Beech Tree News Network

Most decent people hate bullies—they like to see bullies get their COMEUPPENCE. 

God doesn’t like bullies: “I hate a haughty spirit,” he demanded.

Jim Green gave a bully his “what for” once without even touching him.  Hold that thought.

Mild-mannered Jim came to Butler County High School as a teacher some years back. His two nieces called him “Uncle Jimmy”.  They loved him.  His students called him “Mister Jimmy,” they too loved him… “Mister Jimmy is kind.  In our science class he takes us outside and teaches us about plants and, nature, and cloud formation; cumulus clouds, cirrus clouds (mare’s tail), stratus and alto stratus clouds; the dangerous clouds…are the cumulonimbus with anvil tops.  They are the thunderstorm clouds. 

Jim would know clouds. He was a fighter pilot in World War Two, flying Lockheed Lightning P-38s out of Bougainville, in the Solomon island chain in the South Pacific.

One day they were in a three-plane formation on their way to bomb and strafe the big Japanese air base at Rabaul.  Jim was flying the right-hand wing-slot in the formation.  The flight leader was a bully. “Flight lead evidently had a bee in his bonnet this day,” Jim said.  He kept yelling at me over the radio to “tighten up the formation!”  I didn’t know what his problem was, I was tucked-in pretty tight.  When he yelled at me the second time, cussing and raising heck, I began to move my left wing—tip over until it was right up behind his canopy about six or so inches.  We were close to four hundred miles per hour.  If either or his two engines had even belched I would have sliced-off his canopy and his head with it.  He saw what was happening and began hollering for me to, ‘back-off number three, that’s close enough!’  I pretended I didn’t hear him.  I let him sweat a-while, right here I gave him a needed attitude adjustment.  It was perfectly legal; before take-off we were briefed to maintain radio silence.  After I was sure sweat was running down his back into his shorts, I pulled away.  On return back to base he was perfectly quiet.  

I don’t remember how long Jim Green stayed with us at the high school; not long enough I assure you.  Jim was one-of-a-kind.  Jim left us and went back to Missouri, his home state.  He died sometime later—his wife followed him shortly in death.  

Take care not to miss the Jim Green’s of the world.

                      Kindest Regards…