tuesday, november 8, 2016
THE WEAKLEY COUNTY PRESS
A SOLEMN MOMENT — Members of Rolling Thunder, the Elks Lodge, the Dresden American Legion Post and others who helped organize the event gather for the
PAGE 7
playing of “Taps” by Ron Cheatham to conclude the ceremony honoring Herbert J. Jones, a Dresden native killed in action during WWI.
Herbert J. Jones honored during Sunday ceremony at the Weakley County Court House By LINDA THURSTON Press Editor It’s hard for some people to comprehend, but next year will be the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entrance into World War I. The global war began in Europe in July 1914 and ended Nov. 11, 1918. It was known as the Great War at the time, although then-President Woodrow Wilson called it, optimistically, “the war to end all wars.” Two decades later the world was at war again. A Weakley County man who made his mark before he went to war and made it again in battle was remembered Sunday afternoon at the courthouse in Dresden.
Herbert J. Jones grew up in Dresden, and he started his life at a gallop. After attending local schools he enrolled in Vanderbilt at the age of 15 and graduated with his bachelor’s degree at 19. Active on- and offcampus, Jones was one of the select few to attain eligibility for the Cecil Rhodes Scholarship. By 1914 he had graduated from law school and worked in his father’s firm. He served as attorney general pro tempore, a Dresden alderman and a school board member. He started a Boy Scouts Troop in Dresden. But his country soon had needs far beyond little Weakley County, Tenn. Jones enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 14, 1917,
and after training at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., and in England, he was sent to the lines Jan. 17, 1918. He joined the First Division, also known as the Big Red One, which was the first group of troops deployed in the war. In March he was severely gassed and spent some time in the hospital recovering from the poisonous vapors. He was wounded again that summer and died shortly before midnight on the Fourth of July at the age of 25. He was buried in France with a marker bearing his name, but thanks to the diligence of a French family his body was later returned home. Herbert J. Jones received the Distinguished Cross,
LIVING HISTORY — County Mayor, Jake Bynum played the role of 1st Lt. William Bledsoe who fought alongside Jones. one of only three awarded to Weakley Countians, and the French Croix de Guerre.
Staff Sgt. Jordan L. Davis
Airman 1st Class Bennie Castleman United States Air Force 1964-68 Martin, TN
He was the first volunteer in World War I from Weakley County, and the first Weakley Countian to be wounded in the war. Sunday’s ceremony included a brief history of Jones’ life and a living history skit in which some of those who figured prominently in his life were portrayed by local actors. Cynthia Jones played his mother, Ella Jones, while Mark Maddox represented Joe L. Holbrook, then editor of the Dresden Enterprise; Lang Unger was Finis Garrett, a lawyer, judge and Congressman who knew Jones. Isaac Ball, a teaching colleague of Jones’ at Montgomery Bell Academy, was followed by Jake Bynum as First Lt. William
Bledsoe, who fought beside Jones, and Jenny Killebrew as Sue Mooney, president of the Women’s Missionary Society of the Dresden Methodist Church where Jones attended. Public Defender Joe Atnip read a list of Weakley Countians killed in World War I and County Commissioner David Hawks read a list of the missing in action from that war. The event concluded with the playing of “Taps” by former Veterans Affairs Officer Ron Cheatham and a prayer by the Rev. Keith Long.Sponsors of the event included Rolling Thunder, the American Legion, the Elks Lodge, the Boy Scouts and the Tennessee Great Wars Commission.
