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_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 SUMMARY 

 2025 Cancer Action Day 
PA State Capitol Building 

 

Over 120 volunteer advocates from across Pennsylvania, including cancer survivors, patients and caregivers, convened at the state Capitol on May 13, 2025 for ‘Cancer Action Day. Advocates met with their state lawmakers and urged them to support policies that help prevent, treat and end the cancer burden as we know it – for all Pennsylvanians. I was motivated to attend Cancer Action Day because of House Bill 281. This legislation will eliminate out-of-pocket costs for lifesaving prostate cancer screenings for men at high-risk of developing prostate cancer.

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We need to do better about detecting prostate cancer in Pennsylvania. Screening is incredibly effective but too few Pennsylvanians who are eligible for screening actually receive it. This is often because the cost burden for follow-up care is too high and inhibits people from getting the lifesaving screening, leading prostate cancer to be the third-deadliest cancer in the Commonwealth. Our lawmakers need to act and ensure that more Pennsylvanians can get screened for this survivable disease.

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                                                                                                ~ COL (Ret) James E. Williams, Jr., USA

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​​​​ SPEM Non-Profit News 
 INTERVIEW with PA Prostate Coalition 

 Col. (ret) James E. Williams, Jr., Co-Founder, Chairman ​

~ Judith C. Lista, Interviewer

​This is a little lengthy, but, it is a fun interview with interesting information throughout it! ENJOY!

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​​JUDY: COL (ret) James  E. Williams, Jr, USA (United States Army) has agreed to be interviewed for SPEM Health, LLC, Website. He is a survivor of prostate cancer.  Jim is a co-founder and current Chair of the PA Prostate Cancer Coalition, a 501 (c)(3). He will give us a clear explanation about prostate cancer and what his nonprofit is all about. This will be a great interview for men and women to read. For men, because they need to become more health conscious, and for women, because they play an important role in getting men to get their checkups. Colonel, I am so glad you are with me today!

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JIM: Thank you so much!

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JUDY: May I call you, Jim?

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JIM: Yes, please. 

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JUDY: So, how did your experience with Prostate Cancer begin?

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JIM: In 1991, my wife Lois said, “I want you to visit our family physician.” And, I said, “No, I don’t need to do that. I’ve been a private pilot flying for recreational purposes. To keep your license, you must get a physical every three year with a  flight surgeon, which I did religiously.” She said, “You have to go and see our primary care physician for a physical, because that’s where the family goes.  I said, he’s a good guy.”

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JUDY: That sounds like a smart suggestion!

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JIM: So, here’s where the stars really line up. My prostate cancer was discovered early enough, and I had a perfect experience. Everything worked out as it should, which sadly, is not everybody’s situation.

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JUDY: Which year was this?

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JIM: This was 1991. My primary care physician arbitrarily included in the blood work something called a PSA test, which was  new at that time. The PSA test results provides a barometer of your prostate health.  It doesn’t say you have cancer, or not, but it may reveal that something is going on that may require further investigation. This doctor was doing the PSA test because his father had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The PSA was just something they can include with the regular blood work. My  PSA number was 11. Number four was the standard at that time. If you were under Number 4, you were okay. If you’re over four then that leads to further testing. Most of us don’t keep a specialist on a retainer, so your  Primary Care Physician (PCP) will refer you to  a specialist when he or she believes further investigation is necessary.  So, I was referred to a urologist who deals with prostate cancer. My urologist did what is called a needle biopsy. They take tiny samples of the prostate, so the pathologist can look at them  under the microscope, look at the cell to determine whether it’s a healthy cell, or not. They can tell whether it’s a lung cell, or a prostate cell, or an arm cell, and they can give ratings as to the degree of malignancy. The rating is called a “Gleason Score.” When the pathologist  looks at the cell and it’s completely normal the number given is 0. If the cell’s malignancy gets to the point where the pathologist is no longer able to  recognize it as a prostate cell, then a rating of 5 is given. Two samples are added together to give you a Gleason score. For example – my score was 4+3=7 (Gleason 7) That’s serious!  With prostate cancer there is no gold standard for treatment. There’s been a lot of controversy about the PSA and how valid it is. But the good news is PSA may assist in finding  cancer early! The bad news is - it finds cancer early! And the patient is faced with a bunch of options about what he can do. If either of us had a heart attack right now, they would rush in and know exactly what to do. That’s not so with prostate cancer in the lower numbered stages. They will say that you have options, do you want door #1, Door #2, or Door #3? A urologist is trained as a surgeon. If you have a low-grade cancer the urologist says, no problem, we will just zap it out of you and you can go back to the golf course. The radiologist says, no problem we will radiate you and let you go back to the golf course. It depends on which track you get on that will determine what you are going to go through. Because of the “Silo” effect in medicine, many patients are not exposed to all the options that are available. The urologist will tell you one thing and the radiologist will tell you something else. This silo effect is slowly changing as patients become more aware of their options and medical practices expand their specialists pool to include oncologists, radiologists and urologists.

 

JUDY: You are talking with someone, yes, me, who is very pleased to be a two-time breast cancer survivor. Prostate cancer, which men develop, is very similar to breast cancer. 1 in 8 women develop breast cancer, and there is 1 in 8 men who develop prostate cancer, as well.

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JIM: That’s right!

 

JUDY: It’s remarkable that so many people of each gender develop these cancers. Many women get annual mammograms. But, for any woman reading this interview who has not had a mammogram, or is late in scheduling their yearly mammogram, please make the appointment now!  If you’re 40 years of age, or older, a mammogram is the quickest way to detect breast abnormalities and growths that are benign or carcinoma. It’s important for women who have a history of breast cancer and those who have the “braca" gene. That gene indicates there is a good possibility that they will develop breast cancer. I was very fortunate that mammograms found both of my breast cancers early, which were different types in each breast, 5 years apart from each other. I was treated with breast saving lumpectomies and 33 days of whole breast radiation each time. If either would have been found later in time, I would probably have needed chemo, and/or, mastectomies. Plus, it would have been possible for malignancies to develop further in my body which would have been very detrimental. My husband, Joe Lista, is a provider with West Shore Family Practice, Mechanicsburg. He is happy that I get my annual mammograms without fail. He even uses me as an example to his patients. I am pleased that he is one of SPEM Health’s Medical Consultants. So, as I see it, the big hurdle for your PA Prostate Cancer Coalition is to get men to go in for their annual prostate test, right?

