Hometown Heroes 2019 Veterans Edition by Fox Printing and Digital Publishing

HOMETOWN HEROES 2019 VETERANS EDITION

Shelia Rouse Publisher

Claiborne discusses D-Day invasion, return to Normandy for 75th Anniversary

Lt. James Alton Garnder

Patriot Guard Riders, Bugles Across America offer services to families of fallen veterans

Sgt. 1st Class Nickey Cantrell

Vietnam War Veteran: Larry Williams

Free dental care provided for veterans at West Tennessee Dental Group

Veterans Services offers assistance in filing benefit claims

Clint Alan Wallace

Mike Smith General Manager Rachel Townsend Brandon Hutcheson Reporters Kim Rambo Advertising Director Sam Hunter Leah Sherrill Advertising Representatives Regina Lee Graphic Designer ADVERTISING INFORMATION

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Dyer County pays tribute to the fallens during annual Memorial Day ceremony

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Photo submitted WWII Veteran Jack Claiborne during his enlistment into the United States Navy. Claiborne was 19-years-old.

Claiborne discusses D-Day invasion, return to Normandy for 75th anniversary RACHEL TOWNSEND

rtownsend@stategazette.com

It was on June 6, 1944, the course of the WWII changed forever, as roughly 156,000 allied forces took the coast of Normandy resulting in the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany. The D-Day Invasion would be noted as the largest amphibious military assault in history, codenamed, Operation Overlord. A helmsman in the United States Navy, a then 19-year old Jack Claiborne was one of thousands of young men from across America, Canada and Britain answering the call of duty that day. A gunner on a 20mm weapon during the war, Claiborne assisted troops as they took Omaha Beach, one of five sectors reclaimed through the allied invasion. On June 6, 2019, 95-year-old Claiborne, his wife, Evelyn, and several other fellow veterans who served during the D-Day Invasion, traveled back to the beaches of Normandy for the 75th anniversary. While there, Claiborne says he was treated as an honored guest, even given the opportunity to shake hands with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, French First Lady Brigitte Macron. “We got there on Monday, at 1:07 p.m. We got on a bus and had to ride 300-miles out to Normandy, to the hotel,” said Claiborne. “We went different places everyday. There were five landing beaches and we went to all of them, and the people…the people over there are just so nice and appreciative. I tell them stories of what happened. I am thankful of my good memory of the things that happened over 70 years ago.” This visit marked the third time Claiborne has been able to return to Normandy, though trips made with the assistance of Forever Young, a senior citizens wish organization. Like thousands of other young men, Claiborne was drafted for war right out of high school. He was a senior at Dyersburg High School and near graduating. “They drafted me out of high school. I didn’t get to graduate. When I came back home I saw Morgan Christian, he was the high school football coach when I left and he was the principal when I came back. We talked a few minutes and I told him, “Coach, I want to come back. I don’t lack a lot to finish.” Well, he told me I couldn’t come back and finish because I was too old. I told him I wanted to go to college, but he said he couldn’t help that. I ended up taking a course with the American Correspondents School in

State Gazette photo/ submitted Claiborne had this portrait of himself taken after returning from war in 1944. The photo was taken in the old Rice photo studio, then located on the north side of the downtown square in Dyersburg. Claiborne had the photo taken as a Christmas present for his mother. He was 20-years-old.

Chicago and did some work at the college after it came in. I ended up getting a job at the Post Office, delivering mail. I worked there for 33 years and retired. This past January, I have been retired 36 years, three years longer than what I worked. I have a good life.” In 1998, 15 years after Claiborne retired from the Post

