Veterans Day honoring all who served
NOVEMBER 11, 2020
The Rocky Mount Telegram is proud to celebrate our local veterans in this commemorative special section. We hope you will enjoy the stories and photographs that have been collected to honor our local heroes.
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM | NOVEMBER 11, 2020
Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum BY JOHN H. WALKER R ocky Mo u n t Te le g ra m
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” and wondered what it meant. Most older Americans know because even though it was a little more than 100 years ago, many of them knew of someone who served in World War I. And that’s where the “11th-hour” phrase originated because even though the treaty ending the war wasn’t signed until seven months later, the “11th hour” was when the Allies and Germany put into effect an armistice — on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 to end the war. Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it’s largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices and was originally called Armistice Day. In Edgecombe County, veterans are remembered through the efforts of the Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum,
founded in 2004 through the efforts of the late Joel Bourne. The museum, located at 106 W. Church St. in Tarboro, has nearly 150,000 artifacts and is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring the men and women of Edgecombe County who have served their country in the military. Consider some of the collection: 1,065 military portraits of those who served Hundreds of uniforms from all branches and carrying all ranks, including that of Gen. Hugh Shelton, the highest-ranking soldier ever from Edgecombe County and the state of North Carolina. Shelton served as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under presidents Clinton and Bush. Shelton’s final check from the 82nd Airborne, for 82 cents. A collection of awards and badges, including bronze and silver stars and the Purple Heart A World War II-era Jeep, now 80 years old, that still runs and is used in parades in the community. “We feel like our col-
lection is noteworthy,” said Herb Whitehurst, president of the museum that is governed by an all-volunteer board. He also noted that the museum works to have displays that are relevant to the community and its veterans. In 2019, as the museum was preparing to bring The Wall That Heals to the community, volunteers had erected a replica of a Vietnam-era forward observation post inside the front of the museum. After that, the museum had a representation of the 38th Parallel as part of a 70th-anniversary observance of the Korean War. The museum is also responsible for the military murals on the wall of the circa 1919 Colonial Theater and maintains a brick walkway at the base of the wall with memorial bricks dedicated to Edgecombe County veterans. Museum volunteers also participate in the first Monday flag raisings held by the Golden K at the Edgecombe County Veterans Memorial on the Town Common where the memories of
local veterans who have passed are honored. To date, 167 veterans have been honored. The observance has been temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons who have driven by the museum may have also seen the new, 35-foot flagpole and signs as well as the cutouts depicting a variety of military scenes. Additionally, the front of the museum is ringed by sandbags, as a bunker would have been. And helping out-oftown visitors find their way, new signage has been placed on both the east and westbound lanes of US 64 at Exit 285. The signs incorporate the museum’s logo. The museum is manned totally by volunteers and is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. While the museum is normally open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, it is temporarily closed to protect volunteers from possible exposure to the coronavirus. For more information, call 252-823-0891 or email museum@edgecombevet.com.
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Above, this display memorializes David Gatling, who sank an enemy ship with one bomb. At left, Among the museum’s artifacts is this bound copy of “Home Front News,” which was edited and circulated by the Tarboro Rotary Club to keep local soldiers informed on the comings and goings at home while they were away at war.
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
ALLEN Doris R.
ARRINGTON Tony R.
AVENT Luther N.
BATTS, SR. David W.
BATTS George Dennis
BATTS Phillip David
BEDMON John C.
BRYANT James E.
CAUDLE John
CLARK Kenneth A.
DAVIS Bobby
EVANS Henry Kelly
EVANS James Melvin
EVANS James Palmer
EVANS Velma R.
FREER James A.
FRYE Wilford “Wimpy”
HUNTER JR. Paul
JENKINS Percy
JOHNSON James Earl
KNIGHT, SR. Forrest E.
LEE Jerry
MILLS Murzie
MORRIS Willie
PARKER Donald Ray
PHILLIPS Harvey L.
PHILLIPS LEE VERNE
PITTMAN Jacoby
RICHARDSON Danny Ray
RICHARDSON John T.
RICHARDSON Russell
RICHARDSON Stephen
MASSENBURG Sorell
THORPE Hugh
TISDALE Robert Lee
VEALS Joseph
WALKER Robert
WATSON William
WHICKER, JR. Donald E.
