In Honor of our Great Americans

September 2009

On Sunday, August 2nd, 2009, the Cooper family lost Harwell E. Cooper. He was my grandfather, and I called him "Granddad." Probably more than anyone else in the world, I have the fondest memories of this great man. He was a big, strong man, always with a big smile, powerful laugh and one of the best story tellers I have ever experienced.

When I was very young, as far back as I can remember, two, three, four-years old, I got to spend a lot of time with my granddad. He loved to take me fishing. I can remember driving to the lakes sleeping in bedrolls in the back of the truck looking up at the stars at night and listening to the many stories he would tell illuminating my imagination until I felt like I was actually there.

As I grew up, I witnessed firsthand of how a man should conduct himself in life. He had very strong morals, believed in God, and he was a very patriotic American. He served our country in World War II. On June 4, 1944, my granddad was part of the invasion at Normandy in the 101st Airborne. He was wounded in action by a grenade to his right hand. He would not let the doctors remove his hand like they wanted; and 20 some odd operations later and many months, they were able to reconstruct and produce a working hand.

My Uncle Bob sent me a copy of Granddad's discharge papers from the Army. I was amazed to see the medals that he had received. I had never asked Granddad about any medals, and he had never mentioned any. He received the Purple Heart, a bronze battle star, a Presidential Citation, and a World War II Victory medal. One of the last stories that he told me about the war was one I had never heard before. He was trying to lead a group of people to safety under fire. One man stopped to pray. Granddad said he was angry at the man and shook him telling him, "We don't have time to pray! We must go!" Granddad said that years later, after he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he thought about that man that was praying and realized that it was that man's prayers that probably led to their being able to make it out alive. Granddad told us that with tears in his eyes.

I greatly respect the men and women of that era that sacrificed for the things that we have been able to enjoy as Americans. There was one more interesting thing that I found in Granddad's Discharge papers. It was a letter from the White House signed by Harry S. Truman that said, "To Harwell E. Cooper: To you who answered the call of your country and served in the Armed Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend the heartfelt thanks of a grateful Nation. As one of the Nation's finest, you undertook the most severe task one can be called upon to perform. Because you demonstrated the fortitude, resourcefulness and calm judgment necessary to carry out that task, we now look to you for leadership and example in further exalting our country in peace."

Wow, how times have changed. Harry Truman believed in defeating the enemy and was thankful to our soldiers, treating them with respect and honor. I pray that as we pull together as proud Americans, we might elect people with these qualities and character.

God bless you,

Clay O'Brien Cooper