Wednesday's Internet Edition, September 08, 2010.
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| James Wallis (L) receiving his recognition from the Las Cruces City Council recently. (Photo courtesy of the Wallis family) |
- For those who may not know or remember, James and Jerry Wallis were long time residents of Van Horn. In fact, they lived here, operated a jewelry store and a ladies and men’s shop, and they raised there children here.
In 1987, they moved to Las Cruces to be near there grandchildren. James was honored by the Las Cruces City Council on June 2, 2009 for his contributions to this nation, his family and to Las Cruces.
Here is what his wife, Jerry, had to say to the City Council on the occasion:
“I will try to portray just how special James Wallis is.
He was born in Boone County, Arkansas in 1927. He was one of three siblings born during a terrible depression. His father was a barber and in those days most people cut their own hair.
James graduated from Harrison, Arkansas High School in 1945. In September of ‘45 he and his cousin enlisted in the navy, and they were stationed in San Diego. After 3 months, they were sent separate ways, and James went to Oahu.
Three months after that, he was told about a testing to be conducted at Bikini Island. He was put on the USS Carlisle to sail to Enewitok for Operation Crossroads. This entailed testing of three bombs to see the effects of plutonium on ships, guns, animals and people. He and 42,000 more sailors were guinea pigs and did not know it. He was transferred to the USS Orca for the testing. They had no special covering of their bodies. Nor tags to show how much radiation they had received.
The first bomb was Able and it was dropped from a B-29. The target was 71 older ships which had animals aboard for testing. For safety, the other ships were anchored 10 miles away. This happened on June 30, 1946. The next bomb was Baker and it was an underwater bomb and sprayed water 10,000 feet into the air and came back down on the ships. Radiation was high. Everything was hot with radiation but the sailors went on with their assigned duties. The ship pulled into the lagoon late in the same day where it was hot with radiation. The boys swam in the lagoon and took showers in water drawn from the lagoon.
Of the 42,000 sailors that took part in Operation Crossroads testing, most are deceased. They left the lagoon in August. Their ship was so hot no ports would let them in. James was ill until they transferred him to Alameda Naval Station where he helped mothball the USS Orca. His left lung collapsed several times and he was in a naval hospital. He was discharged in December, 1948 and was told he would never be able to do strenuous work and to look for a desk job.
He went to watch making school in Paris, Texas and met his wife there in college. They married soon after and had 3 sons, two of which live in Houston and Scott, our middle son, who lives here in Las Cruces and owns Las Cruces Rexall Drug. They finally, after moving several times, moved to Van Horn, Texas. He opened a jewelry store and a ladies and men’s shop, living there and raising their family during their 25 year stay.
In 1987 the Wallis’ moved to Las Cruces to be near their grandchildren. They operated a jewelry store here for 2 years and then purchased Medical Center Pharmacy.
During James’ lifetime, he has had surgery to remove part of his left lung and has suffered from COPD along with many other ailments. He is one of the lucky ones! He still has his humor even though he is in constant pain. He is one heck of a husband, father and grandfather. We’ve been married for 59 years and I am so very proud of him.”
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
I have admired Buck Nix greatly the past years as he battled cancer. His faith remained strong and carried him courageously as he would go through the ups and downs. As he knew the end was near, Mary said he was telling Jesus, “I’m ready to go”. On Monday, Jesus reached out His hand and carried Buck home.
Several times as I sat in Bible Study class with Mary on Sunday mornings I would wonder just how she was carrying that heavy load of Buck’s health and the responsibility of their business. Of course I knew that she also had that strong faith that Buck had and she told me yesterday morning that it was only through prayer and faith that she made it through. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary and the family. Buck will be missed.
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Isn’t it a blessing that those sad times in life are mingled with those very wonderfully happy times a family enjoys as well. The picture of Buck with his obituary was taken at a family wedding. Our family will be experiencing one of those joyful celebrations this weekend at the wedding of our oldest granddaughter.
After six months of planning and waiting, the time is here and we’re all very excited. It seems impossible that it has been 21 years ago since God blessed our family with that precious first grandbaby. Now she’s a beautiful bride-to-be.
Sunday as our family of 12 was elbow to elbow around the dining room table we remarked that we would somehow have to be making room for one more now. Well, we will gladly do that because this new grand son-in-law we are getting is the best! You’ve heard the expression ‘this is a bring-home-to-momma kind of guy’. Well, he fits that bill perfectly. Welcome to the family, Brock! Lindsey did good - and you are a pretty fortunate guy as well!
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Several have told us that they enjoyed the Maggie Graham story. Yes, it is interesting to hear tales of what this country was at one time. We really do have a rich western heritage and our imagination can wonder when we think that Indians roamed this very land on which we live today. Wouldn’t it make a great pageant to bring together all the elements of our history - the railroad, the Indians, the Calvary, the early pioneer cattlemen, the early migrants from Mexico and the coming of the automobile and a major highway. Surely there’s someone out there that can take this idea and run with it. Think of the tourist draw that it could be - something similar to the one up at Canyon called “Texas”.
Here is a sidebar that was included with the copy of “The Death of Maggie Graham”.
It’s called “Maggie’s Dog”
A story about a dog and Maggie appears in only one account. It must not, however, be discounted because it came from one who was there. Many years after the events, Guillermo Mesa, known as “Burro” Mendoza, who had been a young employee at Van Horn Station, related his story to fledgling historian, Keith Humphries. He recalled that two days after they had buried ‘la muchchacha bonita’ or pretty girl (his name for Maggie), a collie showed up at the grave. It is not known if the animal belonged to Maggie or to someone else from the wagon train.
When Harry and Sam Graham returned to Fort Davis for medical assistance, the dog tagged along. Then, for some reason, the pooch left the brothers and returned to Van Horn Wells.
The dog was drawn to Maggie’s grave and he soon established himself as her protector. The faithful animal eventually became more possessive and refused to be coaxed away. He growled at those who approached too closely, but he did allow those that fed him and gave him water to come near.
When the station was abandoned, the animal had to learn to fend for himself. Burro Mendoza saw him, still standing vigil, several times afterward, but then one day discovered that the animal had died or had been killed by coyotes. Sadly, but dutifully, Burro gathered the scattered bones and skull and buried them next to his beloved Maggie.
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Thought for the Week...... “A grudge is like a baby, it has to be nursed in order to survive.”
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
July 9th - Directors of the Clark Hotel Historical Museum Association are slated to meet this evening at 6 p.m. at the Clark Hotel Historical Museum.
July 10th - Nothing scheduled at press time.
July 11th - Veterans Fair at the Culberson County Senior Citizens Nutrition Center beginning at 9 a.m.
July 12th - Attend the church of your choice.
July 13th - Culberson County Commissioners’ are slated to meet this morning at 10 a.m. in the County Courthouse. Members of the Van Horn Lions Club are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Sands Restaurant.
July 14th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant.
July 15th - Nothing scheduled at press time.