State Gazette photo/ submitted Pictured above is an image taken by Claiborne of a B-26 American Bomber located in Normandy. In the town of SainteMère-Église, the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army unloaded two planeloads of paratroopers on D-Day, with many landing in the middle of town during the battle. Pictured above is a statue commemorating Private John Steele, who landed on the roof of a church, his parachute caught on spires. Steele was captured by Germans but later escaped. Office, veterans who were drafted from high school into the war were granted their high school diploma. Claiborne was given his diploma by the Dyersburg Board of Education. “I’m really proud of it. Instead of giving me one for 1943, they gave me a diploma for 1998, but it’s leather-bound and it’s really nice,” smiled Claiborne. Recalling the day he answered the call of the draft, Claiborne says he initially intended on joining the army, not the navy. “I wanted to go into the army because all of my brothers were in the army. I had never even seen the ocean. Well during the induction, I was asked by a sergeant what branch I wanted to enlist in and I told him I wanted the Army. He said, “Don’t you want to

get in the Navy?” I told him no. I didn’t know anything about ships and I hadn’t seen the ocean. He told me they could really use me in the Navy, but I told him to get someone else and let me go ahead to the army. He said, “Go through that second door to the left over there and you’ll be able to sign up for the army.” Well, I went through that door and on the other side there was man there welcoming me to the Navy!” laughed Claiborne. After training, Claiborne was sent to Pier 92 in New York. From there, the crew sailed to Norfolk, Virginia, in the Chesapeake Bay. It was on December 24, 1943, following Christmas dinner, Claiborne and fellow crewmen set sail for Normandy. “The last thing I remember was hearing the song “I’ll be home for Christmas” playing right before we set sail

State Gazette photo/ submitted One of the most humbling and impacting scenes of Claiborne’s visit was the Normandy and American Cemetery and Memorial. The site consists of 172.5 acres of land containing the graves of over 9,000 military men who lost their lives in the D-Day landing and the days following.

for northern Africa,” said Claiborne. “There were only six of the little lcis.” Claiborne was one of 26 crewmen on board the USS LCI 492, a 158ft. x 28ft. vessel loaded with water, supplies and oil. The ship was built in Bao, New Jersey. Claiborne says the lci was later chosen by the post commander to be his command ship. On the day of the invasion, Claiborne says the lci carried 202 troops to Omaha Beach. “D-Day was supposed to be June 5 not the 6th. There was supposed to be a storm rolling through and General Eisenhower postponed it one day, but it ended up storming on the 6th too,” said Claiborne. “If they would have waited until after the 6th, the weather and tides wouldn’t have been favorable for another 4-6 weeks, so they went ahead and had the invasion on the 6th, in the storm. “We went in at 7:30 that morning and landed 202 troops. We were traveling on the smallest seaborne vessel in the Navy. It drew about 12 ft. of water at the stern and 6 ft. of water at the bow, but when we were in landing mode we had it fixed up where it didn’t draw but about 5ft. of water at the stern and 2 1/2 ft. of water at the bow. We could go right up to the beach with it. We never set still. We ran up and down the beach for 54 days. We only landed one time and that was to drop off those troops. There were over 4,000 boys who got killed that day.”

Claiborne also noted the creation of a landing strip on Omaha Beach used to transport the wounded and deceased back to England. “The Corps of Engineers and the Navy Seabees took their bulldozers and things to Omaha Beach. Where I was, there was a high bluff. They took their things to the top of that bluff and started working. By noon the next day they had made a landing strip and there were C-47 cargo planes coming in with supplies,” Claiborne recalled. “There was one plane either landing or coming in all the time. They were either bringing supplies in or taking dead or wounded back to England all the time. Had it not been for that landing strip, we would have never taken Omaha Beach, we wouldn’t have been able to get supplies in. About 54 days later, the Army took Cherbourg. That left us free to operate these motorized barges across the English Channel to bring supplies back over from England. We did that until October.” “The commander would go in with us. He had six radiomen and seven signalmen he used to signal ships to come in and land. One day they had towed a bunch of crippled Liberty ships, cargo ships, and one old English battleship that was built in 1897,” said Claiborne. “The English had been using it for target practice. They would line [the ships] up, bow to stern and blow the bottoms out of them and made a breakwater, a port. About 15 days after D-Day, we had the worst storm on the English Channel there had been in over 100 years. It destroyed all of that.” Claiborne says he came back home from war on December 21, 1944. Claiborne says his desire to talk about the events of D-Day stem from a need to ensure future generations know about the sacrifices made the biggest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. Over the years, he has attended numerous events, as well as schools where he has shared his experiences with others. “At one point, they weren’t teaching it in schools and that really made me want to talk to people about it,” Claiborne explained. “Used to, you couldn’t get me to say anything about the war. Now, I’ll talk to anyone about it. I’m scared it will be forgotten.”