WHITEHEAD Donald
WHITEHEAD Marcus
Army Sgt. E-5 9 Years of Service
Army 6 Years of Service
Army National Guard 37 Years of Service
Air Force 4 Years of Service
Air Force Master Sergeant 24 Years of Service 7/6/2020
Air Force MSE8 22 Years of Service
Army 2 Years of Service
Air Force Sgt. 2 Years of Service
Army Sgt. 2 Years of Service
Army E4 1975-1979
Army Staff Sergeant 14 Years of Service
Army
Air Force Tsgt 23 Years of Service
Air Force 4 Years of Service
Army Army Private 1942-1945 WWII Veteran (Purple Heart)
Army 20 Years of Service
Air Force Airman 2nd Class 1957-1961
Army Sgt. 11 Years of Service
Army Corporal 2 Years of Service
PD_0001.JPG
TISDALE Roy Lee
Army Private First Class 2 Years of Service chrome-extension://nlkncpkkdoccmpiclbokaimcnedabhhm/gallery.html
WILLIAMS Robert McKinley Army Sgt. E5 1969-1971
Army SSGT E-6 57 Years of Service
Air Force Senior Master Sergeant 26 Years of Service
Marines 5 Years of Service
Navy Master Chief Petty Officer 1940-1969
Navy
Army Spec 5 1967-1970
Navy 4 Years of Service
Marine Corps GySgt 1982-2002
Marines Corporal 2 Years of Service
Air Force Sgt. 6 Years of Service
Army E4 3 Years of Service
Army Sgt. 1st Class (E7) 3 Years Active Duty 24 Years Reserve
Navy SK 2 4 Year of Service
Army Sgt. 2 Years of Service
Navy 26 Years of Service
Army E3 101/2 Years of Service
Army 1969-1971
USMC LCPC
Army 4 Years of Service
Army Sergeant 3 Years of Service
Army 12 Year of Service
1/1
WINTERS Jimmy G.
Army SP4 1964-1966 Vietnam Veteran
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - jfk
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THANK YOU! THE ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR LOCAL VETERANS AND THOSE WHO SUBMITTED PHOTOS.
ALSTON Nathan
ANTHONY SR Malton R.
ASHLEY Margo Whitaker
AVENT, M.D. John T.
AVENT, JR. Willie Leader
AVENT Madylin Hinton
BASS Samuel Manin
BATTLE Camryn A.
BATTLE Crait M.
BATTLE JR. Claude
BATTLE II Frank Gorham
BATTLE, JR. Rayvon
BATTLE SR. Samuel K.
BEDGOOD Eddie Lee
BETHUNE Richard F.
BLACKMON William B.
BRASWELL James H.
BRASWELL Lonnie
BRASWELL Thomas
BRIDGERS JR Luther Ernest
Army Artillery 1st Lieutenant 1961-1963 - Cuban Missile Crisis
Marine Corps Sgt. 1968-1972
BODDIE Sam Leon
BROUGHTON Wm. Earl “Bill”
BROWN JR. Earnest L.
BROWN JR. Thurman Lee
BRYANT William A.
BULLUCK Howard
BULLUCK Johnnie Lee
BULLUCK Willie J.
BUNN JR. Benjamin
BURTON Doris
CALHOUN Raymond Cecil
CAMERON Talmond
CARPENTER Bobby
CHERRY David
COKER, JR. Theodore
COOPER Reginald Carlton
COOPER Roy Rogers
DAVIS Bobby Ray
DAVIS Donald Ray
DEATON John
DEMPSEY William H.
DICKENS, JR. Felton
DICKENS Odell
ESTELLE Chalonda J. “CJ”
ESTELLE Davon E.
EVERETT Donald T.
