My Dad went away at an early age to fight for his country, during World War II. The picture shows him at the age of 17.

He served most of his time on the USS South Dakota, a battleship. He was contacted by the USS South Dakota Association and sent a package of memorabilia sometime in the late 70s and was ask to deliver it and present it at a ceremony being held at the Battle of Texas, next to the San Jacinto Monument near Houston. Kenny and I accompanied him to that dedication on a Saturday morning. We left Smithwick early, very early, so we could arrive there by the appointed time.

It really wasn’t much of a ceremony, it was more like we met a couple of officials from the ship and handed over the package so they could display them. It was almost like UPS delivering a package kind of deal. But we were invited to take a tour. That gave Cec a chance to relive his time in the Navy. He talked to us in more detail than he had ever before, there and on the trip home. He always took pride in his time in the Navy.

I think the sojourn that day lit a fire in him. What the folks from the USS South Dakota may not have realized, they had sent that package to a sailor that had been kicked out of the Navy and given a dishonorable discharge.

We had heard about this throughout the years, but didn’t know the details. It is alleged that at the end of the war many sailors and soldiers were targeted by the upper brass and kicked out as a way to keep from extending benefits. I’m not sure what the numbers were or whether this claim is really factual or not. In the case of Cecil Lewis he had been kicked out for fighting. Most people in his shoes were fairly powerless against the Military and the Federal Government.

After the trip that day he decided to make things right between him and the Navy. With the help of Layton (Jim) Cox, his neighbor, who was the Veterans Administration liaison for Burnet County at the time, they wrote letters and over a period of time they got the dishonorable discharge removed and his full VA Benefits restored for the remainder of his life.

He didn’t seem bitter over the ordeal, but I wouldn’t have blamed him if he was. He spent a lot of time in VA Hospitals in his later years and actually died at the one, The Audie Murphy Hospital in San Antonio.

It seems the way Veterans are being treated now, is no new thing.

Below is a post card that he sent home to his father.

A couple of photos when he was home on leave with other Smithwick folks.

Cecil Lewis, Clinton Hall & Mary Belle Jackson (Henry)