 

JIM: Yes, it is very difficult to do! And, it’s because our healthcare system is not a healthcare system. It is a “sick care” system based on “diagnosis and treatment,” with a fee for service. So, our health professionals are paid for “diagnosis and treatment.” They are not compensated “to talk” to their patients for an hour about their health and that’s why you only get 15 minutes in front your doctor. It’s not that they individually want it that way, but, they have families to feed and bills to pay and so it’s “diagnosis and treatment” that drives our entire health system. So, we have a “reactive system,” we do not have a “proactive system.”

 

JUDY: Well, that is the medical ethics, the Hippocratic Oath, to do everything they can to keep people alive. Sometimes when a woman is very elderly, and she has breast cancer and needs a mastectomy they won’t operate because the surgery itself would probably kill her because her body is too frail to go through that type of experience. What we need is better health education in our schools. And, we need more of our nonprofits to get out there and pass the word around about how to stay healthy. In medical offices we do have to take care of sick people and there’s a heck of a lot of sick people in this world! Medical professionals do talk with people about taking better care of themselves. But, I agree, they should be allowed to spend “more” time in conversation with each patient.

 

JIM: I was an advisor on my second tour in Vietnam. One day my counterpart, a major, was talking with me and told me that he had” fired” his doctor. I asked him why and he said, “Because I got sick.” In Eastern medicine, the job of the doctor is to keep you well; to keep you in balance - Yin Yang. So, you go to the doctors to stay well, not when you are sick. Western medicine doesn’t work that way. We don’t go to the doctor until we are sick. And, for men, because they don’t like to go to the doctor, they often don’t go, until they are very sick.  And, the best that doctors can do for them is to bring them back to some sort of wellness, if possible. But, as far as Yin Yang -  mind/body/spiritual balance, we don’t get anywhere near that and that’s the problem with our healthcare system. It’s not the people working in it. It’s the whole system that needs change.

 

JUDY: I see what you are saying.

 

JIM: The medical insurance professionals understands the value of health prevention and how that will pay off, but if they’re honest with you, they will tell you that there’s no short-term return on their  investment in health prevention.  I was a Human Resources Administrator after I retired from the Army and health insurance executives will remind me that by the time they could see a return on their  prevention program with your company, the company has changed vendors three times, trying to get a better premium -  and they are correct. So, there’s a lot of talk, slick brochures, but little “real” money that  goes into prevention.

 

JUDY: So, what does your coalition do to help men stay healthy?

 

JIM: We try to convince men that they need to go to the doctor when they are well, not when they’re sick. Everybody knows they should go to the doctor when they are not feeling well but trying to convince someone to go when they think they are well is difficult. What they don’t understand is that cancer can be cured in the early stages when there are no early warning signs. That is why screening tools, like the PSA are important in that it puts up a warning sign. When cancer is caught  in the early stages, it’s when you’re feeling well. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer I was jogging 5K’s, flying airplanes, and suddenly, someone said, “You have cancer.” That’s hard to believe! So, we are trying to convince men they need to go to the doctor when their well. Just like – they take their cars in for maintenance, not because the car is “sick” but because they understand that preventive maintenance on their car has lasting benefits of saving money and increasing their car’s life. However, many men don’t use the same analysis when dealing with their health. Many men my age have a terrible quality of life because they are leaking, they’re incontinent, they’re impotent, but you don’t hear anything about it because they don’t go to the doctor. We’re trying to get men to go to the doctor when they feel well, for checkups! And, that’s not an easy process. Men don’t like to go to the doctor! So, we’re trying to look outside the box and find nontraditional ways of getting these men to see the importance of preventive medicine that will lengthen their longevity and greatly enhance their quality of life in their retirement years.

 

JUDY: What do you mean by nontraditional ways?

 

JIM: The way we handle it is, if you want to talk about prostate cancer, you must first bring the facts together, then, get in with a group of men to meet them and tell them about it. In the African-American community, many say “Well, you should go to churches. They  will provide you with a venue,  men’s groups, they  will provide food,  set it up and advertise it for a  Saturday morning.”

 

JUDY: So that’s what your Coalition is doing now?

 

JIM: No. Nobody shows up.

 

JUDY: Oh, my! That’s a difficult hurdle to get over. Let’s get back to your situation for a moment. You were told you had cancer, and you became a survivor. How did you get involved with the PA Prostate Cancer Coalition?

 

JIM: In 1991, after I was diagnosed and treated, my wife saw an article in the paper about an organization called “Us Too”, a prostate cancer support group. They were meeting right down the street from my office in Chicago, IL. I started attending meetings and learned that  “Us Too” was created by a group of men who had recurrent disease. They were looking for answers to it. I became involved with that group in 1991. I became the board secretary. When I moved here in 1995, I ran into another cancer survivor, and we started the PA Prostate Cancer Coalition in 1999. The founder’s name is, Bob Alexander. He is no longer with us. He died from advanced prostate cancer. I was on the board and I kind of took it over at that time.

 

JUDY: Was it a recurrence for him? 

 

JIM: Yes, it was.

 

JUDY: So, you took over in what year?

 

JIM: That was like, 2001- 2002.

 

JUDY: How many other people are involved with your coalition?

 

JIM:  We have a seventeen (17) member board and an executive director (part-time).  Our activities involve a number of prostate cancer survivors, caregivers, family members and community outreach volunteers.   

 

JUDY: Sounds great! And, I see a wide variety of types of events on your calendar.

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JIM: We have wine events. We go to baseball games.

 

JUDY: Where’s that one about the guys drop in their drawers? (laughter)

 

JIM: (laughter) Oh, yes that’s in Lancaster, PA!

 

JUDY: Yes! The Lancaster barnstormers! (laughter)

 

JIM: (laughter) Yes!

