One of the most popular stories about members of the “Greatest Generation” is that of “The Fighting Sullivans” who died aboard the U.S.S. Juneau during the Battle of Guadalcanal. That story is heroic, in part, because it has to do with five brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during World War II.
Whenever I hear talk about the Sullivans, however, I can’t help but think of four not-so-famous brothers — Max, Verle, Guy and Ted — who also answered their nation’s call. Like many thousands of others, they set aside any personal plans they had for a while and went into harm’s way to fight for freedom.
Max, the oldest, was among the first to be drafted into the Army. Next in line, Verle went to the Navy. Guy followed, donning Army green.
By March 1943, only the youngest son remained at home. That fact prompted a conversation to take place between the 19-year-old Iowan and his father.
“Ted, do you want me to declare you essential to my farm work?” his dad asked, knowing that one son from each farm family could be deferred from entering service if he was needed to work on the farm.
Ted took little time to answer.
“No. If my brothers can go into the service, then I feel that I should go also,” he said, adding, “Besides, I want to do my part in the war” and “Dad, you really don’t need me.”
It wasn’t long before Ted was drafted and assigned to the Army’s 406th Regiment of the 102nd Infantry Division at Camp Swift near Austin, Texas.
Though I don’t have many details about the service records of the three oldest brothers, I do know that two of them — and Ted — saw front line combat. Most importantly, I know all four brothers returned from World War II.
Ted summed things up best when he was interviewed by a high school student more than 60 years later: “I had three brothers in that war, and we all came home alive!’
This story is important to me, because the men in this story were — and still are — important to me; they are my dad, Ted, and his three older brothers, my uncles (a.k.a., “The Fighting McCarty Brothers”).
After the war, Max and Verle went on to own and operated a successful water well drilling company in Promise City, Iowa. Guy went to work for the federal government and play an important role in the effort to harness atomic energy. My dad became a petroleum geologist, active in oil and natural gas exploration and development in Oklahoma.
Today, only my 86-year-old dad remains to talk about the “last great war.”
To read my father’s first-hand accounts based upon his time served as a low-ranking enlisted man in the U.S. Army during World War II, I invite you to read World War II Stories Shared to Honor Veterans.
PERSONAL NOTE: To my dad, my uncles, brother Jack, sister Barb, brothers-in-law Dennis and John, and all of the men and women with whom I served in uniform, thank you for your service!
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.