A few weeks ago, I retrieved the mail and discovered, among the bills and junk mail, a package. When I opened the package, I found that it contained a book. That’s not unusual as both my wife and I are voracious readers. However, I did not order this book which bore the title, “A Jarhead’s Journey.” The Urban Dictionary defines “jarhead” as, “A member of the United States Marine Corps. When used by civilians it could be considered derogatory, but it is used often among Marines. The term originates from the ‘high and tight’ haircut that many Marines have, which makes their head look like a jar. It did NOT originate from their uniform or cover.” The author was Jim Lowe. I thought, “That name sounds familiar. Where do I know that name?”
When I opened the book, I found a letter from Mr. Lowe. Several years back, he had sent me a story about a conversation that he and his father had following Lowe’s return from service in Vietnam. With his permission, I had included the story in an article. I remembered the story and I remembered him. Now, in my hands was a book that he had written and had sent to me as a gift. Since I was going to San Antonio the following week, I took the book to read on the plane.
As I read, I came to understand that Mr. Lowe had started out compiling stories of his life so that they could be passed on to his children and grandchildren. He originally intended to just have the stories on a CD and have it available. At the encouragement of his wife, he decided to write a book instead. It was a good decision.
“A Jarhead’s Journey” tells Lowe’s own personal story from childhood, to graduation from Notre Dame, to his father’s bitter disagreement with Lowe’s decision to become a Marine Corps officer rather than go to law school (his father said that he was wasting his life joining the “army” and becoming a soldier”), to combat in Vietnam, to his return home to a nation in conflict, to battles with the Veteran’s Administration about injuries suffered while on active duty, and to his subsequent years as a professional and retirement.
It is not a “war story,” although Vietnam, and the difficult transition to peacetime, is seen through the eyes of a combat Marine. It is not a love story, though Lowe’s affection for his young bride shines through beyond five decades of marriage. It is not a story of a self-proclaimed hero. In fact, Lowe’s self-depreciating manner and humility is endearing. What it is, is the story of a man who saw his duty and did it, raised a family and built a life, overcame obstacles and challenges, and kept his wits, his humor, and his faith. In writing the story of his life for his children and grandchildren, he has allowed others to enter into his story and be inspired.
Several days later, as I put down the book after finishing the last chapter, the thought I had was that everyone should do what Jim Lowe did. Everyone should, in some manner and fashion, tell their story for future generations. After all, everyone has a story and no two lives are the same. I wish my own father had left something behind that would have told me about his life on the farm in a place called “Poor Valley,” his service in World War II in the Navy, the struggles of making a life for his family, including times of unemployment and working two, even three, jobs. But Dad was a private man so I never heard the stories. We all have a story to tell, we all have our own unique journey. My thanks to Jim Lowe for sharing his own story and for reminding me that every life, in some way, is truly heroic.
David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg, GA (www.ctkcec.org) . He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org