 

JUDY: I see it in your literature. The baseball players get on the field, and they drop their drawers with their boxer shorts underneath. (laughter) It’s good to put humor into things to help people get the message.

 

JIM: Well, we had to take it where the men are. At first, I thought there would be a lot of “push-back” as people don’t go out for entertainment and want to hear about prostate cancer. However, there’s has been very little “push-back” at  these types of activities where men gather. Our logo , “Don’t fear the finger!” (laughter) has been warmly received in many entertainment venues.

 

JUDY: Yes, that’s very good. (laughter) It’s very humorous! I love humor. It’s so much better to be smiling and feeling good, than not. And, to make a point, using humor is a very good thing!  So, your logo, “Don’t fear the finger,” must be helpful.

 

JIM: Well, what does our logo do? It starts the conversation, because, if you don’t start the  conversation, men will not talk about it whatsoever. One of our biggest problems and you can appreciate this as a breast cancer survivor, is attempting to get men to “come out of the closet”.  We have a program called, “Spare Parts.” We try to get prostate cancer survivors to “come out of the closet” to be our, “Spare Parts” and  speak about the disease. Survivors have a lot of credibility, have great messages and can influence the lay public.

 

JUDY: How do these people meet each other?

 

JIM: Our volunteers gather at the various events we participate in throughout the year.

 

JUDY: When they signed up to get a PSA Test, did they promise to do it?

 

JIM: No, we did it right there!

 

JUDY: Okay, Jim, this is getting interesting now!  (laughter) I’ve got to ask. . . right there? They had the PSA Tests done right there during the Senator’s Baseball Game? (laughter) You mean the Blue Finger test??? (laughter)  

 

JIM: (laughter) No, it was a blood test. It’s just a blood test. (laughter)

 

JUDY: (laughter) Well, alrighty then!  I’m glad you cleared that up for me!

 

JIM: Discovering prostate cancer, there is not just one test. We recommend that men have a blood test and the digital rectal exam.

 

JUDY: Blood test first?

 

JIM: Well, you can talk men easily into the blood test. When you talk about the digital rectal examination that’s a whole different world!  (laughter)

 

JUDY: That’s such a shame it’s just a part of the body. Why is it such a big deal to them?

 

JIM: I know. It’s just a 10 second test! It’s uncomfortable, but I tell them to ask their wife what they go through on their  annual breast examination! And, most men don’t even know what the DRE test is all about. The physician can feel the prostate through the rectal wall, because it sits right there. The doctor’s digital finger can determine whether the prostate is palatable or whether it’s hard. Think of it this way. If you have a heart problem the doctor can’t take his or her hand and put it over your heart to determine if the heart is working correctly. But the DRE exam takes only 10 seconds, and the results of the exam may  save your life!

 

JUDY: That’s right! So, tell them to get over it! (laughter) Get over it! (laughter)

 

JIM: (laughter) Right! And, you are not supposed to enjoy it! (laughter) So, get over it guys!

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JUDY: Well, I hope and pray that your organization gets men to loosen up a little bit and understand this is for their good present and future health. That’s why I wanted to interview you as the featured nonprofit for SPEM Health Website. This unique health website is all about Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Mental good health!  Every article helps people understand how to take better care of their overall SPEM health. Right here and now, you are giving a terrific example about how men can take better care of their physical health, which will lead to improving their overall health, just by having a prostate exam.

 

JIM: And, when anybody comes down with a disease such as cancer, it’s just not that individual, it’s the whole family who must deal and  live with the disease. At that point, everybody wants to do what is needed to fight against it.

 

JUDY: Yes, that’s true. I don’t know where I would have been without my husband, Joe Lista. He took excellent care of me. But, I know it wasn’t easy on him. He was devastated, too. His ongoing care meant the world to me!

 

JIM: Women, not men, are my most receptive audience when the topic for discussion is men’s health. We have a program called, “Checkmate”. When women schedule their annual exam, we ask them to also schedule their male mate or at least mention it to him. Women’s influence is the reason many men “see their doctor” on a regular basis. If not for women encouragement, many men will wait until their poor health negatively affects their quality of life

 

JUDY: That’s a good statement!

 

JIM: One of the programs we used to spend a lot time working on was support groups. But, support groups are not designed for men. I facilitated the prostate cancer support group at Hershey Medical Center for 10 years. Men come to support groups for information. They could care less who is sitting on their left or right. They are there because their woman brought  them there. As soon as women get in that room they understand exactly what that event is all about. They start talking to people. They walk across the room and start exchanging names. They start bonding! And, the men? They just stand there looking at each other. At the end of the presentation the men are out in the lobby and in separate corners of the room waiting for their wives. And, their wives are talking with each other like they’ve been friends for years. They understand the communication, bonding and support that’s needed in a support group. We guys don’t get it!

 

JUDY: There’s a nonprofit that I interviewed a couple years ago, called, “Reel Recovery” as the featured nonprofit. Matt Brindle, State Coordinator/PA, told me they get a group of men together who all have cancer, anywhere in their bodies, at any stage, and they go to Allenberry Resort to fly fish together for a 3-day excursion. So, what brings in the men? The fly fishing!

 

JIM: That’s right!

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JUDY: Just like you’re saying. And, this group has what they call, “Courageous Conversations.” That’s when the men get together in a room, and they are asked to talk with each other. The men who are volunteering for “Reel Recovery,” try to make it easy for these men to start talking by bringing up some very common everyday subjects like, what is your favorite show on television? And, you know what? Most of these guys start sharing, to different degrees, about what they are experiencing while they are living with cancer. Otherwise, just as you stated, they wouldn’t talk about it much at all. There are some men who use support from their friends, family and professionals in their lives. But they face that hurdle that your group faces with talking about things with other guys.

