TIFTON — Some memories never fade.
J.D. Lindsey fought in the World War II battle of Okinawa 66 years ago, yet the memories are as fresh as if he had just left the field of battle. Lindsey shares some memories with a chuckle and a gleam in his eye, while others are difficult to put to words.
His journey to war began when he was 16 and tried to enlist, only to be turned away because of his young age. He tried again on May 7, 1943, having turned 18 in March of the same year. This time Uncle Sam welcomed Lindsey into the fold. “Do you know how I decided which branch of the service to join?” Lindsey asks, leaning forward with a twinkle in his eye. “Well, you see, the Army had those slouchy uniforms. I knew I didn’t want to wear that.” Lindsey cuts his eye at his friend, a former Army Green Beret officer Dalton Goodson, hoping to get some reaction from him. Goodson simply shakes his head and smiles tolerantly. Lindsey continues, “Then, you know the Navy had those bell bottom pants with the bottom so big it covered up their whole shoe. Nah. I didn’t want to wear that either. Then I was in Jacksonville and I saw a Marine go walking by. Now that was a uniform I could wear! There he was in his white belt and that navy blue jacket. So, I joined the Marines. I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” recalls Lindsey, his tone sobering as he spoke those telling words.