By: Marcia Barnes
Feature Writer
Jim and Judy McKeral have a love story with the appearance of a Hollywood movie script. Jim’s ‘68 Chevy pick-up with a bad fuel pump kept breaking down in front of Judy’s grandmother’s home in Fannin County, Ga. That’s where their story began.
“So I had to keep using the phone several times,” Jim said. “That’s how I met Judy. We lived a mile apart and attended high school in Blue Ridge, but on one emergency stop at her grandma’s house our eyes met. That moment was it for me.”
Judy remembers standing at the kitchen sink on one of those visits when her grandmother said, “You’re going to marry that boy.”
“I don’t even know him,” Judy told her. “’You will,’ was all that Grannie said.”
The next time Jim and Judy met, the nervous suitor and Judy’s brother brought two puppies with them. Jim hoped that would make a good impression on Judy.
Judy asked her brother if Jim was dating someone.
“Tell her I want to go out with her,” Jim told her brother.
The couple said there was nothing to do in Blue Ridge in 1979, so on their first date they just drove around town and went to the Tastee Freez. Memorable as the first date was, Jim said two other dates were unforgettably funny.
“On one of those dates we left Blue Ridge with Ivan, Judy’s brother, and Bryan, a good friend. We headed to Bryan’s house in Andrews because Bryan had a television.
“While Judy and I were watching a movie, Ivan and Bryan decided to go for a ride. The ride went bad when the car became stuck in the mud on a mountain road. Eventually, they got the car out but there was no phone to call us and tell us what had happened.
“We’d fallen asleep watching TV and woke up to the screeching of chickens and the roar of a returning car. In great duress we all headed to Judy’s house where we found both families waiting inside,” Jim said. “They thought we had eloped or that a tragedy had taken place on the highway.
“The second humorous date was when I was driving my 1975 Red Jeep CJ5. I always had to have Judy home by midnight. On one of those dates as I was walking her to the front door, the emergency brake failed and to my horror the Jeep was rolling toward the house. It hit the side of the house and the bumper knocked a hole in the wall of Judy’s sister’s bedroom.
“Instantly, every light in the house came on and we were met with Judy’s dad and a double-barrel gun.”
The McKerals were married on Valentine’s Day, 1981, at Liberty Hill Methodist Church, a church which Judy’s family helped to build. The original church was one of brick and block, and bricks that had been made by hand.
The couple worked regular jobs at the time and then, together joined the U.S. Marine Corps, moving them from the mountains and into distinguished careers.
“We had enlisted in 1980, but before going to boot camp I needed four metal pins removed from both of my hips,” Jim said. The pins were from a childhood injury and they were surgically removed in December. I left for boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. in April 1981.
“Judy went to boot camp in May 1981, in women’s quarters at Parris Island and we were stationed at Camp Lejeune later that year.”
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, a large military training facility in Jacksonville, N.C. has 14 miles of beaches making the base a major area for amphibious assault training. Located between two deep-water ports, it also allows for fast troop deployment.
In March 1983, the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit stationed at Camp Lejeune received orders to Beirut in an agreement between the United States and the Lebanese government for the unit to act in a peacekeeping role.
But in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 1983, the First Battalion, 8th Marines Headquarters building was destroyed by a non-Lebanese, terrorist-driven truck killing 241 Marines in the explosion.
“My orders to Beirut were canceled,” Jim said. “Judy and I both lost friends in that attack and we attended those memorial services.
“Judy’s military role continued in food service and logistics, but she was also one of the first female marines to qualify with the M-16 rifle.”
Judy served eight years on active duty and was honorably discharged. Then her focus shifted to raising the couple’s two children.
Jim was assigned duty with the engineers and served in various units ultimately becoming an instructor at the Marine Corps Engineer School at Camp Lejeune. He was spearheading training for a brand new rigid raiding craft used by special operations capable units.
By 1989, McKeral was selected for the Warrant Officer Program where he distinguished himself as an expert in the field of small craft used in Riverine warfare. During this time he started several units from scratch and helped invent special equipment and modifications still in use today.
McKeral served his country for 21 years officially retiring in 2002. Like many veterans he struggled to readjust to civilian life.
“But in 2004,” Jim said, “I had an encounter with Jesus at Fields of the Wood park in Cherokee County. I was gloriously born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. Soon after, I experienced a fervent and powerful need to preach the gospel to help other veterans find freedom and joy through Jesus Christ. I know that if the spirit man is still bound there’s a war going on in the heart.”
McKeral preaches this message to veterans whenever he can. On the sultry Friday evening of July 30th, people were turning in on a road to that leads to the casino in Murphy, but instead, they parked their cars and trucks near the worship tent where McKeral would preach. Friday night had been set aside to honor military veterans.
The tent filled up with veterans, their families, preachers and those who came to hear McKeral speak. He welcomed everyone as the service began with the “Star Spangled Banner.”
McKeral’s words began to fall on quiet listeners. “When I had an encounter with God at Fields of the Wood, I was called to be an evangelist. When I began to hear about the suicides in Hiawassee and Blairsville of men who had served in Vietnam, Beirut, Panama, Desert Storm, Bosnia and Afghanistan, I cried. If I’d known you, I would have taken you fishing, bought you lunch. . .”
McKeral, a Marine’s Marine, has led a local Bible study for veterans for several years now. Many have found salvation, help, and freedom from traumas within the small group which meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Red Cross building at 1298 Jack Dayton Circle in Hiawassee, Ga.
“We meet at 7:00 pm in a safe, drug and alcohol free environment. It has reconnected us with the brotherhood we once had on active duty.”
Today, McKeral knows veterans’ needs are greater than ever. The upheaval in Afghanistan is a trigger for many veterans who fought in unfinished wars. There is a crises hotline: 1-800-273-TALK, but McKeral wants local veterans to know that he cares about their needs and welcomes them here.