 

JIM: I’ve worked with the National Cancer Institute and the Dept of Defense on their peer reviews panels where professionals send proposals for research money, and we must decide what are the best research proposals presented that should be funded. Unfortunately, there is never sufficient money available to fund all the good research. In any given year, less than 20% of the good proposals are funded.  In reviewing this research, I always suggest there be  a “quality of life (QA) arm in the research plan, because we still don’t know why men act the way they do. We work all the way around it, but, we don’t work on the fundamental problem, why don’t men take better care of their health?  We still don’t know. I don’t know the answer and I’ve been doing this work for 20 years!

 

JUDY: Well, you are closer to the answer than I am, so I won’t even voice a thought on that one. . . (laughter) . . . although, it could be a... well known three letter word, especially for men! (laughter) . . .  Maybe a three-letter word - like EGO! You think? Do you think their EGOS prevent them from finding out something is wrong with them, plus, what to do about sharing it with others?

 

JIM: Well, it could be. But, I know men will say to me, “I’m not going to let anybody stick their finger up my ass!” (laughter) Right? A strong statement, right?

 

JUDY: (laughter) Yes.

 

JIM: Five years later, I’m sitting by their bedside, the same guy who was afraid of the finger, and now he is dying from prostate cancer because he would not take the time to get a blood test and a DRE exam. How needless!  How do you break that? I don’t know yet.

 

JUDY: You are in the process of breaking that way of life with these guys. With the PA Prostate Cancer Coalition and your programs or activities, your efforts, and other people dedicated to help, I think you’re getting the message across slowly, but, surely. It sounds like it would be best on a 1:1 method. Do you spend

a lot of time with individuals?

 

JIM: Yes! And, it sure is labor-intensive, but, I guess that’s what we must do. For instance, a health professional spends  a lot of time making sure they provide evidence-based information  to  their patients. Male patients take that information home; however, they’re at the VFW the next day and say to a buddy, “I

went to the doctor, and he talked with me about prostate cancer”. The “buddy” says  “Hey, all you have to do

is drink cranberry juice and you don’t have to worry about any of that stuff.”  Now, who do you think this guy believes? The professional? Or, his buddy sitting next to him and telling him to drink cranberry juice? And, that’s why we come back to the individual survivors being so valuable to us in getting the correct word out. When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer there’s a family of support surrounding that woman. But, not so with prostate cancer! Mainly, first, because once he has his diagnosis he does not tell anybody, including his family!

 

JUDY: That’s sad. He should share the news with his family.

 

JIM: Until he gets to the point when he must decide, he doesn’t. And we’re trying to break all that.

 

JUDY: What do you think has to happen in a man’s life; after he has cancer and is a survivor, does he have an easier time talking about it? And, after having had cancer once do they have an easier time getting tested afterwards on a regular basis?

 

JIM: Oh, yeah! They probably will, but they are not going to tell anybody. It amazes me that when I’m in a group of men, and I’m  wearing a blue ribbon, or saying to somebody I have never met before, “How is your prostate today?” Whoa! They respond, “Who are you? “What are you saying?” But this starts a conversation and they will then open a little bit and then you find within the group, there are  other survivors! There are people who have dealt with the disease. But, nobody’s talking about it. And, that’s really doing a disservice to themselves, their friends and to their families.

 

JUDY: Tell me about events you have throughout the years?

 

JIM: We schedule an annual prostate cancer awareness conference and an advocate day at the PA State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. We speak at a number of health-related community outreach programs and set up our PPCC exhibit table and banners at these events. Our Outreach Program: Men and Sports program takes our exhibits to local professional baseball and ice hockey games throughout their respective seasons. We continually promote our Don’t Fear the Finger, Checkmate, Bottoms Up for Prostate Cancer, Spare Parts, Pints for Prostate, NovemBEER  and local meda outlet campaigns.

 

JUDY: What is your website where people can go to and find events and activities?

 

JIM: https://paprostatecancer.org

 

JUDY: And the phone number?

 

JIM: 800-892-3311 and the Email Address is: no.fear@papaprostatecancer.org

 

JUDY: And, you have Twitter: PAProstate  -and-  Facebook: PaProstateCancer  Oh, here is something written on one of your pieces of literature. “We are here to educate men about risk factors and symptoms of prostate cancer. We are here to educate the women who love men about the risk factors of prostate cancer. Basically, we are here to tell you that prostate cancer is an  “us”  problem.” You know, Jim, if only people would become more in tune about taking care of themselves. . . that’s why I wrote the non-fiction book, “Achieving SPEM Health   Spiritual,  Physical,  Emotional,  Mental  (It’s Up to You!)TM  I, also, built and opened the SPEM Health, LLC,  Website: www.spemhealth.com   -and-  FB: spemhealth.com/facebook  This book and Social Medias about improving our mind/body/spirit health, are valuable tools for people to learn how and why to take better care of themselves. There are close to 30 wonderful Book Reviews in each!  It’s not hard to start thinking about improving how we take care of our  mind/body/spirit health, which I call: SPEM Health.  We are only on this earth one time! This isn’t a dress rehearsal. We have one shot at this and that’s it! I am hoping that this interview will help bring your message across to many people who need to hear how simple it is to keep track of how their prostate is doing.

 

JIM: God gives us this beautiful body in this beautiful opportunity, called life!  So, I think we have an obligation, especially if you’re Christian, you have a responsibility to take care of the special gift that he gave you.

 

JUDY: Right on! I agree! Hey, what is a prostate cancer action kit?

 

JIM: We have developed a kit of material that when we run across somebody who says they want to get involved in some way, the kit is immediately available. The kit contains brochures, flyers, and handouts. We tell them they can take it back to their group and make a presentation. I say it’s a “turnkey” program. All you must do is present yourself and the material provided.

 

JUDY: So, you usually have speakers at different functions that are survivors. If someone who is a survivor is reading this interview, and if they feel they can help by speaking about how to get the test to find out how their health is, plus, explain what it’s like to go through prostate cancer itself, what should they do?

 

JIM: I mentioned this earlier. We have a program called, Spare Parts.” Contact me and we will answer their questions, take their picture and put it on one of these tall banners. These banners are all around the states and we put your message on it. It’s trying to get survivors to come forward and tell their story.

