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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1968WISHFUL THINKING .. . Three-year-old Toni Lynn Webb and her grandfather, Sgt. Maj.looks closely at pictures of her dad- Walter Webb, left, who are bothdy, First Lt. Royce Webb, right, serving in Viet Nam. (Staff photo)It’s an unusual situation, considering that very few other women share the same plight. It means the anxiety and worry most mothers when their son is in com is twice as great, knowing that an only son, as well as a husband, are confront with the same kind of ger.While she is making a home in Athens with her young granddaughter, Toni Lynn, Sgt. Major Walter O. Webb and her son, First Lieutenant Royce A. Webb, are fighting a war in a remote part of the world.Sgt. Webb arrived in Viet Nam in December. His son followed in January. They are stationed at an Armv base on the outs gon.“I'm proud of them both,”By JEWEL MOOREra Webb has twoimportant interests in theViet Nam war — a husbandand a son.ProudHubby/Both Serving (n Viet Namsaid the wife and mother. “I would rather have them in Viet Nam than here protestNot unlike other mothers,however, Mrs. Webb remainsalert to any bits of news about the grueling war. Until she receives a letter from her husband or son, she can never feel that they are completely safe from one day to the n^xt.ing like some Americans have done.”The father is with the GlOth Maintenance Battalion of the 1st Aviation Brigade while his son is a helicopter pilot with the brigade’s 128th assault helicopter company.She feels sympathy for other wives or mothers who experience the same anxiety.But she sees a certain advantage, which is a small consolation, both husband and son in the war torneountr”“It makes me feel a little safer knowing that if one of them is injured, the other will be nearby to help,” shecommented.Both Sgt. Webb and his son are stationed at the same base. They are separated only by a wide stretch of air strip.“They can contact each other or else visit together whenever an opportunity is available,” the Athens housewife pointed out.Sgt. Webb has served 27 years in the U. S. Army and is scheduled to retire in 19-70. He plans to return to his home town of Athens to spent his retirement years.Mrs. Webb now lives in Colvin Apartments on Sanders St., but will be moving shortly to their new home in the Cartwright Community. Their future home is located on Buck Island Rd. It will be their first permanenthome together.Since arriving here in December, Mrs. Webb admitted that she and her granddaughter have been “living out of a suitcase.” They moved to Athens from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland where her husband was stationed with the Army, hoping their new home would be ready for them.She stored her furniture in Decatur and decided to move into the apartment house temporarily, upsetting the plans she had made for herself and the three-year-oldgranddaughter.The adjustment to a settled life has not been easy for a person like Mrs. Webbwho has traveled with hoi -husband in Europe, Japan* Alaska and other forcigrj _ places. Settling in one com', munity takes courage, just f as moving across the conti« j nent to a new country.She looks forward to 1970 when her husband plans to return to his hometown. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Por*^ ter Webb who live on Elkr*'-ton St., are just as eager tlt;9U have their eldest son in their midst again.Mrs. Webb’sson is a p*?parently following in hfootsteps. He has dfcv*didalmost 30 years ago.The Webbs also have t^-*-married daughter who liv C'H at Tuscaloosa. '?**Sgt. Webb and his sorC were home for a brief visit--in December before depart; ing for Viet Nam. They arc' scheduled to complete a year’s tour of duty before being transferred to another assignment.
Newspaper Details
Athens Alabama Courier
Athens, Alabama, US
Thu, Feb 29, 1968
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Kristi A.
USA 04 Nov 2019
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