1Lt Joe Henry (J.H.) Childs

1Lt Joe Henry (J.H.) Childs. Disabled American Veteran. Joe Henry (J.H.) Childs was born in Cross Plains on 17 January 1920. He attended Cross Plains schools where he was an outstanding athlete in multiple sports. He graduated from Cross Plains High School in 1938 and played on the freshman football team at Texas Tech University under legendary coach Pete Cawthon. He returned to Brownwood in 1939 and played football at Daniel Baker College. He set the NCAA quick kick record which still stands today. J.H. married Carolyn June Byrd on 24 December 1941 in Brownwood. After Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, J.H. Enlisted in the army on 22 December 1941. He attended infantry school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 26 September 1942. He sailed from Hawaii on 20 July 1943 for duty as an infantry unit commander in New Guinea and Luzon, Philippines. J.H. was promoted to First Lieutenant (1Lt) on 10 July 1944. On 24 February 1945 on Luzon, Philippines, 1Lt Childs' mortar platoon was subjected to a strong Japanese counterattack that cut communication lines between the fire control center and the mortars. Knowing that the success of his platoon's defense depended on operation of these lines, 1Lt Childs left his fox hole in the face of intense small arms and mortar fire and succeeded in repairing the lines despite sustaining severe life-threatening injuries. The injuries included fractures of the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae, puncture of the spinal cord resulting in partial paralysis of both legs, fracture of the right arm resulting in bone loss with partial paralysis, and other flesh wounds. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry on 8 May 1945. Other medals include Bronze Star, Purple Heart, American Theater Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal with Bronze Star, Victory Medal, World War II Combat Infantry Badge, and Philippine Liberation Medal with two Bronze Stars. After more than two years in military hospitals including Battle Creek, Michigan, and San Antonio, and Temple, Texas, he was discharged from the army in 1947 with appointmemt as honorary captain on 2 April 1948. On returning to Brownwood, he served as county clerk from 1951 to 1963 and was elected county judge in 1963, before he was appointed postmaster by John F. Kennedy on 26 July 1963. He received Brownwood Man of the Year under 35 in 1954. He served on Brown County Chapter of the Red Cross Board of Directors, Board of Directors of the United Way, Brown County Committee for Employment of the Handicapped, and Brown County Junior Chamber of Commerce. Especially important was serving as Chairman of the Board of the Brown County March of Dimes in 1958. He served as a State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans and supported the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. He was nominated as a finalist for the US Postal Service Handicapped Employee of the Year in 1971. He retired as postmaster and remained in Brownwood until his death never letting his severe injuries keep him from contributing to his family, his church, and his community. J.H. Childs passed away on 29 August 1992.