State Gazette photo/ Rachel Townsend 95-year-old WWII veteran Jack Claiborne recently returned from the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy. This marked Claiborne’s 3rd trip to Normandy.

State Gazette photo/ submitted This photo was taken on Claiborne’s second trip to Normandy. Here he is seen with shipmate, James Snider.

Lt. James Alton Gardner Special to the State Gazette

Born on February 7 of 1943, Lt. James Alton Gardner is one of the many brave soldiers from the Dyer County area to have made the ultimate sacrifice during a time of war. Lt. Gardner was killed in action while serving in the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War, stationed in Tuy H‘oa, Phû. His sacrifice during duty helped preserve the lives of multiple members of his platoon. His actions cost him his life on Feb. 7, 1966, which happened to be his 23rd birthday. His tour of duty was to be over in March. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. Today, people continue to remember the life and death of Lt. Gardner. In 2009, the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division held a Medal of Honor Donation Ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky. Gardner was one of only 246 recipients of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War. He was the son of David Alton Gardner and Johnnye D. Patterson

State Gazette photo/ submitted Gardner’s Medal of Honor (middle) was donated to the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division along with his Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross Medal w/Palm (left) and Bronze Star and Purple Heart (right). Gardner’s Medal of Honor citation (upper left) was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

In 2016, a monument was erected in downtown Dyersburg in honor and memory of Gardner, with funds to obtain the monument generously donated to the American Legion and VFW by multiple Dyer County agencies. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Gardnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s platoon was advancing to relieve a company of the 1st Battalion that had been pinned down for several hours by a numerically superior enemy force in the village of My Canh, Vietnam. The enemy occupied a series of strongly fortified bunker positions, which were mutually supporting and expertly concealed. Approaches to the position were well covered by an integrated pattern of fire including automatic weapons, machine guns and mortars. Air strikes and artillery placed on the fortifications had little effect. 1st Lt. Gardnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s platoon was to relieve the friendly company by encircling and destroying the enemy force. Even as it moved to begin the attack, the platoon was under heavy enemy fire. During the attack, the enemy fire intensified. Leading the assault and disregarding his own safety, 1st Lt. Gardner charged through a withering hail of fire across an open rice paddy. On reaching the first bunker he destroyed it with a grenade and without hesitation dashed to the second bunker and eliminated it by tossing a grenade inside. Then, crawling swiftly along the dike of a rice paddy, he reached the third bunker. Before he could arm a grenade, the enemy gunner leaped forth, firing at him. 1st Lt. Gardner instantly returned the fire and killed the enemy gunner at a distance of 6 feet. Following the seizure of the main enemy position, he reorganized the platoon to continue the attack. Advancing to the new assault position, the platoon was pinned down by an enemy machine gun emplaced in a fortified bunker. 1st Lt. Gardner immediately collected several grenades and charged the enemy position, firing his rifle as he advanced to neutralize the defenders. He dropped a grenade into the bunker and vaulted beyond. As the bunker blew up, he came under fire again. Rolling into a ditch to gain cover, he moved toward the new source of fire. Nearing the position, he leaped from the ditch and advanced with a grenade in one hand and firing his rifle with the other. He was gravely wounded just before he reached the bunker, but with a last valiant effort he staggered forward and destroyed the bunker, and its defenders with a grenade. Although he fell dead on the rim of the bunker, his extraordinary actions so inspired the men of his platoon that they resumed the attack and completely routed the enemy. 1st Lt. Gardnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conspicuous gallantry was in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

Patriot Guard Riders, Bugles Across America offer services to families of fallen veterans

State Gazette photo/ Rachel Townsend Scott Baldwin and Bill Van Sant are just two of thousands of Patriot Guard Riders who offer their volunteer service to families of fallen heroes. Baldwin and Van Sant encourage families who would like to receive services from the Patriot Guard Riders to reach out by visiting: https:// www.patriotguard.org/contact-us/.

