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JOURNALEDITORIAL
KOMENCOMMENT
Shelton resident
drafted at age 13
"e's 82, a veteran of three wars,,
and lives in Shelton. But unlike
.most members of the Greatesti
Generation, James R. Clark's service
in the military had a surprising begin-
ning.
He was drafted at age 13.
And he is quite proud of it. So proud
in fact that he titled his autobiography
"American Soldier at 13 Years Old:
WWII." With engaging chatter, he sells
his book at swap meets often repeating
his mantra "I was drafted at 13" as he
talks with curious passersby.
As he tells it, he was 13 in 1943
when he followed a buddy's example
and reported to the
draft board in McK-
eesport, Pa.. His
friend had told him
how he had listed his
age as 18 and was
soon drafted into the
Army. So that's what
Jimmy Clark did. He
lied.
By JOHN "A week went
KOMEN by and I received a
draft notice from the
draft board telling
LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR
me that I was being drafted and I was
to go take my physical in Pittsburgh,"
Clark writes in his book.
Soon in uniform, the grade-schooler
found himself in happy circumstances.
"The pay for a private was fifty dollars
a month," recalls Clark. "That was the
most money I had ever made. Since I
was 13 years old, I felt rich."
He volunteered for Parachute Train-
ing School at Fort Benning, Ga. Soon
he was jumping out of airplanes, a
13-year-old soldier in the U.S. Army.
He served a year before the Army
found out it had drafted a sixth-grader.
Called before a board of embarrassed
officers, chagrined at having a now
14-year-old on their hands, he was
confined to quarters. Two weeks later
an Army attorney assigned to defend
Clark told the boy the Army wanted
to court-martial him for fraudulent
enlistment. Obviously wanting to shed
themselves of their 14-year-old prob-
lem child, the attorney convinced the
officers to let him go without punish-
ment and to grant him an honorable
discharge.
At home, he became known as "the
youngest veteran ever to b,e discharged
from McKeesport, or any other place in
the United States."
"They put my picture in the newspa-
per, and my picture was also in some
popular magazines," he relates. "With
that, the fan mail began."
Youngsters from all over America
wanted to know "how I had fooled the
U.S. Army. They wanted to know so
that they could try to get into the ser-
vice too."
He discovered he missed the Army
life, so he joined again at age 17, this
time with his mother's permission.
World War II was now over, but en-
listed man James Clark served in West
Berlin during the Cold War, in the
Korean War and in the Vietnam War.
He escaped serious injury until he re-
turned to Vietnam as a civilian employ-
ee for a contractor and wound up badly
wounded when the contractor's work
boat was blown up by the Viet Cong.
After months of difficult recovery
and years suffering from Post-Trau-
matic Stress Syndrome, James Clark
survived to write his memoirs and cel-
ebrate his life in the military.
'Tin proud that I was living during
the great generation during World War
II when patriotism in America was
at its highest and the young men and
women wanted to stand up and fight
for this country," says Clark on the
back cover of his book.
The front of his book proudly dis-
plays the American flag, and under the
flag it says "Freedom Is Not Free."
Neither is his book. It will cost you
$20.
• John Komen, who lives on Masoni
Lake, was for 40years a reporter and !
editor, TV anchorman, national TV net-
work correspondent, producer, colum-
nist, editorial writer and commentator.
His column, Komen Comment, appears
each week in the Shelton-Mason County
Journal.
Media panel gives staff a chance to educate
seek it and report on it. We do PIOs in training to meet with local media named by the media before their fam-
everything in our power to en- members to chat about a variety of top- ily was notified. The ensuing discussion
sure its accuracy. Sometimes our ics, including common hang-ups, miscon- touched on common me.dia practices --
sources try to withhold it. ceptions and effective strategies for both some outlets will report a name of, for
It's information, and we at the Journal sides to better work with each other, example, a drowning victim immediately,
are in the information business. Along with Journal editor Adam Rud-while others will wait until they officially
Our day-to-day duties require us to nick and reporter Natalie Johnson, the hear the name from authorities.
make phone calls, conduct face-to-face media panel included reporters from lo- We thought the panel was an excellent
interviews and request data and docu- cal television and radio stations, way to talk shop about our industries.
