Roll Call of North Texas was established in 2014 when Fort Worth native and businessman Kevin Boldt sought to honor World War II veterans by inviting them to lunch as a gesture of appreciation for their service. With a passion for military history and personal ties to the armed forces, as many of his family members had served, including himself, Kevin initially took a group of about fifteen WWII veterans out for lunch. The following month, attendance doubled to around thirty people. Since then, the monthly luncheons have experienced consistent growth.
Our Mission: To honor and serve our veterans by providing a regular venue for fellowship and camaraderie.
Our Vision: To provide a regular venue for fellowship and camaraderie, provide outreach and home visitation services, and share the stories of our local veterans through community engagement and publication.
Today, the luncheons attract an average of 450 to 500 attendees, the majority of whom are veterans, and the total membership has expanded to nearly 1,600 people. In 2016, the monthly veterans luncheon evolved into a broader initiative focused on serving and honoring veterans within our community. This expansion included the launch of a Veteran Outreach and home visitation program, the development of service learning projects for high school and junior high students, and the initiation of other community outreach and educational efforts. This progression marked the formal establishment of Roll Call of North Texas.
On April 26, 2024, the Texas Insider covered the annual Roll Call luncheon held at the NAS JRB Fort Worth base. The event took place in an airplane hangar, drawing hundreds of attendees to enjoy the lunch and festivities.
Crystella McIvor, a reporter for the Texas Insider, had the privilege of speaking with 99yr old Don Graves, a former Corporal in the US Marine Corps who served from 1942 to 1946. Don is an Iwo Jima veteran and one of the few who survived the historic battle to capture the island.
Don Graves’ account of his experience during the battle of Iwo Jima provides a harrowing glimpse into one of the most intense and pivotal moments of World War II.
After boot camp, Graves was initially sent to New Zealand before returning to the United States to help form the 5th Division, which included many experienced combat soldiers. He fought alongside notable figures such as John Basilone, a Medal of Honor recipient, who tragically died close by during the battle.
Graves shared that their preparation for the assault on Iwo Jima was brief, with a clay model of the island presented the day before the attack. The plan was straightforward: to land on the beach, secure Mount Suribachi, and then join the rest of the division in advancing north. Despite the simplicity of the plan, the reality on the ground was far different.
As a flamethrower operator, Graves found himself in the thick of the battle, fighting through waves of enemy fire and facing tremendous challenges just to make incremental progress. He recalled the intense danger on the beach, where movement was nearly impossible due to heavy fire, and how it took three days to cover just 540 feet to Mount Suribachi.
Graves described the difficulty of the climb, including intense grenade battles and the destruction of pillboxes along the way. He witnessed the first flag raising on Suribachi at 10:05 am and was nearby during the second flag raising later that afternoon, though just out of sight of the famous group photo.
Reflecting on the battle, Graves recognized its significant impact, both on the home front and in terms of its strategic value. The battle was brutal, with high casualties, but ultimately it played a crucial role in shortening the war and saving countless lives, particularly among Air Corps personnel. Graves credits his survival to the grace of God and continues to remember his fallen comrades, acknowledging the extraordinary nature of his experience.
The Texas Insider would like to thank all our veterans for their tireless sacrifices and heroism on behalf of the United States of America.
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