Make Us Proud: Memories of A.W. "Rock" Norman, WW1 Veteran, Coach Extraordinaire

By Carlton M. Mullinax

Make Us Proud reflects a personal account of World War 1 told through the stories, humor, and letters of A.W. “Rock” Norman. After the war, he used his experiences to become a well-respected basketball and track coach. Rock Norman coached at Furman University, The Citadel, University of SC-Columbia, and Clemson University. He left a legacy of achievement, dedication, and service to his community.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ambassador International
• Release date: Nov 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781620204757

Book preview

Make Us Proud brings to life A.W. Rock Norman’s unique World War I experience as a soldier athlete through his actual wartime letters to his mother. The letters, combined with a fictionalized telling of his life during and after the war, enhances the reader’s understanding of the man who was such a positive influence for countless young athletes through his 51 years coaching at Clemson University, Furman University, The Citadel, University of South Carolina, and Carlisle Military Academy.

—Dr. Ann C. Carver, PhD

Professor of English Emeritus, UNC-C.

Coach Rock Norman was a fine gentleman and great track coach. He did what all Clemson coaches had to do at that time (after the war): Take what you have and make the best of it.

—Fred Cone

Clemson football 1948-50; Clemson A.C./Recruiter, 60-89

My 3 brothers and I had scholarships to Clemson. Coach Norman was a gentle giant, always expecting the best from his players.

—Bill Hudson, ’59

Pro ball: Canadian League, Montréal; San Diego Chargers; Boston Patriots; retired President/CEO of Diversco

I lived next door to the Normans from 1941-’59. The group of kids around our huge on-campus block, called the backyard club, worshipped Coach Rock. The coach was not only the group’s athletic advisor, but also a keen and knowledgeable outdoorsman who took us fishing, hiking, arrowhead hunting, and exploring in the vast college forest several times a year.

He was also the ‘senior advisor’ for all Daniel High School’s track athletes, and a mentor for Daniel’s young but very promising all-sports coach. Coach Rock even allowed the DHS track team to use the Clemson track and field house facilities. Due much to Coach Rock’s support, DHS became SC Class A track champions during that period. In short, Coach Rock was a mentor, coach, lifetime role model, and hero to an entire generation of Clemson campus kids and DHS athletes.

—Robert L. McGarity, Jr.

Colonel, US Army, Ret.

My father, Frank Howard, hired Rock. I went to Mrs. Norman’s nursery school. One summer I went to Camp Carolina. Coach Norman was a counselor, track coach, and naturalist there. He taught us how to make walking sticks and catch snakes! I was so happy when they named the Track and Field area after him.

—Jimmy Howard ’64

SC Beekeeping Specialist; Sloan St. Tapp Room, Clemson, SC, owner

Coach Rock was an encourager and worked with the players, never yelling or screaming at players. I tried to follow his example when I coached.

—Whitey Jordan,

Asst. Coach, OFF Coordinator, Asst. Head Coach college level for 50 yrs. Clemson ’72, ’93-98; SO. Miss. ‘73-81, SMU ‘82-86;

WF ‘86-88; Fl ‘89; UNC ‘90-92; NFL Europe ’98-2007

Make Us Proud

Memories of A.W. Rock Norman

WWI Veteran, Coach Extraordinaire

A historical memoir with a fictional approach based upon actual World War I letters and sports memorabilia.

© Copyright 2016 Carlton M. Mullinax

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-62020-553-2

eISBN: 978-1-62020-475-7

Cover Design & Page Layout by Hannah Nichols

eBook Conversion by Anna Riebe Raats

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The colophon is a trademark of AE Books

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all the men and women of our armed forces and their families. Thank you for keeping us free.

A special dedication to the memory of two World War I veterans that I knew personally: Lieutenant A. W. Norman and Major H. C. Moore. Your work ethics and values shaped my life.

Make Us Proud is a blending of historical memoirs with a fictional approach. The World War I information is taken from actual letters or reports and sports memorabilia. The story is fictional. The back cover picture is from a postcard advertising the Inter-Allied Games after World War I.