EZZELL Charles
FARLOW Jesse Quinton “Buck”
FREER JR Arthur
Army E4 1954-1961
Navy E-3 2 Years of Service
Army PFC 3 ½ Years of Service
Army Sgt 2 Years of Service (KIA)
Marines 2 Years of Service
Marines PFC 1 ½ Years of Service (KIA)
Army 6 Years of Service
Army E-5 5 Years of Service
Marines PFC 1959-1963
Air Force E4 Sergeant 4 Years of Service
Air Force E8 26 ½ Years of Service
Army PFC 1949-1952
Army & National Guard Staff Sgt 7 Years of Service
Air Force Sgt 4 Years of Service
Army 4 Years of Service
Army Captain 8 Years of Service
Army E5 1977-180
Air Force Colonel 30 Years of Service
Army Captain 9 Years of Service
Air Force Major 1968-1975
Army PFC 1945-1947
Army Private E2 1969 (Vietnam Veteran)
Army Staff Sgt. 24 Years of Service
Army Administrative NCO 1944-1946
Air Force Airman 1st Class 1965-1969
Army / Army National Guard Lt. Colonal / Commander 1965-1968 (Vietnam Veteran)
Army SFC Quartermaster Corps 20 Years of Service
Army Staff Sgt. 2005-2012
Navy 1940-1944
Army Master Sergeant 26 Years of Service
Marines Cpl Vietnam Veteran
Army E-5 2 Years of Service
Army SFC 1956-1977
Army LTC Nurse Corps 16 Years of Service
Army E-8 24 Years of Service
Army 1940-1944
Air Force Staff Sergeant 24 Years of Service
Army PFC 1961-1964
Army E2 1950-1953
Navy Petty Officer 1941-1982
FIND US ONLINE AT ROCKYMOUNTTELEGRAM.COM
Army Specialist 4 1967-1969 - Vietnam Veteran
Navy GM3C 8 Years of Service
Army 1st Lieutenant 2 Years of Service
Army Sergeant 10 Years of Service
Army Cpl. 3 Years of Service
Army Cpl 1975-1980
Army Sergeant 2 Years of Service
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM | NOVEMBER 11, 2020
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
FREER James A.
FREER James R.
GAGLIANO Charles
GONZALEZ Silas
GORDON-BRAY Arnold N.
GREGORY, JR. Dolphus L.
HAMMOND James A.
HARGROVE Ronald
HARPER Boice
HARRIS Harvey Lee
HART Benjamin
HART William K.
HAWKINS Linda Powell
HEDGEPETH Keith L.
HENDRIX Kenneth R.
HINTON, JR Jesse J.
HOBBS William L.
HOWARD, JR. Joe Louis
HUNTER Julius
JEFFERSON, JR. George
JOHNSON Bryson
JOHNSON Leenae
JOHNSON Reginald
JONES Dennis
JONES J.B.
JOYNER Alton F.
JOYNER SR Harold C.
JOYNER JR Harold C.
JOYNER Zy’Keith M.
KENNEDY Andrew Jackson
KENNEDY JR. Andrew (Jack)
KENNEDY James Henry
KENNEDY Robert Dean (Bobby)
KENNEDY Theodore
KING John
KING Kenneth Albert
LAMM James Ray
LAMM John T.
LEE Eugene
LEGGETTE L. Nelson
Air Force/Army Col. 24 Year of Service
LEWIS, JR. Antonio D.
Army (Airborne) Private E2 March 2019 - Active Duty at Fort Bragg
LEWIS Clarence H.
LEWIS Levern N.
LEWIS Micheal E.
LONG SR. William L.
LONG JR. William L.
LUCAS Brandon
LUCAS Brandy
LUCAS Raymond
MANN Calvin Q.
MANN Reginald A.
MANZEL Charles H.
MATTHEWS James W.
