Thank You to the Troops: Fightin’ Farmers
by IowahawkIn October 1864, a 38-year old farmer from Story County, Iowa enlisted with Company I of the 8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. With a wife and five young kids to feed, and with no certainty of return, it must have been a difficult choice. The unit he was joining had already sustained heavy casualties at Shiloh and Vicksburg, and many had died in Andersonville prison. But he also a patriot and a Christian abolitionist, and so felt it his obligation to join the cause of the Union. With the harvest over and his eldest boy old enough to take over the chores, he marched south, seeing action at Spanish Fort the following spring. In Fall, following Lee’s surrender, he returned home and kept on farming until he died in 1908.
That farmer was my great-great-Grandfather. The bible he carried off to war now resides at my parent’s house, and I have had occasion to carefully turn its pages, looking for clues to what drove him. Other than his name and a few notes on the inside cover, he left the answer to posterity. I imagine, though, the answer wouldn’t be much different than some of the other Iowa farmers I’ve known who’ve answered the call. Farmers like my great-great-uncle Billy Stebner, who as an old man used to thrill my brother and me with his tales of pursuing Pancho Villa into Mexico with General Black Jack Pershing.
Farmers like my maternal Grandpa John Cullen, who followed Pershing on his next assignment in Europe, and saw the horrors of trench warfare at the Marne. Or his son John, a Marine who fought amid the carnage of Okinawa. Every week he wrote a letter to his five kid sisters, including my 6 year old mom, telling them everything would be okay.
Farmers like Donnie Burge, a cornfield hot rodder who enlisted with the 5th Army in ‘55 and spent the next two years getting his arms covered in tattoos and staring across the 38th parallel at a scowling line of North Koreans. Luckily the ceasefire held, and he returned to take over the family farm. And sire yours truly.
Farmers like my brother-in-law Ron, who spent 3 tours in Vietnam as a Huey pilot. Just like my Uncle John he wrote reassuring letters home to his 6 year old kid sister, who grew up and married me. After the war he spent another 10 years as a helicopter school instructor at Ft. Rucker, and returned home to the dairy country of Northeast Iowa. Three of his own farm kids have answered the call; most recently my niece Devin, who spent 2004-5 in Baghdad driving a 3-ton truck with the 389th Iowa Combat Engineering Battalion. Farmers like her husband Rick, currently serving with the 389th in Iraq on his 2nd tour, away from their baby daughter.
Every single one of them fill me with awe and amazement, and a humbled sense of gratitude for having the great cosmic fortune to be born in a country capable of producing farmers (or non-farmers) like that. Where do they come from, this long line of common men and women of uncommon valor, who risk everything only to shrug it off with a simple “I just did my duty”?
I’m afraid I’ll never quite comprehend it, but an awestruck thanks to every last one of you.
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56 Comments
You know Iowahawk, these are red state hillbilly sentiments that offend some blue state wussies. As a “flyover American,” I can tell the same story, but to our high-minded coastal dwellers there’s never, ever a reason to fight and die, especially for the evil USA.
Hey, there's some good-guy exurban types, too.
My son, Matt the Marine, just returned from a 7 month tour at an Afghan FOB.
Oh, and a nit pick, if I may. The photo in the lead is actually a bunch of Johnny Reb POWs, captured at Gettysburg, IIRC.
I do believe that the same picture is in Stephen Sears "Gettysburg".
I believe it is not so much a geographical state of being but, a philosophical state of mind that propels one into service to Country.
More specifically, they are NC POWs, and there is a small museum in NC where one can actually learn the names of these three men.
Not relevant to the post, I know, but I just had to insert that bit of trivia. And no, I can't remember what the names of those men were.
Mm… more stories to show who the real people that make this country great are… It's not the philosophers.. though I am sure they might get the ball started to roll… but it's the muscle and the brains that get the ball rolling to defeat such tragedies like slavery and tyranny… but I guess the "peace lovers" will never understand that peace often comes at a price.
I don't think we'll ever fully understand why good, honest, hard working people sign up to serve their country, let's just all be thankful that they do.
