Beeks line: September 17, 1950 A farewell dinner given

I found this gem in the Huntington Herald Press of september 22,1950,  page 4, in a column written by "Miss Barbara Beeks".

"Farewell Dinner Given"

"A farewell dinner was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Beeks and family Sunday in honor of their son, James Beeks, who left to join the armed forces at Camp Hood, Texas.  Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Keefer and son, Dewayne, Michigan; Loretta Scott, Lagro:, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Osborn and sons, David and Ronnie, and daughter Dianna, Lee Vought and son, Ronnie; Charles Senkpiel, Mt. Etna; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Brown and son Bobbie; Vicky Beeks and the honored son.  Supper guests were Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Harshbarger and sons, Roger and Johnny.  Mr. Beeks served one year in the army at Fort Braggs, N.C. and was discharged last spring. "

Jim's younger siblings, Norman, Donald, Bonnie, and Barbara seem to have all been living at home at this time, so unless they were working they were probably at the gathering too.  Jim was the oldest surviving child of Wilbur and Cleo, and when he came home after his first discharge they must have counted their blessings, never imagining he would be called back and later sent to Korea.

I'm writing this on Veteran's Day although it won't post for a few days.  Sometimes simple stories like this help us realize what our ancestors and relatives went through, and why we honor our service men and women.  There may have been tears; there surely were proud and aching hearts, as Jim left for Texas.