Beyond the Farm: A Story of Military Nicknames and a Dad's Military Journey

 

From the author’s personal collection; circa 1956 

Military nicknames are a time-honored tradition, stretching back at least to the Civil War. Soldiers often gave nicknames to themselves, their comrades, and even enemy units, drawing inspiration from physical traits, combat experiences, or regional roots. These nicknames served more than just a practical purpose; they fostered camaraderie, boosted morale, and made identification easier in the chaos of the battlefield.

Historians suggest that nicknames took on new importance with the advent of radio communication. Pilots, for example, adopted distinctive call signs, making it easier for ground controllers to identify them in the heat of combat. Whether on the ground or in the air, these names often reflected personality, appearance, or a defining action. A soldier from Texas might become “Tex,” while a grizzled commander might earn the moniker “Pappy.”
 
My adoptive dad, William Henry Meyer, proudly bore the nickname “Tex” during his time in the military. Born in Poteet, Atascosa County, Texas, on January 22, 1937, William came from humble beginnings. His parents, Herbert Meyer and Loudie Ferguson Meyer, ran a dairy farm in nearby Jourdanton. Tragedy struck early in his life when his mother passed away on January 15, 1938, just a week shy of his first birthday.
 
Henry’s early years were marked by a restless spirit. Growing up on the Meyer Dairy Farm, he often found himself yearning for adventure beyond the boundaries of rural Texas. A bit of a rebel, he sought to chart his own path. After graduating high school in May 1955, he decided to leave the farm behind and enlist in the U.S. Air Force on December 9, 1955.
 
Basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio shaped his discipline, while technical training in aircraft radio repair at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, honed his skills. He spent three years stationed in Germany, splitting his time between Hahn and Ramstein Air Force Bases. By the time he was honorably discharged on September 10, 1959, he had earned his enduring military nickname: "Tex." While perhaps not the most creative nickname, it reflected his deep Texas roots and undeniable charm.
 
After his first stint in the Air Force, Henry returned to Texas and married Barbara Jeane Crawford on January 10, 1961, in Cotulla, LaSalle County. Yet, the call of adventure still lingered, and rural life failed to satisfy his restless nature. On August 21, 1963, he reenlisted in the Air Force, embarking on a new chapter of service that would take him far from Texas.
 
In September 1966, Henry and Barbara were stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, where I was born. My dad’s military career eventually took us to England, where we lived near Mildenhall and Lakenheath Air Force Bases. Our family settled in a quaint English village, and it was there that my younger brother, Christopher Michael, was born.

From the author’s personal collection; circa 1967 USAF Water Survival Training in Hawaii;

William Henry Meyer on the left with fingers clasped together  

After 24 years of dedicated service, my dad retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1981. We returned to Texas, where he and Barbara welcomed one final blessing: their youngest son, Trey Oliver, born shortly after their retirement.

My dad rarely spoke about his military nickname, though I knew it was “Tex.” Before his military days, among his friends back home, he had another nickname: “Diamond J.” Sadly, I never asked him about the story behind that name before he passed in 2013.

Though he’s no longer here, I cherish the stories he left behind and the legacy of “Tex,” a testament to his Texas roots and the adventurous spirit that defined his life.