 

JUDY: You, also, have facts here, as we discussed earlier. “One in 8 men will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. One in 10 men who gets prostate cancer will be younger than 55 years of age. This used to be thought of as an old man’s disease. The three main risk factors for prostate cancer are: age, being over 55, African-American race, and family history of the disease. Other risk factors for aggressive prostate cancer include: smoking, obesity, lack of vegetables, diet, and lack of exercise.”

 

JIM: Which is about the same guidelines to fight off all cancers. . . we need a healthy lifestyle!

 

JUDY: Prostate cancer has one of the highest survival rates of any cancer and is often curable if found at an early stage. Early-stage disease occurs before there are symptoms. That’s why men should visit their doctor when they are well and be screened, not wait until they are sick and have symptoms.

 

JIM: That’s right. For example - lung cancer isn’t usually discovered until it is in Stage 4!

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JUDY: So, Jim, if you can add anything else in this conversation, about your PA Prostate Coalition, what would you share?

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JIM: The thing that’s overwriting all this is “No money - No program.”  We men do not advocate  for our health issues. The reason we don’t have sufficient prostate cancer research money is because prostate cancer does not have the synergy that breast cancer awareness has. Everybody knows what the pink ribbon stands for, but, hardly anybody knows what the blue ribbon stands for - Prostate Cancer Awareness!

 

JUDY: I will admit that I did not know that, before I researched for this interview.

 

JIM: That’s because men do not advocate for their health and in our democracy the bottom line is you must make some “noise” to get the decision-makers to make your cause a priority. That’s why lobbyists are hired by all major companies. Since we men do not lobby for our health, we have difficulty in getting our name out there. During the national football season people see pink ribbons on the football players.

 

JUDY: Why don’t football players wear blue ribbons?

 

JIM: People say, “Jim why don’t you get out there and get them to wear these blue ribbons?” And I say, “We’ve

tried!” However, men will support breast cancer, but, they do not want to deal with prostate cancer.

 

JUDY: What do they say when you say, “We want you to wear these blue ribbons?”

 

JIM: They say, “It’s not good for business.”

 

JUDY: That doesn’t make any sense to me!

 

JIM: It does! The breast cancer coalition does a tremendous job. When they go and talk to a potential sponsor they don’t go to the philanthropic or community outreach reps, they go straight to the marketing department! And, they show the company that their involvement with the pink ribbon (breast cancer awareness) and how it will improve their bottom line. So, during October, which is pink ribbon month for breast cancer you will see pink on everything!

 

JUDY: Is there a prostate month?

 

JIM: September

 

JUDY: I didn’t know that.

 

JIM: You would never know it!

 

JUDY: How long has that been going on?

 

JIM: For years and we get a little better every year but it’s nothing like the breast cancer results because we don’t have the advocacy to support us.

 

JUDY: Well, I am so glad you are a survivor, and you were smart enough to take the test for it, thanks your wife pushing you! But, for all the men who are not taking care of themselves is there anything you can invite them to in this interview that will stir them to get involved with their health? What is the first thing they can do to get involved concerning checking their health and learning what prostate cancer is about?

 

JIM: They need to go see their doctor now while they are healthy!

 

JUDY: Yes, that makes sense! However, is there anything they can do with your organization to take the first step to be around some guys who understand prostate cancer, and to see what steps are needed to move forward in their life?

 

JIM: There are local support groups where men speak about their “cancer journey” and assist others who now face the same journey. Contact us and we can “hook them up.”

 

JUDY: Wonderful! I do think that my thought earlier about that three-letter word, EGO, is a big part of their problem and not getting checked for prostate cancer.

 

JIM: That’s right! I agree!

 

JUDY: So, come on guys, put your EGO aside! This is all about making sure your health is in good shape, and you don’t have the threat of prostate cancer. Just get checked out! And, if you don’t have any threat of having it, you will be fine! Most people will not find anything.

 

JIM: It’s unfortunate, Judy, that men work hard, save their  money, take care of their families, educate  their children, then retire and shortly thereafter die or have a terrible quality of life.

 

JUDY: Unnecessarily sometimes!

 

JIM: Right! and, they really don’t get a chance to take advantage of their retirement! I’ll be 89 years old this year.

 

JUDY: 89 years old? You are NOT! Leave the room! (laughter) Are you kidding me? You look so much younger than that. . . I can’t believe it! (laughter) You are articulate, educated, you have a great memory, you’re good looking, and you’re a smart man. You must come from good stock!  

 

JIM: (laughter) I was born in 1936. I’ll be 89 in August.

 

JUDY: Okay, rub shoulders and elbows with me! I want some of your youthfulness to rub off on me! (laughter)

 

JIM: I do take good care of myself! And I’m blessed!

 

JUDY: Good luck with all you are doing for the PA Prostate Coalition.  And congratulations on the recent awards you have received including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2018 Distinguished Public Service Award for Exceptional Leadership in Cancer Advocacy, the American Society of Clinical Oncology Patient Advocate Award – 2023 and the Central Penn Business Journal Health Care Heroes Recipient - Volunteer of the Year - 2025

 

JIM: Thank you, Judy!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Col (ret) Jim Williams 
His Outstanding Career in the Army! 

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Col (ret) Jim Williams has a fascinating personal history of serving our country in the army. I will take this moment to interview him about his many successful experiences and growth in the military. Please read on, in tribute to this man who has served his country well!

​​

TAKE A LOOK AT:  CancerToday (magazine) Practical Knowledge. Real Hope. From the American Assoc. for Cancer Research: Summer 2016 / Vol 06 / Issue 03, CancerToday: www.cancertodaymag.org/summer2016/in-

support-and-service-jim-williams-prostate-cancer-survivor-vietnam-vet/ has a six (6) page story about Col (ret) Jim Williams that shares information about his life as a dedicated serviceman and that he is a Prostate Cancer Survivor. Look it up and enjoy another viewpoint about this extraordinary man! Plus, a photo of this incredible man on the front page of this issue.

 

JUDY: Let’s look a little bit into your past, Jim.  

 

JIM: Yes, that will be fine.   

 

JUDY: You served for many years in the army. I appreciate everything you’ve done for our country! Please talk with me about that important time in your life.

