James E. (Joe) Lakes
Joe Lakes was born on May 14, 1940 to Luther T. and Modena Cox Lakes. They lived in the Drip Rock area of Estill County where Joe attended the South Fork one room school which was part of the Jackson County School System. Later the family moved to Sugar Hollow and then to the Buddy Flynn farm in Wagersville. While Joe’s name is really James, his father nicknamed him “Joe” because he admired the boxer Joe Louis and thought that little “Joe” would be a good nickname for a scrappy little fellow.
Joe was an outstanding student in school and says that he loved his teachers. He was also an outstanding athlete excelling especially in basketball. C.M. Newton the legendary coach who then coached at Transylvania College saw Joe play in his junior year and indicated that he wanted to “watch” him the next year and possibly offer him a scholarship. However, Joe got hurt his senior year and the scholarship was not offered.
When Joe graduated from Estill County High School in 1959, his goal was to better himself and find a good job. However, he chose to join the Army and in August went to Fort Knox for his basic training and to Fort Hood in Texas for Advanced Infantry Training. Eventually, he ended up at Fort Myers, Virginia where he hurt his leg. He was assigned to B Company which was a special honor guard. Because of his assignment, he was chosen to stand guard as the Colonel’s Orderly on occasion. However, since he sent $50.00 of the $75.00 military pay home to his parents, he didn’t have much left for himself. Other soldiers who wanted his three day passes would hire him to stand guard for them. Joe stood guard as the Colonel’s Orderly 17 or 18 times. His commander, Colonel Lee said that it was amazing that Joe stood guard as Colonel’s Orderly that many times and wanted to recommend him for Officer Candidate School. However, Joe told him that he would like to become a Guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier instead. (It should be noted that to be assigned as a guard at the tomb is the highest military honor/assignment a soldier can have in peacetime).
In October 1961, Joe was assigned to Honor Guard Company, “The Old Guard”, where he was a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Eventually, he was selected to serve as the Relief Commander at the Tomb where his duty was to make an announcement to the visitors and to the inspect/preside at the changing of the Guard every hour (or sometimes every 2 hours) for a 24 hour shift every 3rd day.
Joe served in this position until August of 1962 when he received his discharge form the Army. His commanding officer, Captain Don English wrote a Letter of Commendation to Joe and said, “As a sentinel and Relief Commander, your never tiring efforts to do the job while demanding perfection in every minute degree has been most profound. Your poise, tact and military bearing, coupled with your human understanding and strength of character have been beyond reproach. In your association with the public you conducted yourself in a most gentlemanly manner and your military bearing was always outstanding.”
When Joe returned to Estill County, he was employed by the L&N Railroad and worked for the railroad for 33 years. He served as Operator from Lexington for Fleming-Neon and finally as an Agent in Winchester. In 1995 he retired with a disability and currently make/sells Memorial Day Flowers.
One of the more colorful individuals that the Hall of Honor has recognized, Joe’s pride and love today is focused upon his hordes of nieces and nephews. He resides in West Irvine in the home that he shared with his mother before her death.
Joe was an outstanding student in school and says that he loved his teachers. He was also an outstanding athlete excelling especially in basketball. C.M. Newton the legendary coach who then coached at Transylvania College saw Joe play in his junior year and indicated that he wanted to “watch” him the next year and possibly offer him a scholarship. However, Joe got hurt his senior year and the scholarship was not offered.
When Joe graduated from Estill County High School in 1959, his goal was to better himself and find a good job. However, he chose to join the Army and in August went to Fort Knox for his basic training and to Fort Hood in Texas for Advanced Infantry Training. Eventually, he ended up at Fort Myers, Virginia where he hurt his leg. He was assigned to B Company which was a special honor guard. Because of his assignment, he was chosen to stand guard as the Colonel’s Orderly on occasion. However, since he sent $50.00 of the $75.00 military pay home to his parents, he didn’t have much left for himself. Other soldiers who wanted his three day passes would hire him to stand guard for them. Joe stood guard as the Colonel’s Orderly 17 or 18 times. His commander, Colonel Lee said that it was amazing that Joe stood guard as Colonel’s Orderly that many times and wanted to recommend him for Officer Candidate School. However, Joe told him that he would like to become a Guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier instead. (It should be noted that to be assigned as a guard at the tomb is the highest military honor/assignment a soldier can have in peacetime).
In October 1961, Joe was assigned to Honor Guard Company, “The Old Guard”, where he was a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Eventually, he was selected to serve as the Relief Commander at the Tomb where his duty was to make an announcement to the visitors and to the inspect/preside at the changing of the Guard every hour (or sometimes every 2 hours) for a 24 hour shift every 3rd day.
Joe served in this position until August of 1962 when he received his discharge form the Army. His commanding officer, Captain Don English wrote a Letter of Commendation to Joe and said, “As a sentinel and Relief Commander, your never tiring efforts to do the job while demanding perfection in every minute degree has been most profound. Your poise, tact and military bearing, coupled with your human understanding and strength of character have been beyond reproach. In your association with the public you conducted yourself in a most gentlemanly manner and your military bearing was always outstanding.”
When Joe returned to Estill County, he was employed by the L&N Railroad and worked for the railroad for 33 years. He served as Operator from Lexington for Fleming-Neon and finally as an Agent in Winchester. In 1995 he retired with a disability and currently make/sells Memorial Day Flowers.
One of the more colorful individuals that the Hall of Honor has recognized, Joe’s pride and love today is focused upon his hordes of nieces and nephews. He resides in West Irvine in the home that he shared with his mother before her death.