RACHEL TOWNSEND rtownsend@stategazette.com

Founded in 2005, the Patriot Guard Riders is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring veterans and first responders. Despite having 269,000 volunteer riders across the nation, the Patriot Guard is not widely known by many. However, the mission of its riders is simple: attend the funeral services of those fallen heroes as invited guests of the family and shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by protestors or protestor groups. Volunteers of the organization offer their service upon request, free of charge, to any family whose loved one was a former veteran or first responder. “You don’t need to be a veteran or a biker to become a member of the Patriot Guard,” said Army veteran Scott Baldwin, who has been a member since 2011. “The organization is open to anyone who wants to pay respect to our military, veterans,

and first responders. We will stand the line through the entire service and make sure no protestors get through.” Baldwin and fellow rider and Dyersburg Middle School music teacher Bill Van Sant, who has been a member of the organization since its inception, have collectively attended over 600 services. “We only wish to work with families to ensure their lost loved ones are honored with respect,” said Van Sant. “That is our ultimate goal. And we want to get the word out about our services. There are so many families who don’t know about what we do, or that we exist.” Volunteers arriving at services will come bearing flags, and work with the families to fulfill all requests. “Whether its rain or shine, sleet or snow, we will be there and stand that line,” said Van Sant. “Our veterans did it, so we will too in order to show our respect for their sacrifice. “I buy my own plane ticket. I only ask they give

me a place to sleep and feed me,” said Van Sant. “I take care of the rest. And I want to. It’s the least I can do to show respect to our veterans.” Van Sant says additional services are available through the Bugles Across America program, which provides veterans with a real bugle player to perform TAPS during his/her graveside or memorial service in lieu of an electronic bugle. Van Sant says he has went as far as to travel out of state for families requesting him to come and play TAPS for the funeral services of their loved one. Those interested in learning more about the Patriot Guard Riders, or wish to request their presence at the funeral service of a fallen veteran or first responder, may do so by visiting their website at: https://www.patriotguard.org/contact-us/. Those interested in Bugles Across America, may learn more about the program by visiting: https://www.buglesacrossamerica. org/New-Contact-Us

State Gazette photo/ submitted The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse mix of riders from across the nation, who have one thing in common besides motorcycles: An unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security including fallen military heroes, first responders and honorably discharged veterans.

Sgt. 1st Class Nickey Cantrell United States Army (1986-2011) the relationships that you do form are both deep and broad in respect to DCHS JROTC instructor the time you have to form Nickey Cantrell served in the those bonds. It is really a United States military for 25 much bigger challenge for years before retiring from families. I will have to go to active duty as a Sgt. 1st Class a new location and sign in in 2011. and go to my job and my Raised in Northwest Alaunit. It’ll all be waiting for bama, Cantrell was 27 years me there though. But the old when he first enlisted civilian family? They have to in the Army National Guard start fresh, and it’s impossiin 1986. At the time of his ble to establish a career and enlistment, he had already develop friendships when earned a bachelor’s degree the family will only be there in music education in 1981 a short time and everyone from the University of Alain the community knows it.” bama, and was employed as From 1986-90, Cantrell a high school teacher of subwas tasked with the comjects including band, math bat engineers division of and science. the Army as a carpenter “I wanted to serve,” said and occasional truck driver. Cantrell, recalling his first He would later serve as a enlistment. “It’s a job that member of the Army band, needs to be done and done traveling from location to well.” location while performing Cantrell spent his first two at events and in schools. years of service in the Guard “I did National Guard for a before enlisting in the United couple of years while I was States Army in February teaching. Then, in 1988, I State Gazette photo/ provided of ’88. He was sent to Fort actually entered active duty Pictured above is a 1986 photograph of Nickey Cantrell Leonard Wood, Mo. for Basic with the intent of going to prior to graduation from Basic Training. Training and AIT before being OCS and becoming an offistationed to his first post at cer, but the timeline didn’t Fort Carson, Colorado. work, so I found out about the Army’s band and transferred During his 25 years in service, he would be relocated to over,” explained Cantrell. nearly 10 different locations across the nation, finishing his “Sometimes you can change jobs, sometimes you cancareer at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. not. It just happened to work out for me that time.” At the time of his enlistment, Cantrell had already been At the time of his retirement in 2011, Cantrell had permarried for 7 years to his wife, Tina, and was father of two formed music for numerous national leaders and political small children, Whitney and Christopher. icons including presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, He says Army life was tough on families who were freBill Clinton, George Bush Sr., George Bush Jr., and First Lady Michelle Obama. quently uprooted from town to town, placing a heavy strain “We enjoyed playing for audiences and working with on children and civilian spouses. all of the schools. It was also an honor to perform for our “When you are active duty you are going to move around nation’s leaders. Being in the Army’s band provided an a lot,” said Cantrell. “You don’t really have time to develop opportunity for people to view the Army in a more positive relationships because you know you’re going to leave, so RACHEL TOWNSEND

