survived that
When they arrived, they dangerous conflict, even though
thanked God for the safe he was at the frontline. (Ed. note:
trip and the fertile soil The “Bulge” was the largest and
which they hoped would bloodiest single battle fought
produce bountiful crops. by the US in WWII.) The worst
They remember fondly the snowstorm in history made the
windmill silhouetted by a firefight even harder. Snow was
beautiful red sunset. waist deep. Brooks was hit by
shrapnel when a shell exploded
Yes, Brooks DID walk near his foxhole. Still, he returned
five miles to the school to the battle as point man for the
in Monroe, unless the 393rd Infantry Battalion. Brooks
weather was bad. On those volunteered to accompany a young
days, since they didn’t lieutenant to the front to scout
have a car, his dad would out the Germans’ positions. The
take him to school in the enemy allowed them to penetrate
wagon. He always kept it their line without firing a shot,
prepared with bales of hay in order to surprise the main
to sit on and handmade troops. They let them get right up
quilts to cover them. in among them before they ever
started shooting. Brooks was not
Brooks enjoyed high hit, but the lieutenant was killed.
school. He was president of In waist deep snow, Brooks’
the National Honor Society, editor carbine jammed after one shot.
of the school paper, “The Roar”, He was captured, and his unit
and captain of both the basketball had to withdraw. To make things
and football teams. His fondest worse, American artillery began
athletic memory was throwing the a counteroffensive. Miraculously,
winning goal to beat the school he was not hit and was handed
rival and go to off to a French
state. soldier who had
joined the German
After graduation, “One day, a boy army. They walked
Brooks enrolled slipped a sandwich for three days to
in Texas to Brooks through Flamersheim prison
Technological the prison’s wire amid widespread
College. World fence.” destruction.
War II was
declared soon The prison was
after, and he crowded, and the
volunteered filthy stench of barrels of body
for the reserves. He was able to waste was terrible. The only food
continue in college for two more was rye soup. One day, a boy
years before being called to the slipped a sandwich to Brooks
Army’s 99th Infantry Division. He through the prison’s wire fence.
received basic training at Camp Often, the prisoners would be sent
Maxey and was shipped to Europe out on a work detail to help the
to fight in the Battle of the Bulge.