James McEachin performs the Voices: The Old Soldier - A Tribute to American Veterans.

James McEachin is a true national treasure. As an actor he has appeared in over 150 television shows and movies including Magnum P.I. and Perry Mason.

He is a great American, and an even greater American patriot.

"He not only acts it, he lived it." as detailed by the Master of Ceremonies, renown speaker, Darrel Burnett who introduces James McEachin. McEachin was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

"No veterans, no democracy, you got no America."

Reveille -named after the morning bugle calls in the military -  stars David Huddleston from such films as Blazing Saddles and The Big Lebowski and James McEachin from Play Misty For Me and the Perry Mason Mysteries. Logline: A navy veteran and an army veteran fight over a flagpole in a retirement community. For more information about Brothers' Ink Productions please visit our website at www.Brothers-Ink.com

The popular television show, Perry Mason was the longest-running lawyer series from 1957-1966, and then 1973-74.  Additional Wikipedia reported more than 25 mode for TV movies from 1985-1993.  Perry Mason is a fictional defence attorney based upon a book by Erie Stanley Gardner.  All the cases were for murder. 

The intrique of the show was Mason's ability to establish his client's innocence by demonstrating the guilt of another character.

Erie Stanley Gardner was one of the best-selling authors of all time.  He had over 100 million copies of his book in print in America only.

Accidentially....

McEachin went on to work with Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and James Garner. He was a regular on Magnum PI and played a police detective with Raymon Burr in Pery Mason series. As an African-American male he had to break into the field and was one of the first to successfully do so. Later in the 1990's, he publihsed six books including Farewell to the Mockingbirds and told the true-life tale of a deadly racial incident involving black soldiers on the eve of World War I.

McEachin, who was wounded in the Korean War, started acting almost by accident. He moved to Los Angeles and became a music producer.

"So I stayed in music for a while, a year or two, and I happened to be walking down the street on Melrose Avenue, almost in front of Paramount Studios, and there was this little guy that came up and he says, 'Ain't you an actor?' I said, 'No.' And he said, 'Do you want to be an actor?'"

Magnum, P.I. is a popular American television show that aired from 1980-1988 starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living in Oahu, Hawaii.

Nielsen Ratings reported this show was consistently one of the top twenty most popular shows in America.

McEachin, who was wounded in the Korean War, started acting almost by accident. He moved to Los Angeles and became a music producer.

"So I stayed in music for a while, a year or two, and I happened to be walking down the street on Melrose Avenue, almost in front of Paramount Studios, and there was this little guy that came up and he says, 'Ain't you an actor?' I said, 'No.' And he said, 'Do you want to be an actor?'"

McEachin has served as an honorary ambassador for the U.S. Army Reserve and says that work, together his wartime experiences, inspired a one-man play called Above the Call; Beyond the Duty. A reflection on war and racial tensions, it premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington last year.

McEachin says his military service shaped his character, something he failed to realize at the time. He earned a Purple Heart, which is awarded to members of the armed forces who are wounded or killed in battle, and was later given a Silver Star for gallantry in action.

He says his one-man play conveys a message of pride on behalf of veterans.

"I think as I say at the close of the first act, 'No veterans, no democracy," said James McEachin. "No democracy, no America.' And I firmly believe that."

McEachin's play, Above the Call; Beyond the Duty, will be staged in Los Angeles for three days, beginning February 20.

As a decorated Veteran, James McEachin's films that feature soldiers are exceptionally well received. Not just because he is a great actor but also because he is a huge supporter of Veterans.

One of the films, called Reveille, has no dialogue but portrays a black and white soldier, one army, one navy, stubborn but dignified who both honor the US flag each morning at their apartments.  The film is named for the morning bugle call that summons soldiers to duty.

HIs moving portrayal of Voices:.......... 

The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration awarded to any member of the United States Armed Foreces. The Silver Star is award for valor (in the face of the enemy)

The Purple Heart is awarded for a first time wound. In Mr. McEachin's case, he was wounded in the Korean War. Subsequent wounds are awarded oak leaf clusters.

I was honored to have attended this amazing event in Green Bay in celebration of the USS Green Bay. And I was also very privileged to have met Mr. McEachin.

The performances were outstanding and Mr. McEachin's portrayal of the Old Soldier had people feeling sorry for his limp. He acted "his limp" to coincide with the story line! Talk about an incredible actor!

As Master of Ceremonies, Darrel Burnett so eloquently stated Mr. McEachin is not only a prollific American actor, he is also a patriot and a proud supporter of our American soldiers and our American veterans.

On May 13, 1938, legislation was passed in the United States of America that made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."

Subsequently, Armistice Day was set aside to honor veterans of World War I. In 1954. after World War II, and then the Korean War (1951-1953) new legislation amended the term "armistice" to "Veteran's Day" in order to celebrate all American forces of all wars.

Similar to McEachin's pleas for unity and peace, two other great heros actively voiced their desire for peace.

And while many great heros have actively promoted peace, none are greater than Charlie  Chaplin and Mathatus Gandhi - two fascinating heros that remain giants even decades after their death.  For more information, please visit my other hub with numerous videos of Chaplin and is verbal call (yes, the silent screen super star did speak! he spoke up for justice and unity):

 "I will pray to my God that we unite as one and that over and over and over and over and over again we give thanks to the American veteran, the defenders of freedom.  And holding dear the memory of the dead and the unaccounted for, I shall further pray that none among of us forget …"

"For democracy ….for the precious right to speak freely…."

"Down the long. long corridors of duty, of honor, of gallantly going silently, I say silent of deeds and sacrifice ………….."

"No veterans, no democracy, you got no America."