MITCHELL, JR. Kester
MITCHELL Roy
MITCHELL Warren
Air Force Sgt. 2 Years of Service
Army SP-4 1986-1992
Army Colonel 1964-1988
Air Force AIC 4 Years of Service
Army 14 G Air Defense 2015-Currently Serving
Army Corporal 1953-1955 - German Occupation Forces
Army Sgt. 2 Years of Service
Navy E6 1979-1983
Air Force Sgt. 4 Years of Service
Navy GM3 4 Years of Service
Infantry/Airborne/Special Forces 23 Years of Service
Army National Guard SGT (Ret) 1976-1996
Army World War I 1918-1919
Air Force Sgt. 8 Years of Service
Army/Air Force Sgt E7 20 Years of Service
Navy E6 1980-1985
Army 22 Years of Service 1959-1980
Air Force 22 Years of Service
Army E4 2 Years of Service
Army Reserve 1980-1985
Army CPL 3 Years of Service
Army Private, Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division , 1942-1944 (KIA)
Army PFC 1941-1945
Navy HTC 20 Years of Service
Air Force July 2018-Currently Serving
Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Marines & National Guard PFC 1988-1993
Army Staff Sergeant 20 Years of Service
Army Corporal 1944-1946
Army 1940-1944
Army Sgt E5 1966-1968
Army Sgt 221 Aviation Company 1 ½ Years of Service Vietnam Veteran
Army BG 34 Years of Service
Navy 1940-1970
Air Force 30 Years of Service
Marine Corps 2 Years of Service
Air Force Airman 1st Class 1951-1955
Navy Lieutenant 6 Years of Service
Army E3 1944-1946
Army E-6, SSGT 20 ½ Years of Service
Army Reserve SFC 1980-2000
Army SFC (Ret) 23 Years of Service
Army Spec 4 1966-1968
Air Core PFC 1942-1945
Navy Lieutenant 8 Years of Service
Army 1942-1945
Air Force E6 1959-1979
Air Force Lt. Col. 21 Years of Service
Navy Petty Officer 4 Years of Service
Air Force Senior Airman 1996-2000
Army 1954-1961
Navy 1 Year of Service
Army Sgt 2 Years of Service
Army Tuskegee Airmen WWII Veteran
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM | NOVEMBER 11, 2020
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
MOORE Donald O.
MOORE Ronald L.
NEAL Harold
NICHOLSON George Thomas Army MP 4 Years of Service
NOEL Reginald
Marines E6 1981-1991
NORFLEET Brian
NORFLEET Norris
OWENS Cecil R.
PANARESE Adam F.
PARKER Alton
PARKER Darrell
PARKER JR. Harry
PARKER Jimmy
PEELE Leon
PERSON Arthur Lee
PINCKNEY Carl
PITTMAN Storkey T.
POWELL Clarence G. Army Cpl 1944-1949
POWELL John G.
Navy 1950-1954
POWELL Otis C.
POWELL Walter B.
POWELL Willie
PURVIS Elbert
PURVIS Michael
PURVIS Tina
QUIGLEY Thomas
RHODES Bobby D.
ROBERSON Ronald
ROBINSON William M.
ROSE James C.
SEARS Earl O.
SESSOMS Isaac Solomon Army PVT 2 Years of Service
SESSOMS, JR. Isaac Solomon
PFC 1 Year of Service (WWII Veteran)
SHARPE Jackson T.
SHARPE Milton A.
SHAW Ellis Mack
SHERROD Charlie J.
SHERROD Daniel Willie
SHRAGO Harry I.
SHRAGO William
SILVER Mark
SILVER Melvin
SMITH, JR. Earl
SMITH James L.
SMITH William Thomas
SPIVEY Derrick
TAYLOR Edward L.
THOMPSON Ronald
THORPE Joseph
THORPE Russell
TILLMAN Herbert B.
TILLMAN, JR. Willie C.
UNGER Peter E.
WALLACE Lawrence “Larry”
WARD JR. Willie H.
WATFORD Heyward W.
