Sometimes parents know best

Dear Editor:

The Father’s Word will change lives. Scripture says, now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that:” James 4:13-15 (NIV).

As our junior year (1953) at Ironwood High School wound down in May, a friend and I decided to hitch-hike to Ashland, Wis., reasoning that we could forego our senior year by joining the Army.

After we filled out the personal information sheets the recruiting sergeant gave us IQ tests. At the conclusion he said my score was the best in a three- month period at that office. That was surprising because my friend was a solid fixture on the honor roll and I was not.

The instructor said that this achievement could go a long way into getting into special forces. Being naive at the time, I since learned that he was referring to the Green Berets.

At home, my enthusiasm was not contagious. After learning what branch of the Army I centered on, my father’s stern words still ring in my ears, “I am not signing this! How would I feel if your parachute wouldn’t open? In a few months you will be 18 and then you can sign for yourself.”

I was so disheartened, but amazingly when my signature would have been acceptable, my interest had waned.

Like you, or anyone else, I can look back at my father’s words in this pivotal part of my life to become a paratrooper. If my original interest had come to pass, where would I be now and what would I be doing? I can only imagine.

Donald Kleimola

Ramsay