Profits from sale of this book will go to charity.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Once I made a commitment to myself to preserve the World War I letters and to develop an interesting story incorporating these letters, magical things began to happen. Doors that I didn’t even know existed began to open, and information began to come to light. Strangers enthusiastically offered their help. Old acquaintances loaned me their talents in developing a manuscript once they learned I was on a mission to preserve this small part of World War I history. Saying thank you really doesn’t seem adequate, but I say it with heart-felt gratitude.

I wish I could give Bill Norman a big hug for giving me his brother’s treasures from World War I and for having the confidence in me that I would attempt to Make Us Proud! None of this would have materialized without the help of my computer guru and friend, Wyatt McDaniel.

My appreciation and thanks to the following people for their endorsements: Dr. Ann C. Carver; Coach Fred Cone; Bill Hudson; Robert L. McGarity, Jr. Colonel, US Army, Ret.; Jimmy Howard; Coach Whitey Jordan.

Many thanks to: Todd Stevens, Steve Smith, Susan Thoms of the Spartanburg County Library; General Ed Hall; Brenda Burk, Head of Collections and Dennis Taylor, University Archivist, Special Collections, Clemson University; Sam Blackman, Clemson Sports Information; Special Collections, Roanoke College Library; Major Brock Lusk, Ret. USAFR; John Byrum, Photography; Dr. Rob McCormick and Freida Davison, USC UPSTATE; Allen Coleman, Pickens County Museum of Art and History; WWI Museum in Kansas City, MO for their help and advice. Additional thanks to Jim Popp; Elizabeth Winters; Fran Tomasko; Betty Tate DeLorme; Joe Mullinax; All of whom have been guiding lights in this project.

To my family—past and present—and to my friends who have encouraged me: thank you. Without your love for and confidence in me, Make Us Proud would not have been possible.

—Carlton M. Mullinax

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Endorsements

Title Page

Copyright Information

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Life in Rural Virginia

Chapter 2: Training for War

Chapter 3: What’s a Trench?

Chapter 4: War is Not Pretty

Chapter 5: Going to School . . . Again!

Chapter 6: On the Move

Chapter 7: Mail

Chapter 8: Cooties

Chapter 9: The Invitation/What’s in the Bag?

Chapter 10: Athletics

Chapter 11: Inter-Allied Games

Chapter 12: Rescuing a Damsel

Chapter 13: Hidden Treasures

Chapter 14: Lake Hartwell Adventure

Chapter 15: The Aftermath

Chapter 16: The Emergency Room

Chapter 17: Putting the Pieces Back Together

Chapter 18: Grandparents’ Day

Chapter 19: The Big Game! Make Us Proud!

Biography

Further Reading

Aftermath of the Great War

Notes on Sources

A Brief History of World War I

About the Author

Contact Information

CHAPTER 1

LIFE IN RURAL VIRGINIA

THE BRRAT-A-TAT-TAT OF A MACHINE gun brought Willis Norman out of his slumber. I must be dreaming, he thought. Just then, he saw a small figure slipping through the shadows hiding behind the trees as he crossed the yard. Brrat-a-tat-tat. There was that sound again.

The man stayed still, afraid to move. He opened his eyes just enough to see a small figure work its way closer and closer to the man’s house. What am I going to do?

The figure leaped up the steps to the front porch where the man sat, and pointed a gun at him. The figure shouted, I’m taking you prisoner!

Looking at the assailant, the old man pulled his right hand up, formed a pretend pistol with his fingers, and yelled back, Bang, you’re dead!

Hey, that’s not fair! the voice squeaked.

And why not?

‘Cause you didn’t say you’re playing army with me, Henry, the towheaded neighbor boy, said.

Son, in war things are not fair. You have to be prepared for the unexpected, and you always want to have some type of back up. Where’s your back up?

The boy thought a minute, whistled, and a big, fluffy golden retriever came bounding around the house. Guess Scout is my only back up!

The old man chuckled. Well, Scout could create a diversion if he can follow orders.

Oh, he can. Sit. Scout sat. Stay. Scout didn’t move. Come. Scout greeted his master with wet kisses.

Well, it looks like you’ve got good back up. Come on up here and tell me about school. What was something exciting that happened this week?

We went on a field trip to a farm. I didn’t like going into the chicken house—it smelled! But, one of the hens laid an egg while we were there, and we got to bring it back to the classroom! Have you ever been to a farm and seen the animals? I wanted to ride one of the horses. And I got to feed one of the lambs, too. He was so cute.

