The Greatest Generation of Kansas Lawyers
| Publication year | 2011 |
| Pages | 16 |
| Citation | Vol. 80 No. 3 Pg. 16 |
By Watthew D. Keenan.
Introduction[1]
Tom Brokaw, in his book "The Greatest Generation," quotes historian John Keegan for the proposition that the Second World War "is the largest single event in human history, fought across six of the world's seven continents, and all its oceans. It killed 50 million human beings, left hundreds of millions others wounded in mind or body, and materially devastated much of the heartland of civilization." Brokaw notes that, for these soldiers, every day for four years or more "they knew, intensely, great danger, separation, death, heroism, uncertainty, accomplishment, and cruelty."
This article is dedicated to 19 men who experienced every bit of the emotional continuum described by Brokaw. Kansas lawyers all, with ages ranging from 83 to 90. All retired save one, living across the country, and sharing a common experience - serving on behalf of our country in World War II. They are, identified by age, the following:
Tom Boone, 83
Charles Svoboda, 83
Glenn Opie, 84
Wayne Probasco, 84
Edwin Wheeler, 84
G. Taylor Hess, 85
C. Stanley Nelson, 85
John Bausch, 85
Emerson Shields, 85
Robert Green, 86
Arnold Nye, 86
Donald Patterson, 86
Lester Arvin, 87
Aubrey Bradley, Jr., 87
Robert Bates, 88
Alfred Holl, 89
Richard Rogers, 89
Glee Smith, 89
William Mullins, Jr., 90
What started with a series of questionnaires to all Kansas Bar members born in 1930 or before, something I named the "Legacy Project," has grown into this. And for those other World War II veterans out there that I've missed, please send me your biographical information for inclusion in a forthcoming issue.
Beyond serving the country, and joining the Kansas bar, these 19 share a few other things: They have been married for an average of 60 years to the same woman, they joined the service at ages ranging from 18 to 15 (John Bausch), and they shared adventures no one could possibly foresee. They leapt into history, traveled halfway around the world, and asked no questions about what awaited them.
Most were born into a world defined by county lines, not country borders. All that changed on December 7, 1941. With the future of the world in the balance, they said their goodbyes and left.
Whether it's Stan Nelson in the Marines, Bill Mullins in the Army, or Aubrey Bradley and Emerson Shields in the Air Force - here are their stories. Some retired as brigadier general (William Mullins), others captain (Edwin Wheeler), and a few more as staff sergeant (Wayne Probasco) or tech sergeant (C. Stanley Nelson).
Tom Brokaw stated that these historical events gave us "the greatest generation any society has ever produced. ... These men and women fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. When they came back they rebuilt America into a superpower."
For these 19 Kansans, one can reach no other conclusion.
Feature Article: The Greatest Generation ...
THOMAS C. BOONE, AGE: 83
Kansas Lawyer
Admitted: 1956
Military Experience: U.S. Navy (1945-46)
Thomas C. Boone
My Story: I am a Naval veteran having served in the 7th Fleet in the Southwest Pacific. I was in route from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center to Okinawa preparing for the invasion and occupation of Japan at the time the atomic bomb was dropped and the war ended. I was rerouted to the Philippines where I served the balance of my enlistment.
Personal: I married at the age of 23. My wife and I have two children and one adopted daughter: Sarah Rebekkah, who teaches English and French in Saudi Arabia, Caleb is an attorney, and Rachel is completing her master's in English this year. Rachel was, literally, left by her mother on my doorstep at age 2 months.
CHARLES R. SVOBODA, AGE: 83
Kansas Lawyer
Admitted: 1951
Military Experience: U.S. Navy Air Corps (1945-47)
Aviation Cadet
Charles R. Svoboda
My Story: Charles R. Svoboda, age 83, and a veteran of World War II, graduated from high school at Lawrence at 17 years of age. With WWII in full swing, being drafted was imminent. I had always wanted to fly and the Navy Air Corps was seeking applicants in Kansas City. A month before my high school graduation, I came to Kansas City to apply, and I spent five days taking tests, mental, psychological, physical, and intelligence. I succeeded in passing and was sworn in as an aviation cadet the following week. We were required to have three semesters of college before flight training, and I was ordered to report to the University of Notre Dame in July a month after my graduation to satisfy that requirement.