*what I mean by not understanding is that I'm sure that each has their own seperate reason that only THEY will ever know.*
Nice Civil War story about your great-great-grandfater in the 8th Iowa — except the accompanying photo is of [captured] Confederate troops….
Hard to figure out why them Rebs fought so hard against overwhelming forces, since all most all were just small family farmers themselves. But that war was lost and the flag furled, now a new Federal Government oppression looms and we'll see if the oath to defend the Constitution against all Enemies foreign and domestic means anything or is just hollow rhetoric like issues forth from our bloated politicians mouths.
Something I find in common with fellow conservatives is the clear appreciation of the sacrifice and contributions of those who came before us; what G.K. Chesterton referred to as "the democracy of the dead." We can only see or reach farther than our forbears because we stand upon the shoulders of their accomplishments.
I find this lacking from both the legitimate liberal voices and the trolls on BH. They either ascribe American greatness to big policies or politicians like FDR and his New Deal, or else regard themselves as the vanguard of moral and intellectual evolution.
Whatever a flyover American is…..Keep going.
OOPS…My bad, I misread your comment. My apologies
Such farmers, and non-farmers like them – are the hope of the Republic. George Washington was first and foremost a farmer. He loved Mt. Vernon and personally supervised the operations there. During the long years of war and his Presidency, he supervised the farm through letters, even from the battlefield. He was an American Cincinnatus who left the farm when his country called and then returned to it when his task was done. He did not crave power but dutifully served and then simply went home. Your ancestors follow a great example.
Thanks for the comments — regarding the accompanying photo, that was inserted by one of the Big Hollywood editors, not me. I don't have a photo of G-G-Grandpa, but I do have an Elgin engineer pocket watch given to him by his 3 sons on the occasion of his 70th birthday in 1896.
A little side note on G-G-Grandpa: his farm in Story County is now part of the west side of Ames, home of Iowa State University. When my brother attended ISU he lived in an off-campus apartment which we learned was located on what used to be that farm.
Check out the Victor Davis Hanson column at National Review Online. He takes a close look at our new philosopher king.
As an Iowa transplant in California, I am quite surprised as to the positive response I get from people regarding my Midwest roots. I always list it as a great place to be from and a great place to grow up. Someday, I will be back….
It’s my shot at a hyphenated moniker for the bulk of the country, “Flyover American,” of which I’m a proud member.
The most remarkable men are the ones who make courageous decisions because it's the right thing to do, not because of how it looks.
Hey Hawk, Iowa is built on the foundation of your family, thank God for that !
Now with my daughter returning from Drake, she made it through almost a Republican, not an easy task in DM !
But then I taught her how to shut up when the professor was making snide remarks about the president.
Congratulations for your heritage, your continuing contribution to the blogosphere and the endless stream of humor that bubbles out of your pipe.
From Missoura, near the geographic center of flyover country ! Cheers !!!
Interesting, They work the land to feed us, do the jobs most would not want to do. And they defend the Nation to boot. And the thing is you find them every were in this Nation, Be it Iowa or the Bronx, for the most part no mind is paid, all you have to do is look at what is going on with a wreck of a singer. Long time helicopter and airplane pilot so I know what a thankless job it really is.
What an elegant tribute. Excellent, Iowahawk.
Yes, it makes you wonder why this man's g-g-g-grandfather left his family to fight for freedom. In my family, a poor tailor from Lichfield, CT, left a pregnant wife and three kids to join the Continental Army in June 1776. He died on Dec. 24, 1776 on a British prison ship moored about where the UN building stands now. These were great men. We can only marvel.
Iowahawk – you can't forget the most famous farmer-soldier of them all – Alvin York…
N., give your son a Semper Fi from us.
At Gettysburg, if I'm not mistaken.
