West Newsmagazine 11-7-18

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RANDOM THOUGHTS
A Community Conversation
November 7, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I OPINION I 3
CELEBRATING 150 Years OF SERVICE
EST. 1868
By JESSICA MESZAROS
This week, West Newsmagazine is celebrating
Veterans Day by talking with
Harold Ross, a 93-year-old World War
II veteran. Ross grew up in East Lansing,
Michigan, which he said was “kind of
normal” though he did recall a tricycle accident
with a twinkle in his eye: “When I was
a kid on a tricycle, there was a neighborhood
girl who had a two-wheeler. Somehow, we
collided. Just wrecked my little tricycle. It
didn’t hurt me any, but it was kind of bad. I
didn’t even have my tricycle license.” Ross
enlisted in the Navy in 1942 at age 17. He
has three children – Cheryl, Brett and Scott
– and resides in Ellisville.
Have you ever saved somebody’s life?
No. I never have. I never had to do any
tourniquets on people, or things like that. I
never had to really be sent to a place where
we had to set up a [medical unit] like in
that one show, with the people during the
Korean War. M*A*S*H, that’s it. That was
almost kind of like the set-up we had in
Okinawa. We didn’t have that many crazy
people, but they were old enough, I guess.
What’s the most historic thing that’s
occurred in your lifetime?
I guess that was when we were overseas
when the war ended … Getting to see
China and getting to see what was going on
there. I also saw Gen. Douglas MacArthur
once when I was in school. We were sitting
just about as close as we are. He was there
speaking, I guess he wanted to get out and
meet the students, but we were really close.
He was a big deal. Also, the place where
we were located [in the Navy] was actually
near Buckner Bay, where Lt. Gen. [Simon
Bolivar] Buckner Jr. was killed. [Buckner
died on June 18, 1945 in Okinawa Prefecture,
Japan.]
What is the best day on the calendar?
I guess it was my 90th birthday. April 26,
about three years ago [2015.] I’m 93 right
now, but I thought my 90th birthday was
really special. I didn’t think I’d get to see
more than that, but here we are ... strangely.
There are other highlights. I think another
one would be the day the war was over.
Are there any songs that hit you with a
wave of nostalgia when you hear them?
So many come to mind. “Don’t Sit
Under the Apple Tree” [a song made
Harold Ross
famous by Glenn Miller and the Andrews
Sisters during World War II]. Also, I have
memories of marches by John Philip Sousa.
“Stars and Stripes Forever” I think was the
name of one.
What is something from the present you
think could stand the test of time?
I think that a lot of people recognize the
U.S. flag, but a lot of people didn’t act as they
do now, including our leader. I don’t know
how many veterans feel like I do, but we’ve
seen him [President Donald Trump] take
out all the ambassadors around the world
that really know what’s going on. He comes
along with his pen and just writes them all
out. As far as letting people in [to the United
States], I think he’s mutilated that. It should
be under control, but not shut down.
What are some personal rules you try to
never break?
I think being a good citizen would be
one. I try to be open to all religions and
all types of people. You find out that we’re
all kind of the same underneath everything.
What is an accomplishment of which
you are most proud?
I think getting a college degree was
pretty good. I was out of school nine years
before I started [college]. So, that was a big
one ... I’ve had kids that have stayed out of
jail. So, that must be good. They didn’t go
for drugs either.
Which way should toilet paper hang?
Over or under?
My god, that’s a deep question. I like it.
I’ve had people come in where I live and
try to switch it around. Over. I hesitate to
tell you why I say that. It has something to
do with washing your hand.
Over the past 150 years, Schrader Funeral Home has made community
service, professional integrity, and high ethical standards a tradition.
www.schrader.com
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