Army Staff Sgt 2 Years of Service
Army Cpl WWII Veteran
Army SSG (Retired) 1976-1999
Army 1950-1955
Army Sgt 1968-1970
Army Sgt. 2 Years of Service
Marines Private 4 years of Service
Navy 2 Years of Service
Marines 3rd Recon E5 2 Years of Service
Navy CDR 30 Years of Service
Army 1969-1971
Army SP-4 1969-1971
Army PFC 1944-1945 WW II
Army/ Marines Communication 6 Years of Service
Army Specialist First Class 1951-1952
Army Sgt E5 (Air Borne) 1963-1966
Army E2 1969-1971
Air Force MSGT 1955-1978
Army Sgt. 2 Years of Service
Army PFC 2010-2014
Army Cpl 2 Years of Service - Korean War
Air Force PFC Military Police 6 Years of Service
Coast Guard/Army TTC 23 Years of Service
Army PFC 1963-1966
Army Staff Sgt. 1990-2008
Army SP1 2000-Currently Serving
US Army WW I
Marines Sgt. 1991-1997
Navy 1967-1972
Army Sgt. E5 4 Years of Service
Marines Sgt. 8 Years of Service
Air Force 1st Lieutenant 1950-1953
Army SFC 1952-1953
Air Force Staff Sgt 1956-1960
Marines Lance Corporal 1986-1990
Air Force E3 1970-1974
Army Spec 5 1970-1971
Army Cpl. 1949-1952
Air Force AIC 4 Years of Service
Air Force 21 Years of Service
Army Command Sergeant Major 1969-1999
Army SFC 20+ Years of Service
Army E5 1950-1953
Army Spec 4 E4 3 Years Active/3 Years Reserve
Marines 1969-1972
Army Sergeant 9 Years of Service
Air Force E4 4 Years of Service
Air Force 21 Years of Service
Army 2 Years of Service
Army Specialist E4 1966-1970
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM | NOVEMBER 11, 2020
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
WATSON Audrey L.
WATSON McKinley C.
WATSON Milton
WEAVER Lester Eugene
WEST Alvin T.
WHITAKER James
WHITE Edith
WHITEHEAD Dan A.
WHITEHEAD Elbert S.
WHITEHEAD JR George
WHITEHEAD Selesta
WHITEHEAD, JR. Selesta
WHITEHURST Allen Kyle
WHITEHURST James Allen
Army Reserve 1993-1999
Air Force Master Sgt 22 Years of Service
Navy Army CS3 Sgt. 1st Class 1967-1999 (Vietnam Veteran) 22 Years of Service
Army Sergeant 1985-1989
Air Force SMSGT 28 Years of Service
Army Sgt. Major 43 Years of Service
Army SPC 3 1944-1946
Air Force SP4 3 Years of Service
Air Force Tec/Sgt 20 Years of Service
WILLIAMS W.T.
Army E3 2 Years of Service
WILLIAMSBEASLEY Robert
Army Lieutenant General 15 Years of Service
Hedgepeth_ Jeremiah
Army PFC 3 Years of Service
Hill Sr._Archadle Alston_Robert L. Air Force Sgt 27 Years of Service
Anthony_Malton Ray Army Sgt 4 Years of Service
Arrington_Kenneth Army SP4 2 Years of Service
Arrington_Russell Army SP4 3 Years of Service
Avent_Bronis
Army SP4 2 Years of Service
Battle_Anothy Marines Sgt 8 Years of Service
Battle_Garfield Army E5 2 Years of Service
Battle_Willie G. Army 3 Years of Service WW II Veteran
Beaufort_Clarence
Army SP/5 3 Years of Service
Navy 4 Years of Service
Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Hines_Michael A.
Crews_Otto M.
Gray_Richard E. Army Sgt 2 Years of Service
Cooper, Jr._James E. Gray_Courney
Navy
Daniels_Clarence Air Force Master Sgt. 24 Years of Service
Gray_Rodney
Daniels_Waverly
Gray_William Eddie
Army 1st Sgt Master Sgt. 24 Years of Service
Dancy_Larry
Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Davis_Petronee Air Force Sgt 4 Years of Service
Dickens_Bobby E. Army Sgt 2 Years of Service
Dickens_Harry
Army SSG 3 Years of Service (Vietnam Veteran) Purple Heart
Dickens_Kary
Army Sgt
Army 1st Sgt. 24 Years of Service
Boone_Horace
Draughn_Kendra T.
Air Force Sgt 3 Years of Service
Army Sgt 13 Years of Service
Brown_Joseph
Evans_David W.
Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Marines Sgt. E9 30 Years of Service
Bryant_James E.
Fox_Johnnie
Army SP4 6 Years of Service
Army Sgt 8 Years of Service
Bunn_James
Fox_Lorenzo
Air Force
Coley_John
Army SP4 1 Year of Service (KIA)
Army Sgt 2 Years of Service
Fuller_Joseph F.