rtownsend@stategazette.com

light,” said Cantrell. Cantrell says he was deployed twice during his service, and spent time overseas during Desert Storm in 1990 with the First Infantry Division and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. He says he was proud to have served his country overseas, and acted as security detail for Camp Liberty in Baghdad, where numerous bombings were happening daily. Cantrell says his biggest goal while being a member of the active military was simply to help others, those at home and abroad. When retiring from active service in 2011, Cantrell almost immediately found a place at Dyer County High School. In the 7 years that have passed since first being hired, he has changed the lives of hundreds of young students through helping instruct a program, which provides those young cadets with a sense of inclusion, camaraderie, discipline, responsibility and most importantly, direction. “JROTC provides some of these students with a positive group to belong to. People need a group, kids especially, and they are going to find a group whether it’s good or bad. We try to give them a positive group so they can have some help getting their life set up,” explained Cantrell.

“A lot of people don’t understand, we do not push them into the military; that is not our job. We just encourage young people to become better citizens. We encourage them to do the best they can, and to be the best version of themselves.” According to Cantrell, roughly 100 students in grades 9-12 enter the program each year. All JROTC programs are managed solely by cadets of the Choctaw Battalion, with junior and senior students taking on leadership roles while guiding those freshman and sophomore students as they become more familiar with the program. Dyer County High School’s JROTC program is funded entirely through the United States Army.

State Gazette photo/ provided Pictured above, Sgt. 1st Class Nickey Cantrell is seen with his wife, Tina, on their wedding day in 1979. The couple has been married 39 years.

State Gazette photo/ provided Sgt. 1st Class Nickey Cantrell is seen here while serving in Desert Storm in 1990.

In addition to Dyer County High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s JROTC program, Cantrell dedicates a large portion of his time toward teaching music at Dyersburg State Community College, a role he took on in 2017. Still a family man, Cantrell and his wife have now been married for 39 years. The coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son Christopher is now 34 years old and their daughter, Whitney, is 36 years old. Whitney is married to her husband, Tripp, who, like her father is also a veteran. Tripp serves in the Army National Guard in South Carolina as a helicopter pilot. Cantrell and his wife have 2 grandchildren, Caitlin and Chase.

State Gazette photo/ provided Sgt. 1st Class Nickey Cantrell is seen playing the clarinet as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division Band during a performance held at the Westin in Savannah, Ga.

Vietnam War Veteran:

Larry Williams

BRANDON HUTCHESON bhutcheson@stategazette.com

Local resident and Dyersburg native Larry Williams served 2 years in the United States Army, with 1 year in Vietnam. As a 19-year-old young man from the Bruce community, Williams was tasked as a helicopter door-gunner and infantryman during the Vietnam War. Williams has always displayed dedication to his job and the numerous community organizations he is involved with – but prior to all of those, Williams was first dedicated to his country. Upon graduating Bruce High School in 1965, Williams moved to Flint, Michigan and began working for General Motors Corporation. A year later, September 1966 to be exact, he was drafted into the United States Army at 19 years old. