Page 7 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Online Magazine
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World War II
“We knew that when we returned to the Pacific, it dedicated to one thing - defeating our enemies.” Mr.
would be for the invasion of Japan. We spent 30 days Fields also quoted Mr. Morris, “I took along a couple
in the Imperial Desert. That was tough flying, with of lawbooks, carried in my duffel bag all of my flight
temperatures about 115 – 120 degrees. We completed years. I would sit in the ready room and read a law
preparation and were about to board the carrier when book while the other guys were playing cards.”
President Truman dropped the
‘Bomb.’ The rest is history.” “I had enough points to muster out in
October 1945. I had one year of law school
One of Mr. Morris’ colleagues, left and graduated from UT with High
Ken Fields, an attorney in Pampa, Honors in June 1946.” The young man
documented the former pilot’s had won so many accolades that Dean
service with a deposition-style McCormick asked him to join the faculty.
interview called “Memories of a “I was flabbergasted but immediately
Naval Aviator in World War II”. accepted.” Tom served two years on the
The 76-page article provides a faculty at the University of Texas Law
more detailed account of the young School and as faculty director of the
pilot’s military service. Mr. Fields Texas Law Review. He was one of the first
quoted Mr. Morris, “I could fly professors to teach African American
an airplane all right, but I wasn’t a super pilot . . .. I students at the law school. “I enjoyed teaching and
think the United States was almost to a man united made many (lifelong) friends, but I wanted to be
during those years, and everybody in the country was a ‘pit fighter.’” Tom and a friend established a law
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