Published by The Daily Star Newspaper in Oneonta, NY
Memories invoke writing
By Cheryl Petersen
Conveying the word “veteran” in its broadest meanings, 97-year old, John Powers, talks about life and his recent online publication of two stories titled, “The good deed,” and “The redemptive omelet.”
The short stories are posted on the National American Legion website. They are historical fiction, complete with scents, noises, feelings, and imagery depicting war.
Written about ten years ago, Powers said, “I couldn’t have written them earlier in life. When I was younger, I wasn’t aware of what I was living. I didn’t know my feelings. I was immature. It required reflection and reminiscing to mature and be able to write what I did. I’m honored my stories got published.”
Born and raised in Oneonta, yet living half a century in Davenport Center, Powers’ memory is so clear, he can see right through it to what’s important.
Fortitude.
Always a lightweight, Powers didn’t have the size or speed to excel in sports when in high school. “I weighed 120 pound. But one noon hour at school, I got into a fight with a big guy. A crowd gathered and I knocked him out,” said Powers. “At the end of the year, the fight was voted by the students as the most exciting event of the year. The school officials didn’t want the vote in the yearbook, but the editor kept it there.”
Powers realized he liked to fight. To keep it legit, he started training as a boxer and went on to compete with other fighters in the New York southern tier region.
In 1944, Powers enlisted in the Army Coast Artillery. “I was stationed in San Diego, California, then shipped to Kiska Island in the Aleutian Islands as part of the campaign to keep the enemy out of the northern Pacific,” he said.
When the Pacific was secured, the Army shanghaied me into the 10th Mountain Division,” he said, with a sly humor that frequently enters his conversation.
Powers became a member of the 10th Mountain Division of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment of Company F.
“For 3 months, we trained at 7,000’ altitude in Colorado. Then I trained in Texas,” said Powers. “It was all the same to me. Walking.”
But, it was in Texas that Powers encountered lightweight boxer, Al (Bummy) Davis, who had earlier fought against welterweight champion, Fritzie (Croat Comet) Zivic, at Madison Square Garden.
“Davis was barred after the fight with Fritzie, and wanted to work his way back up to the title. That’s why he fought me. But the people were behind me,” said Power, who added. “I got to know Bummy personally. Nice guy, but tragic death. He was fearless and tried to stop a robbery. Shot dead in 1945.”
The 10th Mt. Division was shipped to Italy, where Powers served as a Lineman, stringing communication wire on the ground for miles upon miles, thus the walking. All wires convened, “In a cellar for a central communication,” said Powers, who also had to repair the wires damaged by foes.
It was constant danger. A target for snipers.
“The 10th Mt. Division broke all records. One in ten were killed and five in ten were wounded,” said Powers, who witnessed the worst and the best in humanity in the year before the war ended.
Gratitude.
Not only on Veteran’s Day, but every day, Powers, “Thinks about other veterans and our experiences. The army was a great experience. I’m a better person for having served. The 10th Mt. Division enlarged my scope of life outside of Oneonta.”
Powers recalled his fellow Division members. “At first I thought they were nuts. However, a deep respect for them grew in me. They endured hardship, never retreated, and got the job done,” he said.
After reflecting for a few seconds, Powers added, “Very real friendships develop when you are in combat.”
Powers reminisces with only one regret. “I didn’t say goodbye to all the men,” he explained.
When the Division sailed into New York City, the men were relieved and the public showered them with praise. The excitement was distracting and the men got on with their lives. “The 10th Mt. Division was given a 30-day furlough and I didn’t think to tell the members a proper goodbye. I didn’t stay in contact with many of them,” said Powers, who still holds high regard for his mates.
Otherwise, he never dreams about the war. “I don’t even dream about being in the military. No nightmares,” he said.
Civilian Powers returned to Oneonta and married, Clarabelle. “Her sister introduced us. She was peeling potatoes when we met,” said Powers, with an enchanted smile. He’d discovered that Clarabelle had the hots for him. She had cut out Daily Star newspaper clippings announcing my receipt of military awards including two bronze awards: Meritorious Service and Heroic Achievement.
Feeling as though he always ran into good luck, Powers worked at Aspen Tree Company, Delaware Hudson Railroad, and then, “Thirty years at General Electric, a good place to work,” he said.
The key to his mastery of goodness and fortune?
“I affirm life,” Powers said.
Magnitude.
The talent to reflect on life through the eyes of life itself, rings throughout Powers’ way with words. A sentence from, “A Good Deed,” reads: “Their company commander, a stocky built, black bearded captain emitted power and enormous physical strength. He held a carbine like it was a toy gun and shook it in impotent rage. His anger at another senseless death galvanized the robotized men in the group who had gathered around the dead soldier.”
Words are familiar to Powers, as he is a prolific reader. When a child, Powers lived near the Huntington Library. “Our backyard was Huntington Park, and Mom sent us to the library all the time,” he said.
After retirement, numbers became important as Powers became an avid Bingo player. “I play at the American Legions in Oneonta and Delhi. I also play Bingo at the Elks in Oneonta and Cobleskill. Every chance I can get,” said Powers, offering another short story.
“At Cobleskill, it was the last game of the night, and I had to go to the bathroom. I told the guy sitting next to me that I only needed one more number to win. When I returned from the bathroom, I’d won $170. Yep, the number 72 was hollered when I was in the john and I got Bingo,” he said.
Unafraid to use his own first name as another word for the loo, Powers shows it’s the meaning behind the words that comes first.
The meaning behind the resolution to enact Veteran’s Day many years ago, is kept alive as Powers, and others, commemorate November 11, “with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
In his short stories, Powers also uses words from the Bible. He said, “Only because using Bible references is part of literature. I’m agnostic.”
True to the spirit though, when getting up to go our separate ways, Powers says with his whole heart, “Thanks for coming and God bless you.”
Powers’ stories can be read at: http://www.legion.org/stories/my-time-uniform/redemptive-omelet and http://www.legion.org/stories/my-time-uniform/good-deed
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