My daddy, Alvin J. Walton, served in the Navy during World War II. When Daddy was drafted, he was given a choice to join the Army or the Navy. He chose the Navy. He was the oldest of 12 children. His father was a farmer and that was the only life Daddy had ever known. When drafted in 1943 he was sent to Pensacola, Fla., for training. He told my mother later he thought he would never see home again. From San Francisco he boarded a ship to Japan. He was stationed there until his discharge in 1946. It took six weeks for the ship to return to San Francisco. From there he was put on a train to Tennessee, and then a bus to Winfield, Ala. He started walking home to Fayette, Ala., a distance of 20 miles. A stranger picked him up and carried him all the way home.
After Daddy returned home in 1946, he joined The American Legion and remained a member until his death on Jan. 4, 2017. He died two days before his 93rd birthday. Daddy farmed his entire life and retired in 2010 because of bad health. He was proud to serve his country during WWII and The American Legion also. We are continuing his tradition with the Legion.