1 What are some of the most significant changes you've seen in your lifetime? Population, there are much more people than it was when I was a child. I remember when you maybe saw one automobile a week and mostly saw horse-drawn buggies on the road. There were a few museums that showed automobiles, but we lived in the coun- try so we mostly saw horse-drawn buggies. That’s the way we traveled. Also, the law was different than what it is now. Back then, we respected the law. 2 What major world events do you remember most vividly? There wasn’t much that meant to us, until WWII. It set a way of life that we had never known. The women went to work, the kids went to work, everybody went to school that could go to school. We had one teacher that taught all eight grades, and we were all in the same room. We weren’t prepared for a war but did what we had to do once we were attacked. I was drafted in 1944. All four of my brothers were drafted as well. I walked across France after the Battle of Normandy was finished in the winter in the snow. The Battle of the Bulge was the last step before we took over Germany. Lots of people were killed, a lot of people killed themselves. War was hell, there is nothing fun about it for anybody. Even the people at home suffered. 3 Is there anything you wish people today knew about the past? I was taught to respect others, not just my parents, I was taught to respect my neighbor. If they had something going on, and needed a little help, it didn’t hurt you to go help. My siblings and I would always run around togeth- er, and we respected each other. When the Army called, my world changed, and I saw another world. I’ve seen bullets go past me that were within feet of me. The people in the Army were like the people at home. They did what they had to do, and they did it to where they could have a decent living. James E. Carter, Ages Wisdom of the 4 What is something you’ve learned that only comes with age? Respect is one of the biggest things. You don’t just respect your kids and your wife, you respect your family and friends. We lived in a small town, but it was self-sustaining. You had all the things that you needed. My mother used to catch a train to Cairo, Illinois to go grocery shopping. 5 What advice would you give to younger generations? Get you an education and respect the Lord. You need the education to make a living and you need the Lord to guide you to live right. 6 If you could go back and change one thing in your life, what would it be? I have always been very thankful for my family. My mother and daddy, they were poor and lived in the country with six of us kids. Who’s to say what you would take and put above other things. Sometimes you don’t have a choice, it is pushed on you. 7 What has been the secret to maintaining your health? My religion had a great part in my life. My family had a great part in my life. I respected them. We didn’t have big arguments, kids might get a spanking, but the kids were highly respected in your thoughts. I think it’s a lot of how you live your life. When I was 18-20, I would drink a little, but I would need money on Monday, so I stopped. I give my parents a lot of credit – we got to go fishing when we wanted, we lived the country life. In the winter, you went to school seven months out of the year. I didn’t have an education; I didn’t blame anybody but me. They had to push me through high school, and then I helped my dad with his business. Then I was drafted into the Army. I have always been very laid back. When my daughter gets upset or mad, I always say, “Now, don’t get too excited about it.” 101 Years Old INTHEVUE.COM | JULY 2025 57
