Updated: 7/8/2010 5:13:43 PM
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Charley Odom is 97. He still drives every day and swims at the "Westside Y" six days a week. The high school dropout went back to school and graduated from the University of Tennessee thirty years ago at the age of 62. He taught at Knoxville's Fulton High School for twenty years and he still speaks fluent Spanish. But all those facts fail to offer a complete picture of Charley Odom.
His military career as a submariner shaped much of his life. He talks about his service in the Navy in our on camera interview and then offered the following response to 10 other questions.
1. What one person influenced you most in life?
Miss Vaughn, my 2nd grade teacher, chewed me out for using a lower case 'o' to spell my name.
2. Do you feel honored and respected for serving your country?
Yes! As a high school drop out I was influenced to obtain my high school education through US Armed Forces Institute
3. How can people thank you for your service?
By continuing to recognize and honor veterans for their service.
4. How do you honor your fellow service men and women?
By donating to disabled veterans, Smoky Mountain Chapter of Submarine Veterans and submarine veterans of WWII. I remember that 1 out of 4 did not return from WWII.
5. How do you think this generation of service men and women is different or similar to yours?
The difference is we currently have an all volunteer military; submariners are also volunteers.
6. What influence did your military service have on the rest of your life?
Discipline in eating, exercise, and general life disciplines.
7. Does your family have a history of military service?
No
8. Would you encourage younger generations in your family to join the service?
Yes and to stay as long as you can
9. How has your opinion of war changed?
Yes, but in favor of war when needed.
10. How did your military experience shape your faith?
Save me, O God, for the waters have risen to my neck. I am weary with crying out, my throat is sore, my eyes grow dim as I wait for God to keep me. Psalms 69:1-2
It increased my faith. During depth charges in a submarine in WWII, we said the above prayer many times. David's message was somewhat different, but this scripture helped us during the war.
Psalms 107:23-28 tells us, "Others there are who go down to sea in ships and make their living in the wide waters. These men have seen the acts of the Lord and his marvelous doings in the deep."
And then there was calm... One Christmas about fifty years ago, after a chaotic first three weeks in December, we were at 300 feet and all was quiet. There was calm. No depth charges. No enemy ships. Deep water hovered over us like a mother hen...the deeper the better. The Holy Spirit hovered over us, too. We sang carols and a shipmate prayed, "I Wonder as I wander" on his guitar. The cook had a Christmas cake and two thirty-pound tom turkeys. The peace and quiet were wonderful on this special day of grace.