Hezekiah E. Ward, of Buckland had 10 grandsons. Nine were on active duty during the time of war. One couldn’t pass the physical exam for entry into the military service. Five are still alive. Our great-great-great-grandfather Corp. Kerley Ward was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill. A great-great-great-great cousin was Gen. Artemas Ward, the first American general and first American commander chief.
Between my brother, Erwin and myself we have 120 years of membership in the VFW.
Frederick Call served during WWII and the rest of us, during the Korean War: Erwin Ward, Roger Ward and Robert Ward in the U.S. Air Force; Donald Ward and Richard Ward in the U.S. Navy; Russell Ward, Elwin Ward and William Call in the U.S. Army.
All were eligible for a farm deferment on one of the family farms and hide behind a cow during the time of war, but they all said, hell no, we’ll go.
All came home with no visible scars and went on to lead successful lives. Two went on to become ministers, one a plumber, one a lineman, one a railroad engineer and OIC off the Panama Canal railroad, one a chief of police for 42 years for a town in New Hampshire (a state record), one a forest and park supervisor for 37 years and deputy sheriff for 23 years, one a agent for the Federal ABC, one went to work in a factory for 40 years and never missed a day.
Roger Heze Ward
Buckland