DOBBINS HEIGHTS — James Cutner served in the military, however it wasn’t the branch he had originally intended.

Cutner, who was one of the two guest speakers at the annual Dobbins Heights Veterans Day service, served 2½ years in the U.S. Army — but he wanted to go into the Air Force.

“I’ve always been fascinated with airplanes,” he said.

When he finished high school, Cutner said he had wanted to go to college. But his father, who only had a second-grade education, said 12 years was better than his two, so he went to work at the Seaboard-Air Line Railroad.

He later went to Charlotte to enlist in the Air Force, but was told he had a bad back. A year later, he went back to the Queen City and was accepted into the Army.

Cutner completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina before going for more training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

When he found out he was being stationed in Verdun, France, Cutner said he wished he had learned French in high school.

On the way across the Atlantic Ocean on the USS Patch, the ship took a detour to Casablanca to drop off other servicemen first.

“That was a slow, slow ship,” he said. “On the first three day on that ship, I was sick.”

While in Verdun, Cutner worked at a signal depot, alongside civilians. He also served in the honor guard.

When he came back home, Cutner went back to work for the railroad.

Nelson David, another Richmond County native and veteran, was the second guest speaker.

David spent 18 months in the U.S. Navy, six months in the Seabees and 20 years back home in the Army National Guard with the 881st Engineer Company in Rockingham.

During his time, David served on the USS Middlesex County and toured Panama, Italy, Spain, Cuba, France, Greece and Rome, he said.

“These branches of service have made us all better people,” he said. To his fellow veterans — including Dobbins Heights Mayor Antonio Blue — David added, “We thank you, we salute you for all your service and say thank you for a job well done.”

Reach William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_toler.

William R. Toler | Daily Journal Army veteran Edward Tender, right, bows his head with his hand over his heart after Daniel Harrington, another Army vet, places a memorial wreath during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Dobbins Heights Community Center.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_vetday_dhtenderwreath.jpgWilliam R. Toler | Daily Journal Army veteran Edward Tender, right, bows his head with his hand over his heart after Daniel Harrington, another Army vet, places a memorial wreath during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Dobbins Heights Community Center.