COMPANY, PLATOON, ATTENTION: HAPPY VETERANS DAY! STAND AT EASE:
- James Jerome Hankin
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
10 November 2025
Veteran's Day Commentary
From Retired Teacher and Veteran Brother James Jerome Hankins
I graduated from the all-Black Williston Senior High School in 1964. Like many of my “money-poor” classmates, I enlisted in the service for the G.I. Bill benefits only. I was not then, and am not now, patriotic. I did not love my “racist” country, but as an active member of the NAACP, I was fighting to change it. I signed up for three years in the ARMY. My shop and math classes were taught by great teachers at Williston, and my score on the military test qualified me for engineering, but they drop-kicked me, like many Black men, into the infantry. I filed complaints through the chain of command, but nothing changed, so I, Sgt. E-5, made the best of a bad situation.
I spent three years in Germany and traveled to Innsbruck, Austria; Amsterdam, Holland; Paris, France; Lucerne, Switzerland; and Rome, Italy. As a cradle Catholic, I was blessed to attend the Wednesday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica with Pope Paul VI as celebrant. I wrote my father that I had an audience with the Pope. I did not mention that there were 7,000 other people there as well. (Smile.) After returning to civilian life, I utilized my G.I. Bill benefits to pursue four years of study at N.C. A&T State University, where I earned a degree in Building Construction. That knowledge helped me pass the state tests to obtain licenses as a General Contractor and a Real Estate Broker. I also purchased my home using the G.I. Bill.
I was hired to teach “shop” at my old school, Williston. I taught for 28 years in New Hanover County Schools and 6 years in the YouthBuild program. My students were not allowed to say, “I can't,” in my class. I painted on the walls of each shop: “YES I CAN.” Whenever a student said that “curse word can’t,” I pointed to the wall and made them say, “YES I CAN.” I met an excellent, well-dressed, good-looking math teacher at Williston, married her, and we now have a wonderful son. I say to all my fellow veterans, “EYES RIGHT.” You deserve that for your service. General Douglas MacArthur said, “Old soldiers never die, but they love to read, read, and read.” I am inviting you to read and share my inspirational “how-to” book, “WHAT WE BLACKS NEED TO DO PART 2,” with your family and friends. You can find all the information on my Facebook page, James Hankins, or Google me, James Jerome Hankins. COMPANY, PLATOON, DISMISSED. (Smile!)
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