KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Two turning points in the life of East Tennessee Navy veteran Jim Hodge came 40 years apart, but both are tied to his war service.
“Boy come by and said, ‘Hodge, you want to go to chow first, or you want me to?' I said, '(You) go ahead,' and they never did even find his body,” said Hodge.
He was around 5'6" tall and weighed 123 pounds when he joined the Navy in 1948. The furthest the young Blount County native had been from home prior to joining the military was Knoxville. He's now 93 years old but was 19 years old when a mine explosion tore open a hole in his warship, killing a fellow sailor from South Dakota and around a dozen others.
“That’s the Brush,” he said. “It didn’t hit me until later, but it hits me now. We were both 19 years old."
Decades after his five years of Navy service, he would be asked to attend a reunion. It was an invitation he accepted and then regretted. He wanted to leave right after arriving at the hotel. But, his wife suggested they at least attend breakfast. Hodge spotted a familiar face and that was all he needed.
The reconnections with his old shipmates turned out to be one of the more memorable times in his life, all thanks to his wife of almost 70 years.
“(She) said, 'You feel better now?.' Yeah, (I did),” said Hodge.
The mine blast and then the reconnection with fellow sailors served as two key turning points in the long life of the machinist mate who grew up at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains.
He also took time to answer the following 10 questions about the influence his military service had on the rest of his life. The questions and his answers are below.
1. What one person influenced you most in life?
big brother older brother Raymond
in Navy at the beginning of WWII
engine room in the Pacific
2. Do you feel honored and respected for serving your country?
I did most of the time. Honor that I could do it.
3. How can people thank you for your service?
Love it when people say “thank you”. Love to see my cap.
4. How do you honor your fellow servicemen and women?
With the highest of honor. Greatest honor in the world. Usually shale their hand and learn a bit about their story
5. How do you think this generation of service men and women is different or similar to yours?
Most people in service they are just a notch above
6. What influence did your military service have on the rest of your life?
My dad walked softly and carried a big stick so I already knew discipline. I helped younger boys stay in school. In the 30’s went back to school and earned GED
7. Does your family have a history of military service?
both brothers served in navy and brother in laws
8. Would you encourage your son, daughter or other younger generations in your family to join the service?
Hesitant. I’d like to see some changes in strengthening the force before I would recommend.
9. How has your opinion of war changed?
I was on the water but what I have seen the Korean people are so appreciative courtesy
10. How did your military experience shape your faith?
Christian when I went in…and when I got out.