Master Sgt. John Cross
July 2006 - Present United States Marines Scout/Sniper Afghanistan, Iraq & Haiti Purple Heart Recipient Hometown: Martin, TN Son of Nelson & Lyn Davis of Martin TN and Holly Belian of Ferndale, MI, Brother to Taiga & Dusty, Married to Lynsey Davis Two sons Parker & Bradley Davis
Sgt. T. Joe Walker April 27, 1934 - Jan. 5, 1946 World War II Hometown: Dresden, TN
Thank you for your love of God and Country. You have always been a hero. Love, your daughters, Sylvia & Shelia
1993 - Present Tennessee Air National Guard Nashville, TN Operation Northern Watch Operation Noble Eagle Operation Fundamental Justice Operation Enduring Freedom Hometown: Sharon, TN
David Sudberry United States Air Force 1969-1972 TN Army National Guard 24½ years Martin, TN
MSgt. Zachary C. Pate James R. Huffstetler Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army Greenfield, TN
SGM Marty Ables Pvt. Glen Cooley United States Army Korean War Martin, TN
194 Eng. Brigade National Guard 1979-Present Iraqi Freedom Enduring Freedom Martin, TN
United States Air Force Operation Southern Watch Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom x2 Stationed at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea Hometown: Martin, TN
Odis Carmichael
Dan B. Elam
1943 - 1946 World War II Air Force Bomber Pilot Hometown: Martin, TN
Master Sgt. U.S. Army & U.S. Navy Greenfield, TN
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tHE WEAKLEy County PrEss
tuEsdAy, novEmbEr 8, 2016
Profiles in courage: Larry Moubray, U.S. Army Larry Moubray of Palmersville spent a year in Vietnam serving in the First Infantry, “The Big Red One.” His bravery there earned him a medal. Moubray said one night his unit was attacked with mortars and ground fire and started running out of ammunition. While under fire, Moubray went to get more ammo and for that he was awarded a Bronze Star, which recognizes servicemembers for heroic and distinguished service. “I was only doing what I was trained to do,” he said. “What I had to do.”
After his year of combat in Vietnam, Moubray returned to the states and acted as a hand grenade trainer in Louisiana. In all he served a two-year stint from 1968 to 1969, at the peak of U.S. involvement in the war. Now retired, Moubray and his wife Karon have three daughters, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His granddaughter, Lauren Simmons has decided to follow her grandfather’s example of service and has enlisted in the United States Air Force.
Larry Moubray pictured here when he served in the U.S. Army’s First Infantry also known as “The Big Red One” during the peak of the Vietnam War. On the right he stands with his granddaughter Lauren Simmons who has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
To those who fought, to those who tried, to those who gave their very lives...
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tuesday, november 8, 2016
THE WEAKLEY COUNTY PRESS
Profiles in courage: Howard ‘Happy’ Garner, U.S. Army at D-day A Martin man’s service in the D-Day invasion during World War II led to the award of the Purple Heart. Howard (Happy) Garner served his country in the 83rd infantry. He was drafted in October of 1942 and completed basic training near Indianapolis. He received further training at Camp Breckenridge, Ky. In the fall of 1943 he was sent to Liverpool, England, and stationed at New Castle, where they prepared for the D-Day Invasion. Early on the morning of June 6, 1944 he was in the sixth or seventh wave to hit the Normandy beach head. He was one of only three from his platoon of about 60 who were not wounded or killed in the invasion when their landing craft was hit in the English Channel and they had to swim in. After the invasion they
“HAPPY” GARNER
moved on through France, liberating towns as they went. On Aug. 7 a mortar round exploded near him and a 4-inch piece of molten shrapnel hit his upper left leg. His M-1 rifle that was resting beside his leg was cut in half, taking his fingers with it. This may be the only thing that kept him from losing his entire leg. Garner lay where he was hit from 8 p.m. until 10 the next morning. He was then aided by fellow soldiers and a German prisoner who took care of him through the night, giving him cider to drink. Garner spent the next 18 months in military hospitals having surgeries and skin grafts. He received the Purple Heart medal for his sacrifice during the war and was honorably discharged in November of 1945.
Large landing craft convoy crosses the English Channel on 6 June 1944
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Profiles in courage: Randall Ricketts, Nat’l Guard Randall Ricketts, 46, has given a lifetime of service to his country through the National Guard. Originally from Dresden, Ricketts joined the Guard over 27 years ago. He has had four deployments, three of which were overseas. He was part of the Desert Storm operation in the 1990s and has served in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He was deployed again in 2003 and 2010. He is still active today in the Dresden National Guard, and his role is as
a truck driver trainer. He said during his service a convoy he was traveling in was struck by an improvised explosive device but he was fortunately not close to the explosion and avoided injury. Ricketts’ family has a tradition of military service. His father served in Vietnam and his grandfather was a soldier as well. Ricketts and his wife Christie have two children: Alex, a junior at Bethel University, and Katie, who is a freshman there as well.
Profiles in courage: Joe Dunn, U.S. Marine Corps
Joe Dunn is a former machine gunner with the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2007 and 2008 he served in Iraq, and in 2012 and 2013 he served as an infantry advisor for the Republic of Georgia, helping get its troops ready for deployment in Afghanistan. “It was neat,” Dunn said of his training activities. After serving 10 years, Dunn left the military and now works for United
Parcel Service in Paris. When asked why he chose to enlist, Dunn said simply, “It was something I always wanted to do. I thought it was my duty.” Like many servicemembers, Dunn comes from a long line of military members in his family. He and his wife Emily have one son, Everett, who is almost 2 years old.
