Bill Cammack

Sometime around when I was in JHS, I had a friend that was older than I was named James. James was a very cool guy, friendly, good @ sports… The kind of person that you could look up to as a kid and say “I hope I’m that cool when I grow up”. :D

At some point, I heard an unfortunate story to the effect of some woman (that I’m pretty sure James didn’t even know, which is why this Wesley Autrey situation has reminded me of something that happened so long ago) was being slapped around or beaten up in the street, and James decided to help her out…

However the scuffle occurred, and I have no idea how the other guy fared, James was cut quite a few times in his face by something that the other guy(s?) had. He lived, but he was pretty cut up. I remember… right this second, I remember the feeling of being awe-struck in hearing of the situation. I was amazed, but knowing James as the person that he was at that time, I totally understood why HE would do something like that… put himself in potential danger in order to help out someone that he felt was being wronged and couldn’t help themselves. To put in in words _now_, I would say that I was stunned by his selflessness, though others said at the time that he should have “minded his own business”. Well, he’s not them, and they’re not him, so I’m sure he did what was right for himself… or, perhaps, what he just plain felt was RIGHT, period.

This happened way after the time when James used to be around on a regular basis, so I didn’t see him much after that. I know I saw him at least once after that, and I may have seen him one other time, but I’m not sure. When I saw him, I got the feeling that he felt depressed, or rather, I DIDN’T get the “regular” upbeat version of James that I was used to being around. That could have been for any number of reasons, temporary or permanent. I had to speculate, in my unsophisticated thinking at that time, as to whether his heroism & sacrifice had somehow taken something out of him. I don’t know.

What I DO know is that I didn’t acknowledge him for what I had heard that he did. First of all, it wasn’t my place to do that, because he was my social superior. That would have been like someone from the minor leagues telling Derek Jeter that he hit a good home run to win the game. :D Second, I wasn’t sure that he even thought that I knew about it, so if it had been something he didn’t want to talk about, I certainly didn’t want to bring it up. Third, I was kind of amazed when I ran into him. Here was this friend of mine whose selflessness and sense of what was right carried him into a battle he didn’t necessarily lose, but that he took losses in for the potential benefit of someone he didn’t even know. Amazing.

I haven’t seen James in ages.

James, you set an example. You did what was right, to you. I’m still amazed by your conviction and fortitude in that situation. I “should” have said something along those lines at the time, but I couldn’t have, being who I was at that time. Even though it’s in the recesses of my mind, I remember it clearly. I remember who you were when we used to hang out. I remember what I heard that you did, and I remember seeing you at least once afterwards. I can’t put my finger on anything specific, but I’m sure that you had a part in the development of my own character.

I’m pretty sure it wasn’t in the paper. I’m just about POSITIVE there wasn’t any “reward”. I just want you to be sure that your sacrifice didn’t go unnoticed.

James, you’re a hero.