Here's another one for you! My great grandfather Seymour J. Palmer at age 14, along with his father and older brother, enlisted in the newly created 50th New York Volunteer Engineers. Saw action at Fredericksburg (building the pontoon bridge under direct enemy fire from the heights), Gettysburg and the massacre at Cold Harbor. Got through it all with out a scratch (except a snake bit the tip of one finger off, while sailing down a river). Came back home, married three or four women, and sired my Grandfather at the age of 72. He gave my Grandfather a tour of the battle at Little Round Top, while giving quite a history lesson to a government certified tour guide, showing him secret springs where they got their water.
They don't make them like that in this part of the country any more, thank the good Lord Iowa still does!
The only thing liberal idiots [redundancy] are willing to fight for is the closest parking spot to Starbucks.
Good article!
I also come from a long line of Farmers who came to America from Belgium. My Father, uncles, aunts, cousins have shipped produce from coast to coast and contributed much to the Produce Industry. We are in the Institute of Texas Cultures under Belgian Texans. ( Just a note: Sea World in SA is actually built on old farm land of my uncles/cousins.)
Didn't really want this to become an overtly political thread. I will just say that my dad, the Korea peacekeeping vet, is a liberal Democrat. We have our political disagreements but it doesn't reduce my admiration for his service.
B R A V O !
I O W A H A W K
R U L E S
Iowahawk, based on your post I would guess that your father, grandfather and great grandfather are democrats in the same vein as JFK and other patriotic democrats from a bygone era; these men, it seems to me, would not tolerate the current manifestation of the democrat party composed of Bolsheviks, Marxists and assorted anti-American refuse.
Oh, I'm so happy to hear Matt the Marine is home. Thank him for his service!
My nephew, Mike Cannotio, just marched into the Air Force Academy. His mom was at the family reunion this weekend and teared up about every five minutes. With pride, I need not add.
Hmm. Hawks in the midwest? My father's family with a strong military service tradition started out on the farms in Illinois (Barrington) and branched out into Iowa (Boone, Waterloo and Cedar Falls). Are we cousins? But the self-reliance and love for the land served them all well when they had to fight for what was genuinely their country. "By the rude bridge that arched the flood, their flags to April's breeze unfurled; Here once the embattled farmers stood, and fired the shot heard round the world." That tradition goes back to the Revolution and spread from Massachusetts and Virginia to the west–continuing right up to today.
IOWA HAWK– YOU DO KICK ASS!!! DON'T EVER STOP… THANKS TO ALL YOUR RELATIVES FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM! GOD BLESS…
STOP CAP-N-TAX IN THE SENATE!!!
The photograph, of confederate prisoners at Getttysburg,is the basis of a famous painting by the great artist Winslow Homer.
I have been doing quite a bit of genealogy work recently and have similar awe. My original American ancestor came from England to Massachusetts in 1634. More than one of his prodgeny fought in the revolution including at Lexington and Saratoga. My great grandfather was wounded during the siege of Petersburg and his older brother died at Vicksburg while his younger brother died at Andersonville. My father was in Africa during WWII. Last year, I toured all their grave sites, and like you am filled with both awe and wonder. It was a very spiritual journey.
We are lucky to have you, Iowahawk. I consider you a national treasure; one of the funniest men I've ever read.
Your use of generalities sounds more like "liberal speak" than conservative. Speaking to you as a 57 year old native Southern Californian, you should be more cautious before putting words in print. I served in the USAF in the early 1970's but was lucky enough that I did not have to go to S.E. Asia. My 25 year old son is on his third tour in the Middle East as a member of the U.S. Army. He will soon be home{God willing} from his second tour in Iraq. In between those he did a year in Afghanistan. Please try to control your prejudices and show a little respect. Thank you.
way off topic, but since you mentioned Ames, I remember a great great place for Ribs there when I was living in the Cities in the mid 80's and traveling down to Des Moines. I think it was called Park Lane, and just maybe you might remember it
"…only to shrug it off with a simple “I just did my duty”?"
I know, huh? Blows me away, too. I think of those whom our society loves to shower with adulation, fame, riches…and for what? Singing, dancing, shooting hoops? Then I think of these brave and selfless heroes of self-sacrifice enabling our freedoms… truly amazing.