Coley_Thomas
Grant Jr._Claude
Air Force
Army Sgt 2 Years of Service
Army Sgt 2 Years of Service
Cooper_David
Gray_Chester T.
Navy Sgt 25 Years of Service
Navy E5 3 Years of Service
Navy 4 Years of Service
Army PFC 4 Years of Service
Hagwood_L.B. Navy MoMM2 1943-1945
Hagwood_Lawrence M. Marines 1st Lieutenant 1976-1980
Hagwood_Nathan B. Marines CPL 2005-2009
Harper_Weldon Ray Army SP4 2 Years of Service
Harris_Jerome Marines Sergeant 2 Years of Service
Harris Sr._Marice B. Army 2 Years of Service
Harris Jr._Marice B. Air Force 2 Years of Service
Harris_Nathan Navy 2 Years of Service
Harris_Odessa Bryant
Army Sgt 20 Years of Service
Harrison_Donald A. Air Force Master Sgt. 18 Years of Service
Harrison_Robert M. Army E4 2 Years of Service
Army SP 4 2 Years of Service
Army Staff Sergeant E6 26 Years of Service
Navy IT2 7 Years of Service
Army E8 Master Sgt. 1977-1997
Army Spec4 4 Years of Service
Thank You For Your Service!
Harrison_Ronald A.
WHITEHURST James Cecil
Army SP-4 3 Years of Service
Navy / Army E4 / Sgt E5 4 Years of Service / 5 Years of Service
Hines_Thurman L. Army - 101st Airborne Sgt E5 3 Years of Service (Vietnam Veteran)
Hines, II_Thurman L. Army Spec 4 6 Years of Service
Horne_Larry
Army SP4 2 Years of Service
Hunter_Julius
Air Force Master Sgt 30 Years of Service
Johnson_Elvin U.
Lewis Sr._Robert B. Pullen_Phillip Marines Sergeant 8 Years of Service
Lynch_Glandus
Air Force S.M. Sgt. 22 ½ Years of Service
Lynch_Thomas Air Force Sgt. 4 Years of Service
Mann Sr._Calvin Navy Sgt 4 Years of Service
Mercer_Debra
Air Force Sgt 20 Years of Service
Mercer_William Air Force Sgt 10 Years of Service
Milbourne_Rodney Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Modlin_Ray A. Army Sgt 11 Years of Service
Moody_Willie Army Sgt 1966-1968
Army Sergeant 20 Years of Service
Moore_Malachi
Jones_Lorenzo
Morgan Sr._Leodus
Army SP4 2 Years of Service
Jones_Percy Army
2 Years of Service
Jordan_Curtis Marines 4 Years of Service
King_Charlie
Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Knight_Ernest Air Force Sgt 4 Years of Service
Knight_Joe A. Marines Sgt 4 Years of Service
Knight_William Marines E5 5 Years of Service
League_Bob
Air Force 4 Years of Service
League_Will
Marine Corps 8 Years of Service
Army 2 Years of Service Army
Noel_Richard
Army Sgt 2 Years of Service
Norwood_Edward Army 82nd Airborne Paratrooper 20 Years of Service
Parker_Debra Army E4 3 Years of Service
Army Served in the Battle of the Bulge 1945-1946 (WWII Veteran)
Randolph_Dennis Earl Air Force Sgt 25 Years of Service
Randolph_Edgar Ray Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Randolph_ Raymond
Army Sgt 25 Years of Service
Richardson_Charles Army Mst. Sgt. 30 Years of Service
Tucker_Alvin Army
4 Years of Service (KIA)
Washington_Coley
Marines 2 Years of Service (KIA)
Whitaker_Alvin Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Whitaker_Anthony Army Sgt 3Years of Service
Whitakers_Garvin Army Sgt 4 Years of Service
Whitakers Sr._ Walter
Air Force Master Sgt 20 Years of Service
Whitehead_ Richardson_Woodrow Alexander Army Army Mst. Sgt. 25 Years of Service
Sgt 2 Years of Service
Royster_Alton
Whitehead_Donald
Air Force Master Sgt 12 Years of Service
Sessoms_Carmillus Air Force Sgt 22 Years of Service
Silver_Floyd
Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Spaton_Donald Army/Air Force Sgt 19 Years of Service
Speight_James E. Army Sgt 20 Years of Service
Stevenson_Bruce Army SP4 3 Years of Service
Stokes_Elton
Air Force/Army Sergeant Parker_Donald Ray 20 Years Air Force Airman 2nd Class Taylor Sr_Melvin 1957-1961 Air Force Sgt Parker_Harold 8 Years of Service Army Sgt Taylor Jr._Melvin 3 Years of Service Air Force Sgt Phillips_Colbert 4 Years of Service Army Sgt Thorne Sr._Robert 2 Years of Service Air Force Sgt Phillips_Milton 4 Years of Service Air Force Sgt Thorpe_Hugh 4 Years of Service Army Sergeant 2 Years of Service
