Page 53 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

ARMY
PEACETIME

LUBBOCK

– it was during WWII – she ordered Mackey a little DC when I was at Ft. Belvoir, but nearly 60 years later,
sailor suit and me a little Army suit. I think it’s real there was very little I recognized.” These days, he
interesting that Mackey joined the Navy, and I went spends his time tinkering around the house, building
into the Army.” birdhouses and “fixing things” and delivering for
Meals on Wheels. Joyce has honed her sewing skills
Jackey’s only sister, Sue, wasn’t military, but she and now turns out many beautiful quilts. She and her
served her country working at husband of 66 years like to
Reese Air Force Base for 23 years. see the USA in their “rolling
“She was there long enough motel” and have taken their
to help close it up.” Younger RV as far as Alaska and back.
brother Lonnie served six years
as a Marine Reservist, and If there’s one thing Jackey
Donnie was a Marine for four would like to impress on
years. He and Auzie actually young people, it is “Honor
served in the same artillery outfit your parents.” From all
in Vietnam. Auzie was a 1st appearances, he and his
Sergeant by then, and Donnie siblings have demonstrated
was a private. (Donnie was how to do that with their
awarded a Purple Heart for an many years of service.
injury he suffered in Vietnam.
His story follows this one.)

Jackey was the only one of his siblings to be drafted.
All of his brothers enlisted. Lonnie and Donnie missed
the draft, but they enlisted anyway. “Back in our day,
if you were healthy, you had a military obligation. It’s
what you did if you loved your country.” The White
siblings once tallied up their total years of service,
“and it came to about 110 years.”

It’s obvious the former soldier is proud of his siblings
and his country. He was able to go on the South Plains
Honor Flight in 2016, and he has a beautiful scrapbook
documenting the memories. “I spent lots of time in

Medicare Supplements

David B. Lewallen
independent agent

2815 74th St P.O. Box 53957
lubbock, texas 79423 lubbock, texas 79453
(806) 792-7510 fax (806) 799-8153

Doing business locally for over 38 years

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