SEARCY — For the longest time, one of the things Bill Morton struggled with the most was feeling like he was worthless.
“I was not in combat, except for one day, the whole 13 months that I was in Korea,” he said. “I only drew my weapon one day — not nearly as much as those in Vietnam. … There was no big obvious combat [in Korea at the time]; it was all quiet.”
Morton served in the military from 1970 to 1972 and was stationed at a compound called Camp Red Cloud, just nine hours from Vietnam, and he was always ready to be shipped off.
“You were a soldier. Everybody was ready to go, or we wouldn’t have been there in the first place,” Morton said. “But for the longest time, I thought I was worthless for not going [to Vietnam].”
But in spite of the way he once felt about his service in Korea, the Veterans Outreach Ministries in Searcy recently recognized Morton for his dedication to veterans in White County and the work he does for them by proclaiming Feb. 13 as Bill Morton Appreciation Day.
Paul Bunn, president of the ministries, said Morton is one of the most active advocates for veterans he has ever met.
“He has done more for veterans and their recognition than anyone I know. I’ve been assisting veterans since 2007, and Bill, by far, has accomplished more and recognized more veterans than any one person that I can say,” Bunn said.
“Bill has been that front guy, and for that, he is amazing. When I decided to do this, I knew Bill had to be the first one recognized. We will continue to recognize veterans and our volunteers, hopefully two or three times a year,” Bunn said.
“We want to recognize the veterans, their life stories, their lives and what they have been able to accomplish. We have learned that people will volunteer and contribute as long as it is safe. They will come in and do their part,” said Bunn, who retired from the Army in 2007.
“By doing that, it is high time to start recognizing people who are really doing the job and are being boots on the ground and helping veterans. I only know of a handful of people who can be put in that category,” Bunn said.
“I don’t think as much of myself as he does,” Morton said of Bunn. “Paul is a good guy, and he helps a lot of veterans.
“We always want to give back to the veterans and help them anyway we can. We just want to help as many veterans as possible and help them understand where they can go for benefits and such.”
Morton graduated from Searcy High School in 1970, recently attending his 50-year high school reunion. He joined the military after graduating from high school.
“Back in those days, you either joined [the military] or you were drafted,” he said. “My parents couldn’t afford to send us to college.
“We couldn’t go to college, but my college education and the military helped me buy my house. Those were the two reasons I joined.”
He said three of his other brothers also joined the military.
“We were extremely lucky — not a one of us was sent to Vietnam,” said Morton, who is the oldest of seven children.
Morton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Arkansas when he was 10 years old. Morton said his dad moved the whole family for an extra $100 a week.
“When you have a big table [of people] to feed, income has a lot to do with decisions,” he said.
After serving in the military, Morton attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and got a degree in marketing. He worked for Montgomery Ward as a salesman before retiring at 55. After he retired, he had some dead time and said he felt worthless again, not doing anything.
“My working time is now my time to give back to a veteran,” Morton said. “There are things people have to say and do to make sure veterans know there is somebody who cares about them.”
Morton, 70, joined the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, which is an association of veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby.
“We are in every state, at least three different countries,” Morton said. “We are not a motorcycle club; everything is volunteerism.”
He said that on the first Saturday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Tumbling Shoals, the association prepares supper with homemade cooking. At the most recent supper, they served about 50 people. He said they also bring canned goods and take them to veterans and citizens who need the extra help to make sure they have food.
“We’ve got people who will come all the way up from Little Rock to eat with us,” Morton said. “Last month, we had people come up from Hot Springs to literally help other people, and more people want to get involved to help.”
Morton has been riding motorcycles for 50 years.
“I remember having a paper route when I was 12 years old, and one of my neighbors had a brand new motorcycle,” Morton said. “I asked him if I could ride it, and he said it would cost 25 cents. It took me about two weeks to save 25 cents, but he gave me a ride around the courthouse. My dad saw me, and I got a butt-chewing, but it didn’t slow me down any.
“When I got old enough to buy a motorcycle, I did it. I’ve been riding ever since.”
Before the recent concerns over the coronavirus, Morton hosted a weekly meeting for veterans at Chit Chat & Chew Cafe in Searcy. Bunn said about 30 veterans would meet every Thursday.
“If it wasn’t for Bill, none of that would be possible,” Bunn said. “The way he is willing to give of his time and do everything, it speaks so much volume, for somebody to take time out of their life.
“He has made other organizations better. He pokes them and gets people out of their seats to do things for veterans.”
Staff writer Sam Pierce can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or spierce@arkansasonline.com.