Army Sgt 20 Years of Service
Whitehead_Donald Navy Sgt 25 Years of Service
Whitehead_Frank D. Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Whitehead_James D. Army Sgt 3 Years of Service
Whitehead_Marcus Army Sgt 10 Years of Service
William_Albert Air Force Sgt 15 Years of Service
William_Daryl
Army E6 20 Years of Service
William_David Army Sgt
William_Otis T. Army Sgt 7 Years of Service
William_Robert Air Force Sgt 4 Years of Service
William_William H. Army Sgt E7 23 Years of Service
‘I’d go back in a heartbeat’
ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM | NOVEMBER 11, 2020
BY WILLIAM F. WEST R ocky Mo u n t Te le g ra m
Steve Pridgen regularly wears caps proudly showing he served the nation in uniform. Pridgen is president of a family business, Pridgen Tire and Auto Center, which is located along Sunset Avenue, and he was in the U.S. Air Force as a security specialist who achieved the rank of master sergeant. In civilian life, Pridgen rotates what lid he chooses to wear personifying his having worked for Uncle Sam. When Pridgen recently sat down early one morning at the business for an interview with the Telegram, he had on a cap showing he was in Afghanistan. Pridgen told of one day wearing a veteran’s cap while in Raleigh with his wife and of people approaching, shaking hands with him and thanking him for his service. “I always reply back, ‘Thank you. It was an honor to serve — and I’d go back in a heartbeat if they allowed it,’” Pridgen said. Pridgen noted he is a retired reservist and could be called back up by the government if needed. “I’m 56. So it would take a little bit of retraining, but put me on top of a hilltop, I’d go back in a heartbeat,”
Pridgen said. “That’s one thing most veterans are going to tell you: If you had a chance to go back and do one final mission, would you do it? Hell yes.” Pridgen’s brother, Jeff, 59, served in the U.S. Navy and the Army National Guard. Steven and Jeff Pridgen run Pridgen Tire and Auto. The origin of Pridgen Tire and Auto can be traced to when their late great-grandfather, Foster Morris Pridgen Sr., was a blacksmith at about what today is the Edgecombe Community College Rocky Mount campus. With the advent of the automobile, the Pridgen family shifted to being in the tire and auto service business and operated along North Church Street, almost catty corner from Wholesale Paint Center. Steve and Jeff Pridgen’s father, M.H. Pridgen, 87, who served in the U.S. Air Force, relocated the business to along Sunset in 1972. Steve Pridgen was a senior in high school in 1982 and he noted President Kennedy saying in his inaugural address in 1961, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Pridgen said he was not ready to go to college and said after talking to the re-
Above, U.S. Air Force veteran Steve Pridgen has memorabilia of his days in uniform, including an image of a North Korean soldier just out of one of the United Nations conference rooms in the neutral zone straddling the North Korean-South Korean border. Below, U.S. Air Force veteran Steve Pridgen shows an album he has on hand with photographs of when he served in Afghanistan. spective recruiters for the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marines, he approached the recruiter for the U.S. Air Force. Pridgen said he watched an Air Force promotional video and found out he could work as a security specialist, a law enforcement specialist or a firefighter. After completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Pridgen served from 1983-86 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, with his jobs including helping guard the base and the aircraft, the bombs and the missiles. From 1986-88, Pridgen served at Osan Air Base in South Korea and volunteered to be on what was a version of a SWAT team and did joint exercises, including with the counter-terrorist Delta Force.
