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photo by Marcus Frazier
Harry Roth fibbed about his age to get into the U.S. Army. He served for 30 years, including time in Vietnam. Now, he enjoys the plants in his yard, below.
White lie changes course of life
Published Monday, July 14, 2008
VIDALIA — Lots of teenagers lie about their age. Sometimes, it may make them feel older just to say they’re older. Others may do it to impress people.
But when 17-year-old Harry Roth did it, it started a 30-year-plus stretch as a member of the U.S. Army.
When The Dart landed near Roth’s house on Dogwood Street in Vidalia, he had been out of the military for a long time — he retired from the service in 1972 — but he still remembered signing up.
“I had an eight year older brother in the army,” Roth said. “He decided to do it, and I decided to follow him.”
It was then Roth decided to fib on his forms to be admitted into the armed forces.
That little white lie took Roth across the world, and during his time in the military he saw a lot of south Asia — in World War II he was assigned to the South Pacific theater of war, he served three times in the Korean conflict and did a tour in the Vietnam War.
He decided to retire when the Army wanted him to go back to Vietnam a second time, Roth said.
“They were going to send me back, and I said, ‘No,’” he said.
Now 84, Roth worked for Sanderson Farms and then Patton Scaffolding before retiring for good 15 years ago.
These days, Roth keeps busy by mixing his hobbies — woodworking and gardening.
In a large flowerbed in front of his house, he planted gladiolus, petunias, lilies and other bulbs.
But just in case those bulbs — which have just started to peek out of the ground into the mid-July heat — don’t make it, Roth has handcrafted wooden tulips planted in the garden as well.
“I just cut them out with a jigsaw and then I paint them,” he said. “I can make approximately 10 a day.”
Comments
Posted by Morpheus (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for your service, Mr. Roth.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 1:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad you went and glad you came out safely.
Posted by Blasterhappy (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 4:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From one vet to another...Thank you!
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank You for your service to us and to our country! We will forever be in your and in the debt to all who have served.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My Daddy lived about his age to get into WWII.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry I meant to write LIED nor lived----That was a senior moment.
Posted by blessed_momma (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
God bless you, Mr.Roth! Thank you for ALL you have done for our country.
My Grandpa done the same thing as you. He falsified his age a bit. He just wanted to serve our country. He had his wisdom teeth early so they believed him. He served in WWII and the Korean war.
I thank you so much for the sacrifices that you made so my children and I can be free and safe. May God richly bless you in every possible way!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks to all our veterans, including Mr. Roth, blessed's Grandpa, and Blasterhappy! I just luuuuuuv yall! Mere words can't express how I feel about our vets and the ultimate sacrifice they made to keep our country free.
I don't mind you lied about your age because of your patriotism, Mr. Roth. I love you more because of it! Two tours in Korea and one in Vietnam. MY HERO!!!!!
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you sir!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My grandmother lied too, but she had to make her age a little younger! She was in the Army Nurses Corp.
Posted by cooper3k1 (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I first read this, I read it wrong...I thought it said he had an 8 yr old brother that had done it...not 8 yr OLDER brother. It kind of confused me until I went back an re-read it.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice man.
When he's in the mood to speak.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonderful story. My dad lied about his age to get his first legal job and when he went to sign up for social security the lady asked him how he had been paying in the system since he was 13...he laughed about till the day he died....July 18, 2002....
Posted by vidalia1 (anonymous) on July 14, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Mr. Roth and the right to speak or not to speak is your well earned right.Enjoy your hobbies.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
vidalia1
You are absolutely right! My problem (beside being overlyfreindly) is when I speak I feel out of "common" courteousy the least someone could do would be to nod. Better not press my luck he may deside to turn the water hose on me.
Posted by zzzzipy (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for serving your country! The Greatest Generation!!!!
My Dad did the same thing when he joined the Navy for WWII. He was 15 and altered his birth certificate to make him look 17, my grandparents signed the papers and away he went to the South Pacific. He mostly served on the USS Arkansas as a gunner.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A true hero indeed. Gracious and a multitude of thanks.
Posted by xfloodman (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you sir for your service in the armed services. I too served during the Viet Nam era. My oldest son was in the Marines and my longest son was an Army Airborne Ranger who served in Alfganistan. He later went to work for Blackwater Security and served five tours in Baghdad. Again, thank you for your bravory and servive for the USA. AMEN!!!!!
Posted by vidalia1 (anonymous) on July 16, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so use to people not responding so I just dont speak again.How is the weather down there?You have some pretty good comments here from time to time.I enjoy reading them.(These comments are for over the hill)
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