ments for the stories we write. If that in- The approximately 30-person class We do our best to maintain an oPen line
formation we require comes from a local, was not just state patrol PIOs -- indi- of communication with our sources and
state or federal agency, we might need a viduals from outside agencies such as the the public.
public information officer -- or PIO -- to city of Puyallup Police Department and It's great to be able to have a session
help us find what we're looking for. the Washington Corrections Center also where we can be open with what we call
On Nov. 1, Journal newsroom staffattended the one-hour event. "gatekeepers" of information.
members took part in a WashingtonThe panel provided both sides with an Thanks again to Bob Calkins, media
State Patrol public information officer opportunity to learn. At one point, a class and community relations officer with the
course at the State Patrol academy in member asked the panel about a specific Washington State Patrol, and all attend-
Shelton. The course was designed for instance where a victim of a crime was ees of the panel.
Ministry is or any other organization's same road we've been on,
concern. It is a community then God help America, be-
concern and as members of cause the government will
in the community it is impor-eventually run out of resourc-
tant we work together to help es to do so.
Editor, the Journal solve, or at least mitigate
I am making a plea on be- in some degree, this situa- Katie Groves
half of the Shower Ministry tion. As Thanksgiving ap- Shelton
at St. David's Church. The proaches, I ask all to consider
Shower Ministry is for any-what they have and what
one whoneedsashowerand they can share. I believe it is Kudos to
is available weekdays, except just common decency to do so.
Thursday, from 10 a.m. until ~4
2 p.m. We are in need of the Ann Baker .. a n s e n s
small hotel shampoos, con- Shelton
ditioners and soaps. In addi- Editor, the Journal
tion, we also are in continual I would like to express my
need of disposable razors, Thanks for sincere appreciation to John
deodorants, toothbrushes, and Rachel Hansen for their
toothpaste (small tubes) extraordinary community
and other personal hygiene C 0 m m e nt service over the past three
items. For more information years. Their efforts were the
people can call the Parish Editor, the Journal primary reason that this corn-
Hall Ministries at 462-4439 I wish to comment on the munity enjoyed fair events in
(please note the 462 rather letter submitted by Lorilyn 2010, 2011 and 2012. Without
than 426). Rogers Nov 1. Thank you, the Hansens' talents, devo-
I am also making a plea on thank you, Lorilyn. At last tion and financial sacrifices,
behalf of the Cold Weather there is a woman with a voice those fairs would not have
Shelter, which is also a part of reason willing to speak out. happened and this commu-
of St. David's Parish Hall Your letter was clear, concise, nity's youth would have been
Ministries. Our shelter oper- to the point and of maturedeprived of the experiences
ates on winter nights when thought. I only wish the ma- and development opportuni-
the wind chill factor is 35 jority of women in this coun- ties that fairs generate.
degrees or less, to allow area try shared these opinions.Without the encourage-
homeless adults a warm, safe In a nutshell, Lorilyn ment and facilitation pro-
place to be out of the cold. We believes women (and I add,vided by John and Rachel,
operate from Nov. 1 through men) should be accountablemany other events, including
April 30. About 25 percent for their own lives, support a OysterFest, would have been
of our operating funds come government that lives within made much more difficult
from grants; the remainder its means and not piling debt or not happened at all. The
comes from fundraisers and on future generations, or forc- improved facilities and orga-
private donations. At this ing its secular agenda on re- nizational accomplishments
time, we are looking for sup- ligious institutions, that cou- concerning fairgrounds man-
port from the community as ples (and I add, of any age) agement and operations will
we have only enough funds take full responsibility in be greatly missed.
to operate through the end of their sexual relations to what Thanks again to a hus-
the year. consequences may arise from band-and-wife team that set
The causes of homeless- such acts, not asking others an example for all to emulate
ness are many, but they to provide, or seek means when it comes to doing good
aren't important. What is to destroy the life that may things for the community and
important is that no one have been created; to leadmaking things happen in sup-
should die of hypothermia by example and show futureport of youth development.
when help is available and generations how to be inde-
when the rest of us have a bit pendent and self-accountable. Jay Hupp
to contribute. If every family Lorilyn, I remember a time Shelton
in Mason County donated $5, when this was our country,
we could operate the shel- and was our way of thinking.
ter for three years - three There was a time when the Donations
years! To make a donation, majority of women thought as
checks can be mailed to St.you do. help
David's, PO Box 339, Shelton, By now we should have aca n
with the notation "Shelter."president declared. To me, it
For more information, call me was a no-brainer who would i n
at 432-1678. be best for America, some-
And finally, I urgeev- one who would know how to Action
eryone to support United overcome the financial mess
Way. As a former board mem- we are in, to correct the wel-
ber, I can tell you that all fare mentality and Greece-Editor, the Journal
the money donated in Mason like road we are on, to boost Many of us would rather
County stays in Mason Coun- manufacturing and produce deny it, but we are getting
ty unless otherwise specified jobs, to make us strong byold.
by the donor. A person can supporting our military, not And as we age it becomes
designate their donation to a cutting it. My wishes may or harder to do the things we
specific organization or can may not have been fulfilled, used to take for granted.
also exclude an organization I have tried to be fair and It starts with getting out of a
from receiving any of the evaluate both candidates, but chair (when did we start mak-
money the person donates. As whatever our current admin- ing noises when standing up?),
a recipient of United Way istration had for a platform, and goes downhill from there.
funds (in the form of grants the message of women's re-On the good side, we have
to the Cold Weather Shelter), productive rights and right gained wisdom, a more real-
I know how important public to choose (choose what, mur- istic perspective on life, and
support is. der?) far overshadowed anyif we are lucky, a really good
The question of homeless- message it may have had tosense of humor about our-
ness is complex and the prob- make America better than it selves and others.
lem is widespread. However, has been the last four years. If it just wasn't so darn
it is not a St. David's concern If we continue down the hard to get around, maintain
1~ Shelton-Mason County 1~|
She~ton-Mason County doumal is a member of
Karl Sleight, publisher Advertising:
Dave Pierik, St. Acct. Executive
USPS 492-800 Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association.
Newsroom: Maggie Burdick, ad representative
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Adam Rudnick, editor
County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. $37 per year for Mason County addresses, Natalie Johnson, reporter Front office:
Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. $51 per year in state of Washington but outside Gordon Weeks, reporter
at 227 West Cota street, Shelton, Washington Mason County, $61 per year out of state. Emily Hanson, sports reporter Rene6 Chaplin, circulation
Cricket Carter, mailroom
Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 supervisor
Telephone (360) 426-4412 * www.masoncounty.qom
Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington
Owned and published by
She~ton-Mason County Journal, Inc
Page A-.4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012
our house or drive.
This is where Faith in Ac-
tion comes in. Since 2001, we
have helped the senior and
disabled residents of North
Mason, South Kitsap and Key
Peninsula. Our mission is to
"Support Independent Living
for our Senior and Disabled
Neighbors." We do this through
providing free, non-medical,
volunteer-based services such
as: escorted transportation, mi-
nor home repairs, respite care,
yard work and more. We also
operate a free medical equip-
ment bank, conduct workshops,
provide advocacy and referrals,
and help with emergency fi-
nancial needs.
For many years now, an im-
portant partner in helping Ma-
son County senior and disabled
residents has been United Way
of Mason County, through their
direct grants, and through
their workplace donation pro-
gram, they have enabled us
to honor and help our aging
neighbors and friends.
A small donation, taken
from your paycheck pain-
lessly (before you even see
it); can help seniors such as
Mary, a 90-year-old that has
been getting daily rides to her
radiation appointments from
a team of five Faith in Action
volunteers. She's a delightful
woman, with a rich and inter-
esting past, and an amazingly
sharp mind. She has no other
way to get to her treatments.
~ears of gratitude came to
her eyes the other morning as
she expressed her gratitude
for our help.
You can be a part of help-
ing Mary and other seniors
through your donation to Unit-
ed Way. Please participate in
their workplace campaign.
Patti Kleist
Allyn
United Way:
the voice
good will
Editor, the Journal
United Way of Mason
County is the silent savior of
both young and old among us.
The generosity of our citizens
is a masterpiece of empathy
and caring for those in need
in our community. Food
banks, health care, emer-
gency housing, special needs
services, warm clothing, and
a friend and mentor when life
seems hopeless often provides
a lifeboat in a stormy sea.
Thankfully, Mason County
United Way is a major force
in ensuring that we are our
brothers' keeper -- the silent
voice of good will.
Doug Sayan
Agate
Composing room:
William Adams, graphics
Pmssmom:
Kelly Riordan, production manager
Travis Miller, press operator
Mary Northover, press assistant