& Crematory
Honoring Their Service & Sacrifice
Additionally, Pridgen twice visited the demilitarized zone, more commonly called the DMZ and which remains a stark reminder of the Cold War. Although Communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea are supposed to be in a state of a cease fire, North Korean and an alliance of South Korean and U.S. forces are in a 24/7 eyeball-to-eyeball standoff. Pridgen told of having gone to what is called the Joint Security Area and having entered one of the well-publicized sets of blue United Nations neutral-zone conference rooms straddling the North Korean and South Korean border. Pridgen said the whole scene was bizarre, including with the North Koreans having a fake village on their side of the boundary, complete with a massive North Korean flag flying. “They try to impress everybody by making everything look so nice, but it’s not,” Pridgen said. Pridgen also told of being on constant alert while serving in South Korea. Specifically, Pridgen told of an alarm going off in the middle of the night, him running into the armory and going out to a bunker with an M60 machine gun and numerous rounds of ammunition at the ready, only to find out this was a drill. Pridgen said due to the vast numbers of forces on the North Korean side, “You knew if there was an invasion you were dead. There was no way we could hold them back — and it would take a few days for reinforcements from the states.” From 1988-89, Pridgen served at Malmstrom Air Force Base, which is adjacent to Great Falls, Mont. Pridgen told of Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles being spread out over approximately 10,000 square miles of the Big Sky Country and his job being to help provide
top side security. As for what he thought of being at a base with all of that firepower, Pridgen said it was pretty nice. “But then again, you knew you were a big target. If something happened, they’re going to blow us off the map,” Pridgen said. Pridgen told of Montana having much beautiful land that offered him quality time to fish and hunt — and he killed two deer while there. Pridgen said, however, that when wintertime arrived, the temperature plummeted to 35 degrees below zero, with a wind chill factor of minus 90. Pridgen said he subsequently entered the Palace Front program, which enabled him to transition into the reserves, in a security police unit at Seymour Johnson, and he returned to work at Pridgen Tire and Auto. Pridgen’s life changed with 9/11 and his telephone ringing with a call to go to Seymour Johnson. Pridgen told of going to get a haircut, packing up extra gear and refueling his vehicle. And Pridgen told of his minister, John Check, asking whether he was going into service and his replying in the affirmative. And Pridgen told of Check asking, “What do you need?” and telling Check,“Just prayers, John.” Pridgen eventually ended up at MacDill Air Force Base in the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla., area and back at Seymour Johnson before he and fellow service members volunteered to go to a base in Oman in the Arabian Peninsula region. Pridgen said those he was assigned to at the base in Oman directed him to go to Afghanistan and said he and two fellow service members he picked replaced a three-man team. Pridgen served at Bagram Airfield, which is the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan, and his job was to help provide security and he told of the location
coming under attack from time to time. And Pridgen told of an aircraft crash at Bagram that claimed the lives of four of his fellow service members, three of whose bodies he carried in body bags. The Telegram asked Pridgen about how he felt about being there and coming under fire and whether he wondered if he was going to be hit. “A lot of times you didn’t know what to think,” Pridgen said.“You did your job. You worked day to day.” Pridgen noted he worked without a day off because there was nowhere to go when he was not on duty. Pridgen said he and fellow service members volunteered off-duty time with agent types who met with village elders in an attempt to get information. And Pridgen was in a land of al-Qaida and Taliban insurgents and angry villagers as U.S. forces at the same time were trying to track down al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden. “You didn’t know who the enemy was,” Pridgen said. “These people would turn on each other in a heartbeat.” Pridgen said although he was scared at times “you did what you had to do to come home” and said he and fellow service members would have a cell or satellite phone and lots of weaponry at the ready when working off base. Pridgen served at Bagram for approximately seven months before returning to Seymour Johnson and serving there a short time before being a reservist again for approximately few more years. U.S. Navy SEALs in 2011 killed bin Laden in Pakistan. Overall, Pridgen said he believes the bottom line in his serving was he had to have the backs of his buddies and they had to have his back. “You’d go and you’d do it for the guy or gal beside you,” Pridgen said.
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