Page 21 - Mar2023

A Member of the Greatest Generation L eft More than Memories B ehind

Grandaddy was not a young man at that point in the war . . .
in life . . . so when he went to Paris Island (yes, Grandaddy
was a Marine) he was 28, old by some standards of the day
(but seems very, very young to this grandson).

He never skipped a beat and was stationed in California upon
completion of his training, as the war ended two days after
he graduated from Paris Island.
Upon his return to Mississippi, Grandaddy took a position as
'Plant Manager' for what became known, I believe, as the
Tyler Holmes Memorial Hospital, Winona, Montgomery
County, Mississippi.
Grandaddy was in charge of anything physical at the
hospital--anything!. He retired at 65, quit smoking his
filterless Camel cigarettes [just put them down, as he had
said he would, and never picked one up again. When asked
how he could quit such an additive vice Grandaddy simply
said he had 'willpower'. Enough said. ] and lived to the ripe
age of 90, working the land and eating mostly what he grew.
When Grandaddy retired (please remember, he had a third
grade education) he was replaced by not just an Electrical
Engineer but also a Mechanical Engineer. During the first few
years of Grandaddy's retirement he would get calls all hours
of the day and night, that went something like this, "Mr.
Burns, this is (the Mechanical Engineer) at the hospital. Can
you explain how the ___________________ works and what to do
if it sound like __________________?". Grandaddy would either
answer the question or drive down to the hospital, in the Above: Herbert Thornton Burns was
truck, and help them 'fix' the problem. the original owner of this 1961 F 100

As for the truck, Grandaddy had a four door mid-50s Chevy truck, gifted by him to his grandson
sedan that he went to trade in 1961. He offered the Chevy Geoffrey Herring.
and $900 cash. The dealer said he simply could not take the
offer and, like a man who understands his business, and is
respectful of others, Grandaddy thanked the salesman for his
time, got in the Chevy, and drove home.

When he arrived at home the Ford F-100 pulled in behind
him. The salesman got out and asked, "Mr. Burns, would you
allow us to undercoat the truck for $28? Then we can come to
an understanding."

Grandaddy accepted the offer, made the trade, and to this
day that undercoating remains intact. Grandaddy always kept
his cars 'under the carport', something that made his cars a
highly sought after commodity when it was 'Trading Time'!
Geoffrey Herring
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