Tuesday, April 17, 2018

it would not be...

...appropriate to have April 15 on the calendar without taking the opportunity to remember my dad. Today is the day everyone in the USA is required to submit tax returns, often accompanied by a check made out to the IRS. My dad, a devoted patriot, found the IRS despicable. I can only assume the animosity was in a convoluted way due to his work ethic. Meaning he worked hard to support his family, was self employed most of his life, and knew he earned every dollar that came his way. Making him profoundly reluctant to turn it over to the government without a whimper. He never failed to write the check and send the funds, according to the bottom line of the convoluted document he faithfully deciphered and completed each year. But he did wait until April 14 to mail the check. Determined to never give them more than due, or a moment before the law prescribed.

 My dad knew long before the US became involved in armed conflict that caused him to serve in the European Theater of WWII that he wanted to serve his country. When he went off to college, he chose a military school, and was an active participant in the ROTC program at the two year school he attended. He transferred to a four year university  (if I am correct, the University of Georgia was the first one established in the state and possibly the nation?) and continued to be active in ROTC. Upon graduating with a Business degree, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army.

The details get a little obscure here, and I am not so sure about the specifics. He returned to south GA. awaiting orders, where he settled into small town life living with his parents. Armed conflict was brewing across Europe and he surely knew it would only be a matter of time before he was called into active service. He found a job, and went to work. I have a clear memory of him telling about the news flash on the radio: the Japanese bombing in Hawaii. He was driving home on that Sunday morning, and said he turned the car around and went back to tell his supervisor at work he would not be returning to his job.

He was activated, called up to serve, trained in artillery, given a company to command, went to England and then to France.  After the armistice, he returned to GA to go into business with his dad, was discharged from active duty, married, raised a family. But continued his service in the National Guard (taking a reduction in rank to get into the local Guard unit) as well as years spent in the Reserves. I know he received retirement income,as well as some very good benefits through the VA as a result of his devotion to service, that provided care and Rx for both he and my mom.

My brain is programmed to be hyper aware of April 15. It will always cause me to think of him and his very strong feelings about the IRS. The man who faithful in giving Uncle Sam his due, but not a minute early.

post script: When April 15 falls on a weekend, the IRS generously allows extra time for people who knew on January 1 that 4-15 was coming. All those foot-draggers who waited until last week, scrambling to get receipts, documents, medical bills together had until today, when the gov'mit relocated the 15th to the 17th. Thus my tale about my dad arriving two days after Income Tax Day.

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