 

JIM: Thank you, Judy. Well, I’m from suburban Philadelphia, Haverford, Pennsylvania, home of Haverford College. I attended West Chester’s State Teacher’s College. I graduated there in secondary education. I was planning to teach and coach in the suburban Philadelphia area. However, it was at a time when school districts in suburban Philadelphia were not hiring black males in secondary education. They said the community just wasn’t ready for that yet. Now this was 1959, so it’s been a few years ago. (laughter) The second hindrance to employment was that employers wanted to know if you had completed your military obligation. The draft was in effect and many men would be hired and soon thereafter be  drafted into military service. I had used up all my college deferment to complete college So, I said, let me go do my two years in the Army. I could get that out of the way and then I’d come back and do what I wanted to do which was to coach and teach. So, they had a program where you could volunteer for the draft. Men would get their draft notice and run down to the recruiter and sign up for a third year because they would have some say into what type of service they would perform and what location. Where with a two-year draft, the service would put you where they needed you the most – mainly with a combat unit.  I wanted to do my two years and get out. So, I volunteered for the draft, and I was able to pick what month I wanted to begin service.       I decided, October 1959, to go into the Army, do my two years, and then get out, and do what I wanted to do with my life. So, I went in as a “private no-class” with the intention of doing my two years of service and coming out.

 

JUDY: So, how did that idea pan out? (laughter)

 

JIM: I tell people what happened, I got into the military, got brainwashed, and it took me 25 years to figure out how to get out.  (laughter)

 

JUDY: (laughter) There you go! Jim stayed in and made it a military career of 25 years! Thank you, again, for your service, Colonel. Hey, you weren’t brainwashed, you were dedicated!

 

JIM: (laughter) The reality of that time was, there being more upward mobility for me in the military than on the outside. For instance, I was in basic training, and I took this thing called the OCS Test, the Officers Candidate School Test, and passed it! So, they said,   “Do you want to go to OCS?” And, I said no because my intentions were to do two years and get out. They said you do not have to extend your enlistment. So, I thought, well, second lieutenant is much better than a private, so I’ll do that. So, they got me involved with the field artillery, the big guns! I took my first plane ride from Columbia, South Carolina to Oklahoma City and then on to Ft. Sill, OK to attend Field Artillery OCS.  It was, in 1960, when I went through officer’s training school. That school lasted six months. Upon graduation, I was assigned right there at, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Then, I had the opportunity to take an aviation test, passed it and off I went to flight school  I went to flight school in, Fort Rucker Alabama.  I left Fort Sill, came back to Ardmore, Pennsylvania and married my bride and took my young bride Lois to Dothan, Alabama, in August 1961.

 

JUDY: Did you know her before you got into the military?

 

JIM: Yep. We dated for five years. So, that’s 56+5 is a long time, 61 years that we’ve been together. (laughter)

 

JUDY: Yes, it is! (laughter) Congratulations! You don’t hear numbers like that very often these days.

 

JIM: We grew up very close to each other.  She lived on one side of Haverford College – Ardmore PA and I lived on the other side of the college – Haverford, PA  So, that was good in the military when we came home, we didn’t have to think about going way over to the East Coast to see my parents, or to the West Coast to see her parents. We were both going home to the  same community. I went to Europe after  the Berlin Wall was established. Lois joined me later and our  first child, Karl,  was born in the Army Medical Hospital, in Frankfurt Germany. We returned to the USA in 1964, attended additional military schooling and was then assigned as Asst Professor of Military Science at Siena College in Loudonville (suburban Albany), NY.  While at Siena, I was able to obtain a Master of Science Degree in Secondary Education with a New York Dept of Education Principal Certification.

 

JUDY: (laughter) ! And, you could get your master’s Degree for free, right? That sounds good!

 

JIM: For free, yes! And, they said, “We will send you to ROTC assignment in New York, and since you’ll be part of the faculty you’ll get your schooling for free.” Now, I’m in the military and I’m going back home and looking for jobs and can’t find any. The Army kept saying, “You want to do this?” “You want to do that?” “You want to go over here?” “You want to do this?”

 

JUDY: If I may say, I think it is extremely unfair that in the United States there was that type of trouble for you and many other people. I am 100% against that type of treatment against anyone. I apologize for the people who instituted those ridiculous rules and regulations, segregation and all that crap, it was 100% uncalled for then, and always will be. However, I am glad that it has changed a great deal from the past. There is still a way to go, but it’s much better than in those days.

 

JIM: That’s true.

 

JUDY: And, I hope you and others, as God says, can forgive and go on. But, never forget, just keep it in the past where it belongs. I know not everything is perfect even now, but I’m glad it has gotten better.

 

JIM: That’s right.

 

JUDY: As a woman, I have experienced many double standards in life, so I have an understanding, though not as severe as your race was treated, but many examples about women not being treated fairly. And, again, I sincerely apologize for the terrible behavior of so many people in the past toward your race.

 

JIM: Thank you.

 

JUDY: Thank YOU for going on with your life in such great ways! You are a remarkable man. You helped yourself and many people who have known you throughout your life. God bless you!

 

JIM: Thank you. Well, I was at Siena College up in Albany, NY, from 1965 to 1968. When I came back from Europe I went into what the Army calls their career course for captains. I was a captain at that time.  Our second child Robert was born in ? Birth Center in 1967.

 

JUDY: I think your memories are fantastic. Nothing wrong about not recalling the name of one town.

 

JIM: And, then, I got orders to go to Vietnam, in 1968.

​

JUDY: Oh, my! You had to go there, too?

 

JIM: I was just promoted to major.

 

JUDY: How did you wrap your mind around the fact that you wanted to be in the military for just two years?

