Veterans reflect on their sense of duty to their country

SHELLEY -- For some Independence Day means liberty and freedom, for others it reminds them of their sense of duty. Two veterans at The Gables Assisted Living and Memory Care in Shelley reflect on what it meant to serve their country during times of war.

93-year-old Neil Williams, known as 'Sandy' began his service in the military in 1943. The 19-year-old who was nicknamed after his brothers for his blond hair was a member of the anti-aircraft artillery of the U.S. army during Word War II. He served in Battery C of the 124th AAA Battalion.

“I took my basic training out at San Diego,” Neil (Sandy) William said.

Williams was had fought in various Battles and boasts a medal for at least four including the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

He said all the while serving he thought little of his survival and more of the responsibility he had to his country.

“I didn’t think too much about it, I just thought that, hell it was my duty,” Williams said.

82-year-old Malvern Wallace said he felt that same sense of patriotism when he served in the U.S. Army after the Korean War.

Wallace began service in Korea in 1955, two years after the Korean War had ended. He said he and some five friends volunteered for the army at the same time.

“Some of us ended up going to Korea and it was nice to have buddies in at the same time I was,” Wallace said.

(Read more at EastIdahoNews.com)