This Man

1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman.

This man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital , as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.
For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as THIS MAN, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than THIS MAN, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

THIS MAN, the young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years, is a patriot. He could have run (and many have), but he didn't. He served and he sacrificed.

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of the largest UCC congregation in the Nation, Trinity United Church of Christ.

Know This Man. Respect This Man.