 

JIM: Things were just moving so fast! I went in the Army as a private in 1959 and here it is 1968 and I’m a Major! So, in Vietnam I spent one year as a Division Staff Officer with the 101st Airborne/Airmobile in the Hue Phu Bai  Area – north of Danang. I was the Inspector General of the 101st. I came back from Vietnam to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to a field artillery unit. One year later, I got orders to go back to Vietnam, as a Major. On this second tour, I went back as an infantry operations officer. Although my branch was Field Artillery. We say the “Artillery adds dignity, to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl". (laughter) I now found myself as one of the savages (infantry).  I attended Vietnamese language school and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Upon completion of this intensive training, I was sent again to Vietnam and embedded with the Vietnamese forces in the Mekong Delta Area about 30 miles south of Saigon in the Bo Canal area – Long An Province. I was not with the  regular Army in Vietnam like our regular Army. I was with the RF and PF forces. RF stands for Regional Forces. That would be like the National Guard of Pennsylvania. And, the PF stands for Popular Forces. They were like the Camp Hill Militia. So, I was embedded with the RF and the PF in Long An  province, which is like a  USA State.

 

JUDY: Just briefly, what was it like working with the Vietnamese?

 

JIM: I was the operations officer advisor and command and control officer for combat operations.

 

JUDY: And, you were asked to take a language course, so you could speak with the Vietnamese correct?

 

JIM: Yes, however, I lost that skill very quickly because most of the Vietnamese wanted to speak English! Or, learn English! So, I became their English instructor. (laughter)  No one would speak Vietnamese around me. They wanted to speak English!

 

JUDY: How ironic! So, you are back in Vietnam as a major.

 

JIM: As an advisor to these Regional and Popular Forces. You’ve read about the Civil War and the camp followers who used to follow the troops? Especially with the Confederate Army the families would travel with the soldiers. And, that’s what I experienced  in Vietnam. We took off in the morning with cooking pots, tents, pigs, chickens, babies, wives, and soldiers. All going off to war together!

 

JUDY: Well, I have never heard about that. It sounds like an incredible experience!

 

JIM: So, a Vietnamese private  would be given the mission of guarding a bridge like the Harvey Taylor bridge

and on the other side of the bridge would be his family, dogs, cats, maybe a tent, campfire, etc. So, he took his family to work with him and you can bet your life he did a good job in guarding the bridge. Isn’t that something?

 

JUDY: Yes, it is! It’s hard to understand how people could live through situations like that.

 

JIM: We are so fortunate in this country, the United States of America, because most of the world is in turmoil to some degree or another. You know? Anyway, I survived that year and went off to Command and at General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth Kansas. And, then, I got an assignment to Hawaii, as Commander of the Honolulu Recruiting District. President Nixon had just lifted the draft, so why would anybody want to go into the U.S. Army? The recruiters had been “order takers” and now had to learn to sell this intangible called the US Army  - so we went into salesman mode. We had to learn sales and marketing during those days and we had to meet a recruitment quota each month.

 

JUDY: To the best of my knowledge I thought that once the draft was lifted people continued to sign up and serve our country. That there wasn’t too much trouble getting people to serve throughout the years, correct?

 

JIM: True. Yes. In my area, young men looked for ways to get “off the rock” and get to the mainland. My district consisted of the State of Hawaii to include the Big Island – Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu and Maui, plus, Guam and America Samoa. I had the opportunity to travel to all these beautiful places in the South Pacific

 

JUDY: So, after that, what happened?

 

JIM: After that, I made Lieutenant Colonel. And, I was coming to Washington, DC

 

JUDY: Your memory is very good! Why were you going to Washington?

 

JIM: This is now 1976. I got a call and was told you are going to Howard University for an ROTC assignment. I said no, I already “punched that ticket”. In other words, I’ve already done that. In the Army you only want to do a type of assignment once, as you move up the chain of command. I already punched that ticket when I was a Captain. I’m a Lieutenant Colonel now and don’t need to punch that ticket again. They said, Yeah, you got to go to Howard University. I said, “Why me?” I don’t know if you’ve heard of Stokely Carmichael. He was quite an activist during the civil rights movement. He was a student at Howard University and a leader in the student civil right movement. The Howard University ROTC program had gone “underground” Cadets and cadre did not wear their uniforms on campus. It was my job to bring the program back to life. In 1977, the Army got its first black Secretary of Army, Clifford L Alexander. And after that time, I received a lot of support from the Pentagon and his office. I could do everything I wanted. (laughter)

 

JUDY: (laughter) Really? You were treated differently? Better?

 

JIM: So, we were able to enhance the program at Howard University. In fact, not only did my cadets graduate

from college, but they received their Army commission at the same ceremony that they received their degree. My staff, in 1979, I wanted them to invite every black general officer in the Washington DC area to our commencement program! And, they did that! There were about 13 in the area and 11 of them showed up! First, the faculty, staff and family members could not believe that there were that many black general officers and admirals in the area and the junior person there was a full Colonel who was promotable by the name of, Colin Powell. He was on the promotable list to become a General, but, had not yet put on the star. So, he was a junior officer there at that ceremony! I left Washington in 1979 and went back to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. That is the home of the U.S. Army Field Artillery. I became a training center battalion commander. I was then promoted to full colonel and became the executive officer and then deputy commander of the Field Artillery Training Center.  Unfortunately, my mother became ill at that time. I had spent almost 23 years in the service.

 

JUDY: And, you were a Lt. Colonel. at that time?

 

JIM: No, I got promoted to Colonel while being at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. So, I asked for a compassionate assignment to get back closer to my mother in Pennsylvania. I was able to get an assignment at Letterkenny Army Depot, in Chambersburg, PA. So, I spent the last two years of my service in Chambersburg working as the Plans and Security Officer (SPO) for Army Depot System Command that was stationed at Letterkenny. I retired from the Army in 1984. Can you imagine that?

 

JUDY: It was from 1959 to 1984. That’s 25 years! Sure, was a lot different than the two years you originally wanted to sign up for was in it?

 

JIM: I’ve had three careers since that time! (laughter) And, I’m still going! (laughter)

 

JUDY: (laughter) That’s wonderful! Every day!

 

JIM: That’s right! (laughter) Every day is a miracle!

 

JUDY: Tell you what, later this year, after I open my SPEM Health, LLC, PODCAST - "Life Issue!" I will invite you back for more stories of your days in the Army! 

