The people's voice., 1942-12-04
JOHNNY


the changes in our business opera
tions, or our way of life, If the Axis
war against US caused those changes
There is not, in fact, any sacrifice
even on the field of battle, if, by
crushing the international tyrants,
freedom, democracy, and human
rights can be secured to all who
want to be free.
A certain little family we know of
doesn't talk of sacrifice. They talk
of the freedom and democracy we in
herited FREE from the valiant patri-
OTIS of the past. They talk of this
being the first time they have ever
had a chance to partly repay Wash
ington, Jefferson, Lafayette, Patrick
Henry Kosciusko, and thousands
more, for the freedom, liberty, democ-
racy, and human rights we have en-
joyed as a nation for 100 years.
The little family is mighty proud
of the chance to help repay a debt
that has been carried against each
generation for so long It's the Aver
age family, the old man and old lady
Average and two boys. They live on
little farm out there just couple
of miles from the post office Rather
modest, that little farm home is, but
they have lived there for 25 years.
Mr.. Average is getting gray around
the temples now, and a little bent
too, but he still has a fascinating
twinkle in his eye. Ma Average hasn't
been able to stand the heavier farm
work that seems to pile up faster,
now that we are in war, as she might
have stood it several years ago. Her
hair is almost white now, and she
is rather pale and has kind of an
anxious and questioning look on her
face as she listens to the radio these
days.
Johnny Average, the older boy,
a four year course at the
college last year. and his
borther Fred intends to take liberal
arts course and then study for the
ministry Both boys were born right
there on the little farm. Everything
on the place, but Ma and Pa Average,
had been born there. Trees, shrubs,
flowers, and rose bushes had all been
planted or set out by some member
Of the family. They had a home there
it wasn't just a house and some
ground.
Supper was on the table a little
o,.1xr hot foir h
stantial food it was and plenty of it,
90. Nothing fancy, unless you can
call mighty fine pie fancy. Even
he pie was little extra though, be-
cause Freddie was going to join up
Johnny wasn't there for supper that
light. He had enlisted when it be-
,ame clear that this wasn't 'just an
,ther war;" and he and his outfit had
)een sent over to the Philippines.
They were finally driven to the Ba-
aan peninsula by the Japs. Johnny
lad been in the fox holes of Bataan
where there were no heretics, either
living or dead, for quite awhile before |
Jorregidor fell. No sir, Johnny never
would come home for supper again
lie would never come back at all.
Ma and Pa Average and Freddie
we're doing lot of talking that eve
ling. Mrs. Average hustled back and |
orth from the table to the kitchen,
ringing in the food, just about right.
The men had worked mighty hard
hat day and good food just disap-
ears natural like when hard working
len are about.
The family talked about Johnny
ONE, and from the letters and re-
orts they had received they pieced
ogether his activities from the time
Q had left them to the desperate days
n Bataan. They talked of Hitler and
t the nazi blue print for world domi-
alton. They talked of the Black
'ragon society of Japan and its own
ct plan to enslave the world They
ilked of the mistreatment and ami
ilation of the Czechs and the Poles.
hey talked of the brave Hollanders,
le courageous Norwegians, and the
arriving Greeks. When Mr.. Average
sked God to bless their food, he
sked that the starving millions of ,
itler's slaves should also be fed. He !,
rayed for the Jews, "the first minor
y group always attacked by fas-
sts," he said. He told God that any
ne could be placed in a minority
cup by someone else, and he called
OWN the wrath Of God on Hitlerism
toto for all the misery Hitler, it's :
lgan deity, has already caused in
e nations he has captured
The best picture the family could
ece out of the meager information
ey had from Bataan was that John :
: had just thought and fought down
ere in those fox holes. He thought =
the battle Of Saratoga, and of Kos
usko the Pole. He thought of the =
otprints in the snow at Valley Forge :
tinted up red with blood He
ought of Patrick Henry at the little
urch at Richmond, Virginia. "Give
3 liberty or give me DEATH" Mr..
enry had said. He thought of Paul
svere and the old church tower. He
ought of Jefferson's grave at Mont
clio, the Bill of Rights, freedom,
mocracy, and God. No, Johnny
isn't at supper that night, and never
'uld be again-except in the spirit.
Finally, Freddie had to go if he was
catch the nine o'clock to the capi-
l. L.
len when he had kissed his Ma the
IT time, and hugged his Dad, he
spped over to Johnny's picture and,
fairly good military from, saluted:
II do dOuble duty how" he said