I thought I had told you about living on the farm in Culpepper, Virginia?

I forgot. Tell me again.

"I grew up in a big, two-story house with lots of windows. One of my sisters’ jobs was to keep the windows washed and the curtains looking fresh. Every one of the windows had a pretty view of the countryside.

"Many houses had been built on that site. For some strange reason they all had burned down, but not ours. During the Civil War when General Grant’s army camped there, the army destroyed all the fruit trees and flowers except for one apple tree. As the story goes, an officer put a guard on duty to protect the tree. There was also one little climbing clematis that survived, and it bloomed early every June. Mama thought it was special because it was a survivor.

I had to live in a pretty large house because I had ten brothers and sisters, plus our parents. There were so many children that we shared a bed with one or two of our siblings! The little ones slept several to a bed just to keep warm. Sometimes we would sneak the cat upstairs and put it under the covers. That cat knew what to do! It would work its way under all the quilts and get to the bottom of the bed. When we climbed in, the foot of the bed would be toasty warm from its body!

I think I’d rather have Scout in the bed with me!

Yes, sir! Scout would have made a good bedfellow! Let’s see—what else? Well, we all had chores we had to do. It didn’t matter how cold it was: the animals still had to have water and food. The eggs had to be gathered. The cows had to be milked. The stalls had to be cleaned out. Hay had to be put out for the horses. And my brother and I did all this before we ate breakfast and got ready for school. One morning it was so cold I thought my fingers had frozen. And sometimes when I milked the cow, she gave milkshakes!

With a startled look on his face, Henry studied the old man. I don’t believe you!

You don’t believe what?

That the cow gave milkshakes! That’s not possible.

And why not?

Well, milkshakes come in flavors, for one thing. They are something people make, not cows! We don’t have a chocolate cow or strawberry cow! Besides, I know you were just testing me to see if I was paying attention!

You are so right!

If you were out at the barn doing all that work, what were the other children doing?

Well, the girls were helping the little ones get dressed and helping Mama in the kitchen. Mama made four big pans of biscuits every morning. If Dad had killed a hog, we sometimes had sausage biscuits for breakfast or took some for lunch. In addition, we had oatmeal or grits to keep our bellies warm while we walked to school.

Mmm, I love sausage biscuits and grits! I bet your Mama was tired when y’all left for school, what with all that cooking!

Probably so, but she ran a tight household. Everybody had jobs.

Suddenly, Scout jumped up, shook his head, and took an attentive stance. He cocked his head and listened, sniffing the air as if he was receiving a message.

What’s Scout doing? Willis asked.

Oh, he heard something. The boy stopped and listened, too. Just then, Scout came bouncing over and licked the boy’s face. Yeah, yeah, I heard it, Henry said.

What’s going on?

Mama was trying to whistle. I gotta get home! Next time can you tell me about the war? I want to know all about it!

Sure thing, soldier! Willis said with a chuckle. I’ll give it some thought!

CHAPTER 2

TRAINING FOR WAR

JUST AS WILLIS WAS TAKING his groceries out of the car, Scout came running to greet him as Henry followed.

What have you got there, Henry? the old man said as he watched the boy and Scout climb the steps.

Mister, I came prepared to talk about war. I have my notebook, pencil, and Dad’s tape recorder.

First thing’s first. War is a large topic, and it would take too long to discuss it all right now. How about we start with some basic information?

Okay. See, my teacher said we should talk to a veteran. She said veterans are old men who have had significant experiences in a world we would never know. We’re supposed to listen, learn, and share their experiences because they fought for our freedom.

"Wow! She’s done a good job of preparing you! Now, the second thing is I want you to call me something else other than Mister. A lot of people call me Coach, Willis, or Rock. What do you feel comfortable calling me?"

Well, Mother said ‘Mister,’ but I think I like Coach.

"Coach it is! Let’s get started. I was drafted in 1917. Drafted means that all men eighteen years or older had a chance of serving in the army. Let’s see if I can explain it to you. When your teacher divides your class up into teams, she might put everyone’s name into a basket and pull out four names. Those four people would be leaders of the day. The team would have a job, and the leader was responsible for getting the job done and for the people on his team. Well, that’s kinda like being drafted. Your name and birthday went