Profiles in courage: Marion Riggs, U.S. Army in the Phillipines The Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937, and just seven years later Marion Riggs was sailing out of San Francisco Bay beneath it, destination unknown. Now 72 years later, Riggs can’t recall where he ended up, either, but most of his memories of World War II are sharp, and they changed his life. Out of over 16 million members of the Armed Forces who served in that war, only an estimated 620,000 are still alive. One of them is living in Weakley County Nursing Home in Dresden. “We was chasing the Japs,” Riggs remembers of his U.S. Army service in the Philippines. “We was clearing out all them islands. Guess you could call it ‘mopping up.’ U.S. troops began assaulting the Philippines in late 1944, and Riggs was in the thick of it. Riggs didn’t enlist; he was drafted. “’Greetings,’ I think it said,” he laughed. He was made part of the 43rd Infantry. What he remembers most, though, is sitting idle in Manila Harbor for eight days. He didn’t say whether it was pleasure or torture, but he still recalls the young Filipino boys who swam out to the ships begging for chocolate. “There were ships everywhere,” he remembers in amazement.
MARION RIGGS Riggs said his ship was halfway to Japan when the war ended, as Japan surrendered following the bombing attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Apparently they sailed on, however, because Riggs said he spent about six
months stationed in Japan. There he met some men from the Army Air Force who told him if he signed up for air duty, he would receive mustering-out pay and a 30-day furlough. That sounded good, so he followed their advice.
He came home to Camp Atterbury in Indiana but was soon told he would be shipped to Germany the next day. “I slipped out and came home,” Riggs chuckled. He was sentenced to 15 days’ imprisonment and an $18 fine was levied against him, a fine he declares he hasn’t paid to this day. He soon had an opportunity to transfer to Fort Knox, Ky., which was closer to home, and train as a mechanic.” He left the service in December 1945 and went to visit friends in Michigan. He got a job as a mechanic and stayed nearly three years. Riggs grew up in Dresden, and when he returned to Weakley County after the war, he was a mechanic for the rest of his life. He worked at OK Chevrolet in Dresden, and later opened his own garage in Sharon, where he worked for 19 years. The building burned down recently; a photo of it was on the front page of the Weakley County Press. Riggs’ wife, Elizabeth, died in 2007. They had one child, Trudy Sanders, who works at Simmons Bank.
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PAGE 10
THE WEAKLEY COUNTY PRESS
tuesday, november 8, 2016
Scenes from 2016’s Veteran’s Day celebration & parade in Martin
Photo by Ryan Robinson
Go beyond the holiday It’s been 85 years since the origins of Veterans Day took root. At the time, Americans declared “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919 — recognizing the end of World War I. Several years later, it became a national holiday and in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to change the name to Veterans Day — setting it aside as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. So, here we are. Another Veterans Day is upon us. What does it mean exactly? In the midst of parades, speeches, and ceremonies, it definitely gives us time to recognize the sacrifices military servicemembers have made on our behalf of our country. It also is a reminder that we should take the time to honor our 19.6 million veterans year round. In an article for CNN, several veterans were asked what did it mean to honor them. They responded, “Go beyond the holiday.” Here are 4 ways you can support veterans: 1. Support veteran-owned businesses. Many businesses owned by veterans, from automotive shops to online shops, are noted as such. Search for ones that are certified as veteran-owned. 2. Assist with job placements. It’s also important to join efforts to help veterans seek employment. According to statistics, about 77 percent of veterans have issues with finding jobs within a year after leaving the military. 3. Help with veterans’ families. Spouses and children of veterans also face challenges, as they must cope with separation as well as support their loved ones who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other medical issues. 4. Volunteer with organizations committed to helping veterans. Many times it takes a group effort to promote change. American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. The ALA has been instrumental in advocating for veterans’ rights for nearly 100 years. It also has many grassroots efforts to support military servicemembers, veterans and their families.
Members of Rolling Thunder TN VI
Vietnam Veteran Jack Laird
Parade Grand Marshal John Rabbit Hearn
Desert Storm Veteran Wanda Postlewaite
Veteran, Jeff Owen, his dog Isis, with American Legion Auxilliary Unit #55 members Brylee Poyner, Rita Janes, Rebecca Pate and Kelcee McMillin