Having completed the three semesters by the following July, I was then ordered to Naval Air Station Dallas for flight training where I served until reporting for the next stage of training in mid January. However, fortunately the atomic bomb had been dropped on Japan and the war was over. I say fortunately, because I later found out that our mission was to be the advance d-strike force for the invasion of Japan, with estimated casualties of 85 percent for our flight group.
With the war being over and the large number of fighter pilots in the Navy, a Navy career did not appear promising, and despite the fact that I had signed on to serve eight years, the Navy permitted me to resign and I was honorably discharged. My home being Lawrence, I enrolled at Kansas University's School of Engineering.
Three semesters later, because of a good grade average, I was invited to join Tau Beta Pi (the engineering equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa) and Pi Tau Sigma, an honorary mechanical engineering fraternity. Because of the large number of returning war veterans enrolling, an increase of faculty members was required, and because of my grades, I was asked to teach some engineering courses my senior year. Upon graduation from the engineering school, I decided to enroll in KU's Law School, and graduated two years later in 1951. I continued teaching in the engineering school during the two years while I was in law school. My two years in law school presented a problem when the law school dean was reviewing my record for graduation although I met the academic requirements, there was a except for the six semester residency requirement so I filed a request for a waiver, which was granted. I took the Kansas Bar exam in September 1951, passed and was admitted. I then took the Missouri Bar exam in October, passed and was admitted in November 1951.
Personal: Married 60 years, January 27, 1951, to Margaret Jean with five children: Nancy (attorney), Jimmy, Bill, Michael, and Ann. I have been a trial lawyer for 55 years utilizing my education in engineering, specializing in construction, technical, and tort litigation in many state and federal jurisdictions and the Court of Federal Claims. I have held an AV pre-eminent rating with Martindale Hubbell for legal ability and ethical standards for more than 30 years.
GLENN OPIE, AGE: 84
Kansas Lawyer
Admitted: 1954
Military Experience: U.S. Navy (1944-46)
Radioman, 2nd Class
Glenn Opie
My Story: I remember radio and December 7, 1941. I was a 15-year-old at Great Bend High School at the time and was a newspaper carrier for the Great Bend Tribune. I believe it was a first for Great Bend - newsboys selling "extras" on street corners: "Read all about it .. Japs attack Pearl Harbor." The following year, I would be recruited by the Navy for its V-12 Officers Program. I was rejected because I didn't have 20/20 eyesight at the time, but still ended up, in May, at Great Lakes Navy (Boot) Training Camp.
Before that, however, nearly all of us high school boys were excited over the prospect of being in the service - and it was heightened because some of us worked on building a B-12 Base near Great Bend (a few weeks before we graduated). The enthusiasm, and indeed near euphoria, I had of getting in the Navy was just overwhelming. Nearly all high school grads just couldn't wait to serve. Now some of us going into the service are applauded because of our bravery. Actually, I was not in the least brave - I just wasn't smart enough to relate to what could happen to me; it was going to be a great adventure.
Navy boot camp, as it impacts a high school boy, is just hard to describe . lot's of drilling, learning how to handle a rifle, hand-to-hand combat, etc., were just a few matters I could hardly comprehend. However, in addition to learning about serving aboard a ship, because I could type, a part of my duties involved my employment as a secretary for the Catholic and Lutheran chaplains serving our company of recruits. I also sang Sundays in the Great Lakes Navy Blue Jacket Choir (about 400 men), but they were strong enough to overcome my presence. It was "really something" to sing with this group, many of whom were opera stars or professional musicians.
After boot camp and an aptitude test, I was assigned to Navy Radio School in Los Angeles, where we learned international Morse code (dits and das). Now for a country high school kid from Nowhere, Kansas, all of a sudden finding himself an implant in Los Angeles, was just mindboggling. I had been to a few high school dances, but The Hollywood Canteen was sort of like heaven, and not just girls (millions of them), but Hollywood actresses.
I was assigned to a ship in the South Pacific, but the trip from Los Angeles was an incredible ordeal. At least 7,000 men were aboard and most were seasick for days. I remember a Marine security sentry aboard the ship was trying to force a near comatose sailor to stand watch, but he simply could not stand up. The Marine threatened to shoot him for insubordination; the man couldn't even raise his head. He simply told the Marine, "Do it (shoot me now)." Of course, that wouldn't have...
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