Dear Editor,
As I rode down Holland Road Extension yesterday I still felt as if I was in a fog, in a nightmare that wouldn’t ever end. My cousin, best friend and Hero will never stand in his yard again, will never cut his grass, play with his dogs, ride down that dirt road, never get to visit any of us at our homes, and will never be a part of any family events. Most people have gone on with their lives, and the big news of Corp. James M. (Rooster) Dixon III’s tragic death was just another news story for the big town of Baxley.
Why did James have to die?
However, we his family will not let his death be forgotten. James was a hero in more ways than one. He was responsible for changing many lives because of his kind and loving passion for others. There have been so many letters and calls just to let his family know James has touched lives all over the world.
Most people don’t know just how big his heart was and the pain he took on for others. Most people don’t know how he stopped the military vehicle when he saw that a young girl had been killed in a bombing, how he cradled that child and sobbed, because she had lost her life in a terrible war. Most people don’t know the sacrifices he made for our country and the freedom that we have.
We are so thankful for the letters that Mr. and Mrs. Ellis provided for our local paper. They will never know how much the letters meant to our family. However, there is still the same question out there for us, “Why was he killed?”
Years ago in this same county the SWAT team was called in to help in a situation where a suspected meth/drug lab was located. The SWAT team waited 18 hours before they took action. The subject was not harmed and was taken in without harm to anyone else. Yet, our beloved, James was given a few hours and then shot down like an animal.
Many say, “Well you weren’t there.” There were several family members standing right there when the shot was made. James never lifted a gun to threaten anyone or gave any verbal acknowledgement that he was going to harm anyone. Nothing will ever bring James back, but the answer as to “why” that order was given sure would bring some comfort.
There were family members begging to talk to him, they were not afraid. So why was there such an urgency after a few hours to “get on with it” as one order was given?
I hope that each night the one’s involved have to ask themselves what could have been done differently. How many hours would they have given for their love one to not be harmed in a fatal way? What if that had been their son, daughter, grandchild, love one, or friend – would the shot have ever been fired?
Because of a fatal shot our lives will never be the same and our grieving will never end.
Missing James Terribly,
Jimmy, Sue, Serran, and Family
(Written by Michelle Beckworth)
Most people don’t know just how big his heart was and the pain he took on for others. Most people don’t know how he stopped the military vehicle when he saw that a young girl had been killed in a bombing, how he cradled that child and sobbed, because she had lost her life in a terrible war. Most people don’t know the sacrifices he made for our country and the freedom that we have.
We are so thankful for the letters that Mr. and Mrs. Ellis provided for our local paper. They will never know how much the letters meant to our family. However, there is still the same question out there for us, “Why was he killed?”
Years ago in this same county the SWAT team was called in to help in a situation where a suspected meth/drug lab was located. The SWAT team waited 18 hours before they took action. The subject was not harmed and was taken in without harm to anyone else. Yet, our beloved, James was given a few hours and then shot down like an animal.
Many say, “Well you weren’t there.” There were several family members standing right there when the shot was made. James never lifted a gun to threaten anyone or gave any verbal acknowledgement that he was going to harm anyone. Nothing will ever bring James back, but the answer as to “why” that order was given sure would bring some comfort.
There were family members begging to talk to him, they were not afraid. So why was there such an urgency after a few hours to “get on with it” as one order was given?
I hope that each night the one’s involved have to ask themselves what could have been done differently. How many hours would they have given for their love one to not be harmed in a fatal way? What if that had been their son, daughter, grandchild, love one, or friend – would the shot have ever been fired?
Because of a fatal shot our lives will never be the same and our grieving will never end.
Missing James Terribly,
Jimmy, Sue, Serran, and Family
(Written by Michelle Beckworth)
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