I was speaking with a friend earlier when it occurred to me that I’ve had an ancestor who fought in every American war! One of the first battles of the American Revolution took place at King’s Mountain, which was part of South Carolina at the time.

My ancestors were led by my fifth great-grandfather, Captain William Sherrill. They were rugged mountain men from North Carolina, known for their Irish tempers and fierce independence.

British General Major Patrick Ferguson underestimated them greatly. He threatened to hang them and dismissed them as nothing more than “backwater men.” He even declared, “I am on King’s Mountain. I am king of that mountain, and God Almighty and all the rebels of hell cannot drive me from it.”

But they did catch up with him—at King’s Mountain. Less than an hour after the fighting began, the British surrendered to the Patriots.

My ancestors also served in the War of 1812 and fought on both sides during the Civil War. My great-great-great-grandfather was conscripted to fight for the South. He was later wounded and captured at Gettysburg, and after being released from a POW camp in Maryland, he enlisted in the Union Navy.

Another ancestor died in the Mexican-American War. He fell ill after the war ended and passed away in Mexico.

My great-grandfather served in World War I. My grandfather (my mom’s dad) was a medic in World War II. My dad and his brothers served during the Korean War, other family members served in Vietnam, I served during Operation Desert Shield, and several relatives are currently serving in various capacities.

As strange as it may sound, Southerners are historically overrepresented in the U.S. military. In other words, we’ve always tended to enlist at much higher rates than the general population.

l feel a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility. My family’s history of service isn’t just a series of names and dates, it’s a reflection of values like courage, resilience, and sacrifice. While I’ve followed in their footsteps in my own way, I also recognize that each generation faced unique challenges and choices. Their stories remind me that freedom is never free, and that ordinary people who were often underestimated have shaped the course of history. It’s both humbling and inspiring to be part of that lineage.