Freestone Past/Present
J.R. “Sonny” SESSIONS

“The Bridge on the River Kwai”

    Some years after WWII  a very popular movie was  made concerning this, 
also a popular novel written. Neither I am sure were based on what really 
happened here. The Japanese in their conquests captured what became the 
“Lost Battalion” of the Texas 36th Division in Java in l942. It was some l8 
months before the Japanese notified the Red Cross where it was, this is how 
it became known as the Lost Battalion.
  Former Japanese prisoner of War Clifford (Slick) England was among 
those sent to jungles of Thailand and Burma where the Japanese were 
constructing a rail road to haul vital supplies on. It became known as the 
Death Railway where 400 men are estimated to have died for every mile of 
track laid. The Japanese had some 60,000 Allied prisoners and 250,000 
Asian workers.
  England spent three years in slave labor on this job where they were 
beaten, given very little to eat and no clothes other than lion cloths, no shoes, 
suffered many diseases and injuries. Located in dense jungles there was no 
way to escape as there no where to go. England said they worked everyday, 
in all conditions and would eat anything to survive. In poor health when 
freed and the rest of his life.
  Cliff England and his wife Mary moved to Freestone Co., they lived at 
Red’s Lake and had a small jewelry store and watch repair business in 
Fairfield on the south side of square until his death. I did not know them 
until became Sheriff but we became good friends and enjoyed their 
friendship over the years.
  Cliff said he never saw the movie or read the book as knew they not based 
on reality. A sickly and frail man due to the mistreatment received as a 
prisoner of war, he was always pleasant and fun to be around, he and Mary 
always accommodating when I went usually for watch repair. Both stopped 
by and visited often going or coming for the mail. He displayed a railroad 
spike out of the railroad and a brass plaque concerning it, said this reminder 
enough.
                                 ***
                 From The Original Sheriffs Report l970
  Woman being jailed asked why she carrying a long knife in her purse 
replied she had quit carrying her pistol and thought she needed something.
Carrying Judge Young on a death inquest joined by friend Jack Glass who 
served as Constable in Streetman-St. Elmo area 35 years before who told of 
taking a JP on one where a man killed under suspicious circumstances with 
family saying it was accidental. The Judge ruled it accidental advising he 
didn’t believe it but if they wanted it that way it was fine with him.
  Back when crap shooting illegal and favorite of many a house with a large 
crowd raided after complaints. Some got under the bed, one looked like 
ostrich with head hidden and hind end sticking in air, one begged to pay fine 
there as didn’t want employer to know he frequented place like that, when 
got to Judges office had one missing who called apologizing but had to get 
woman with him home before day light but be in to correct, and did.
  Judge Young married couple during week we both hoped (for him) more
blissful than the last. Man jailed started celebrating Xmas a little early and 
disturbing the wife, next morning she came wanting him out as bad as she 
wanted him in night before. Small office safe we used  in office for years 
found in woods off US75, supposed to have been taken in robbery of Texas 
University Coach Darrell Royal brother motel in E Paso.
  Picked up ll year old shoplifter, being released to father until hearing before 
District Judge he ran and whispered “Sheriff, Sheriff please don’t put this in 
da paper”. First grade son Ken back as deputy during holidays, taxed me a 
new hat and boots, he causes me to notice things taken for granted which he 
finds unusual, sometimes we don’t see the forest for the trees.
                                           ***
               Grandpa’s Report
  JR so busy at West Point Military Academy have hard time keeping up 
with his activities, the following appeared in local papers.
   “U.S.M.A. Cadet Earns Awards
  A Freestone Co young man attending the U.S. Military Academy, JR 
Sessions has earned the Superintendent’s Award for Achievement.
  The Award is presented the top 20 percent of Cadets who excel in the 
academic, military and physical programs of the Academy. Its insignia is a 
gold wreath.
  Sessions also earned the Distinguished Cadet Award for achieving the 
grade point of  3,76 or higher. Insignia for the Distinguished Cadet Award is 
a gold star. 
  The Cadet graduated from Wortham High School in 2005 and will graduate 
the USMA at West Point, N.Y. in 2009 at which time he will be 
commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army.

                                      ***
   … 
  Memorial for Donie-Freestone friend Edith Morton who celebrated her 90th 
birthday recently, a dear friend who fun to be involved with.
  Fairfield Ex-Student Homecoming, the ranks getting thin with mine, think 
there only about 15 in our graduating class. Enjoyed visiting Joe and Sue 
Folk of Jasper Co. and others.


    



































































































































































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