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My Second Oldest Brother

Staff Sergeant James Douglas Ross

(AKA “Old School”)

Now my second oldest brother, James Douglas Ross, was truly a brother of many talents. He was good in everything that he put his mind to. He was so proud of his name and he earned the nickname, “Cocky Ross,” because he studded around like a beanie rooster. My second oldest brother was his own man and nobody could tell him anything. He also was an excellent athlete in high school. He played cornerback in football and was fearless. He weighed about one-hundred-thirty pounds, one-hundred-forty at the most and he was tackling two-hundred-thirty or more backs with ease. He just never feared anyone larger than him. James Douglas Ross was a threat to all who came his way; he was a little spit fire. He also was a point guard on the basketball team just like our older brother. And I also loved to watch him play because he was so quick. He would run around a guy before the other player knew what happened.

And he would fight a person if he looked at him wrong or if he thought he looked at him in a way that was challenging. My brother was a live wire and he knew that he was able to take care of himself. He would always say, “If you see me and a bear in mortal combat; don’t help me.” After beating his chest he would say, “Help the bear, help the bear!” My brother, James, could come up with the strangest things. He was also an excellent catcher at baseball too. We did not have a baseball team in our black school at that time, but during the spring and summer months, we always had a baseball league. When James finished high school, he just laid around the house resting after all of his little ventures until I finished high school and enlisted in the Army. When I went to Vietnam, I received a letter saying that he joined the Army too. I told them to send him somewhere else for his overseas duty and the Army sent him to Korea.

James also became a career soldier and did twenty years or more before he retired. I believe that he was a cook and his rank at retirement was Staff Sergeant. I learned many things from James; especially that how you carry yourself will determine the outcome of your life.

I love my brother, James Douglas Ross, and I can see some of his qualities in my granddaughter, Kierra. She also plays catcher for her softball team and I can see that she carries herself something like her Uncle James.

When his daughter was born, it brought about a great change in his life. I believe that my brother has begun to settle down in his older age as he realizes that his life is coming to a close. I love my brother James and appreciate all that I have learned from him.