 

JIM: You know, when I decided I wanted to retire, I had to make a transition. What am I goanna’ do? Who’s going to hire an artillery/infantry  specialist in your local community? So, I went through a process and decided I was going to go into human resources. I went to a college reunion. One of my classmates was an official at  Montgomery Wards and Company. He was a good man, and he said, “You’re still a young man! Look at Montgomery Wards!” Well, later I got a call from his secretary, and I flew out to Montgomery Ward’s Headquarters in Chicago. After a day of touring headquarters and speaking to several people, they offered me a position as the Loss Prevention Manager for their new distribution center in Cincinnati Ohio. Security in retail is called loss prevention that’s why they chose me for that position because of my history in the military. A lot of them were retired military. I spent a full day with loss prevention people and at the end of the day they offered me a job. Can you imagine, in one day? I said, “No.” I’m coming out of the military and don’t want any more drama, I wanted to do something completely different! And, I think working with people would be it. So, I came back to Letterkenny. A couple months later I get a call from Montgomery Ward’s saying that they have a job for me in human resources in Baltimore, would you be interested? The vice president flew in, and I had dinner with him.

 

JUDY: Jim, everyone is impressed by you! He flew in?

 

JIM: Yep! He offered me a job and I accepted. Being in the Army, you don’t usually just accept jobs and give the Army a two-week notice. It doesn’t work that way! So, I came back to Letterkenny and I worked for a two-star general who helped me out. He said, “What can I do?” So, I told him that I got this job offer and I’m going to retire. He said, “Whatever you need you got it.” To expedite my order, I took the general’s helicopter because my personnel records were, in Carlisle. So, they filled out the paperwork for what you find out, you cannot just send it in, you must hand carry it from point A to point B. So, I took the paperwork from Carlisle to Alexandria, Virginia by hand because that was the headquarters for my organization. Then, I had a fly from Alexandria to the Pentagon. And, when I finally got there, I didn’t do this in one day mind you, but, when I got there they said,” We only sign off on retirement papers on the 20th of the month.” This was only the fourth or the fifth of the month! So, in the meantime, the General got a message from the Pentagon saying you can let Williams go if you want to, but we cannot guarantee you an immediate replacement. But, the general said, “Okay.” So, wasn’t that nice of him? So, to make a long story short I went on terminal leave. Montgomery Ward sent me to Oakland California to get some on-the-job training for 30 days. I came back and retired at a Fort Meyer, VA Retirement Ceremony and I started working at Montgomery wards in Baltimore. That was, in August 1984.

 

JUDY: And, your wife was with you and kept moving all these years?

 

JIM: Our last move was our 22nd move! And, she won’t move now, isn’t that something? (laughter)

 

JUDY: I agree with her! (laughter)

 

JIM: I worked for Montgomery Wards in Baltimore as the facility human resource manager and then the regional human resource manager and in two years they promoted me to their headquarters, in Chicago, so we moved to Chicago. Three years later, I left Montgomery Wards and got a job at the American Bar Association, which was also, located in Chicago. I was their Human Resources Director. And, then, I wanted to get back East. Our children had grown up, left home and gone to college. We were in the  Midwest and there were no close relatives. So, I looked for a job back here and I found an HR job with the Hershey Medical Center. It was during the merging – demerging time with Geisinger - 1995-1999. I retired from Hershey Medical Center in 1999.

 

JUDY: What a story, Colonel Jim! You had such varied careers! And, I bet you learned about taking care of yourself in the service, is that true?

 

JIM: Well, I believe the best lesson I learned is time management. Here is an example. In my first tour to Vietnam, I was the Inspector General of the 101st. The commanding general’s name was, Zais. He taught me time management and controlled me 18 hours a day. But looked what happened during those  18 hours. We were an airborne unit using parachutes but turned in our parachutes for 412 helicopters in the middle of the war. So instead of dropping troops from planes  to the ground and hoping they land near the designated drop zone, we placed them exactly where we wanted by helicopter.  It wasn’t  all that easy, however, it changes the way we maneuver troops and fight modern wars.  Back to time management -  During the day, as a staff officer you were not permitted to sit behind a desk in your tent. You must be out in your area of operation to see what was going on. And, then, at 1700hrs (5:00pm) no matter where you were in our area of operation (AO) , you had to fly to headquarters for the daily briefing and get briefed by the division staff on “what” was going on in our area of operation that day.  After that, you had to play volleyball for one hour with the Chief of Staff. After that, we were living in holes in the ground covered with  canvas, then, you  put on clean fatigues and came back to a cocktail party and, there were no chairs, so you had to stand up with a drink in hand because you were expected to go around and talk to everybody. After that you had dinner. There may be a movie after dinner, however, you were not required to attend.  In those 18 hours, General Zais made you go out in your area of responsibility and be active in getting the job done – not from behind your desk. He made you stay up to date by requiring you to listen and learn from the daily briefings, he then required you to sweat, playing volleyball in temperature that many times reached above 100 and the game used “jungle rules” like anything goes –  hands allowed on the net, get the ball over anyway possible, etc. Plus, you  had a social hour and he fed you a good meal! Today, most people say they work from 9 to 5. So, every day I go to the gym, talk to people, and when I’m working with this prostate cancer thing, and for the good ‘ole days, at 5 o’clock I have a martini. (laughter)

 

JUDY: (laughter)

 

JIM: But, it takes a mind/body/spirit effort – work, play, never ending learning, socialization. . . and that’s what keeps you going!

 

JUDY: I am so impressed. I’m so glad you continued with the regimen in your mind about being busy and living your life to the fullest. That keeps people healthy!

 

JIM: People ask, why do you do this with the Prostate nonprofit? It’s a selfish motive, because when you’re helping others, you’re helping yourself. Isn’t that what being human is all about?

 

JUDY: Yes!

 

JIM: Some people say to me, “You do a lot for the PA Prostrate Coalition and the people don’t always pay attention to you.” But, I say, If one guy goes to the doctor, I’ve done something. It’s done. I’ve won!

 

JUDY: Thank you so much Jim!​​​​