Great post, DB.
As a native Californian (from L.A., no less) whose mother is also native whose grandmother came over when she was a child with her mother from Oklahoma, I am not surprised. Most people don't realize that California is like a blue watermelon, blue on the outside, but red on the inside.
G-G-Grandpa was a Lincoln Republican, as was his son Great Grandpa. Grandpa (born in 1902) was raised that way but became an populist-FDR Democrat amid the Great Depression. Dad (born in '37) is a stalwart old line Democrat who has an abiding belief that, despite all evidence to the contrary, "Democrats are for the little guy, Republicans are for big business." That's the political faith I was raised in, but rejected during the Reagan years. Dad's one of the good Democrats — patriot, veteran, family farmer — and I couldn't be prouder of him.
Thanks for a great post. God bless those Iowa boys in Blue. One of the great thrills of my life was to find the grave of my g-g-grandfather, Private Solomon Murray of Company G, 71st Ohio Infantry. I'm still trying to locate his Confederate brother in law in Virginia-that must have made for some interesting Christmas dinners!
Iowahawk, that was a magnificent tribute to folks we can never repay, except by doing the same for our children.
And Texas @ about 5 comments ago: would you be a Van De Walle? I knew a couple from way back when…
I have been doing geneology research for my family and have found that most of the members of my mother's family live in Richland in Story County IA. I have been thinking I need to do an Iowa cemetary and farm tour to see what and/or who I can find. Who knows, we may be related, but it would have to be through marriage, my family didn't arrive until the 1880s.
Hey Dave! Don't have any chance of family connections as some here do, but just wanted to say thanks for posting about your great family and their commitment to the country. These truly are the great heroes that we never learn about in any history book.Those of us that come from a family with military background understand what an important part , big or small, they all played in our country's history. Take care, Di.
My Dad never finished High School. He left it (and the family farm in Vermont) to join the Marines and fight at Iwo Jima, the bloodiest battle in the history of the Marine Corps. I have always been very proud of him.
Thank you for showing us the serious side of the funniest writer in the universe.
And my son Matt the Marine is in North Carolina.
The circle is complete.
Hmmm, just by a stange coinkyding, I am reading Victor Davis Hanson's "The Soul of Battle".
Part I is the story of Epaminondas and the Theban army made up of just the same sort of small farmer you're talking about, 'hawk.
More than once VDH reports that armies of that sort, democratic (small d) farmers led by a ferocious, genius general are the tool best designed to liberate oppressed peoples.
Part II is Bill Sherman's march through Georgia, and part III is Patton's march through France.
"That's the political faith I was raised in, but rejected during the Reagan years."
For me it all changed on 9/11. That was the day politics stopped being a game for me, and became serious business.
My great-great-great-grandfather the small family farmer fought for Virginia because the alternative was accepting the rule of people in Washington DC who were completely ignorant about what was best for his county and his family. I find that attitude more understandable almost daily lately…
Excellent post. I did 20 years in the USAF in telecom. Only time I carried a loaded weapon was when the West German army accidentially broke through the gate to our site as they were trying to turn around in our driveway on ice. They were out in the forest picking up Christmas trees their officers had illegally cut down during the day. Boy THEY were surprised to see a young NCO come out armed. Hell I didn't even chamber a round. But in 20 years and seven countries I volunteered for every deployement and never skated out of one. Sometimes I feel guilty I don't have real war stories to tell. But I console myself that my comrades-in-arms would prefer not to have any either.
Edski, we share the same great grandfather, Seymour J. Palmer. From you listing, do you have a picture of him? My sister and I have been trying to find out information about our great grandmother and what happened to all the children.
Betsy!
Welcome to the family. Yes we have a picture of Seymour, we plant flowers on his grave from time to time (Memorial Day), also one of his wives Anna, my great grandmother, buried next to him. We also have copies of Civil War era documents the federal government still has on record.
Genealogy is kind of a some times hobby, so yes we have records. We don't know anything about children he might have had by other wives, but we do know about Anna Esienhart.
EdSki
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