Thomas Morris is my oldest living relative. Born on November 20, 1952, he sits at 71 years-old. Tom is my grandfather on my mother’s side. I’ve always had a good relationship with him and most relatives on my mother’s side. Tom is a private person, I was excited to interview and pry him open on his intense life.
My grandfather has always been the stereotypical tough guy. Black Ford 5-150, muscular, shotgun in the driveway if you are a stranger type. However, as his granddaughter, I rarely saw this side. My most fond memories of my grandfather is when I would spend a weekend at his and my grandmother’s house. They would cook me breakfast with a side of this specific milk (that I buy for myself now, thanks to them) and we would sit in the living room, listening to classic rock. No television, no phones, no computers. Just the stereo, oh – and he always had his sneakers on.
My grandfather served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1974. He served in California and Korea. The first memory that came to mind was “vividly remember[ing] sleeping in a tent at 25 below zero with no heat while at The Demilitarized Zone for 30 days.” He stated that was one of the hardest parts of being deployed.
My grandfather arrived back in the U.S. in 1974, he landed at the San Francisco airport and was greeted with protesters spitting on him and other troops as soon as they were off the plane. Tom said that it was insulting and saddening but he understood that was “the way of things in San Fran at the time,” a lot of people did not support the war. My now late grandmother, Joyce, was waiting for him to return home to the U.S. for three years.
While my grandfather was deployed, Joyce lived in an apartment above a record store in downtown Denver. Joyce and Tom met at 14-years-old and were together since. After he returned, they decided to move to Iowa together. They got married a year after Tom returned, in August of 1975. Nine months later, my uncle, Jake, was born in De Moines, IA.
Jake also served in the U.S. Army from 1994 to 1997. He served in Haiti, Panama, Pakistan and Belize. My grandfather said it is easier to talk about the Army from Jake’s perspective sometimes. I have personally never heard Jake talk about his experience in the Army. Tom told me it was because Jake earned an expert infantryman badge and airborne jump wings. He explained that the expert infantryman badge was a better way of saying “sniper” without scaring people. The airborne jump wings were earned from jumping out of planes. My grandfather said that when Jake returned, he refused to talk about how many people were killed and said he would never go back to any jungle, ever. My grandfather said that most people who have served, rarely talk about it. It brings up feelings and memories that have been repressed for a reason.
Tom Morris has lived a full life and continues to do so everyday. Love you Grandpa Mo!
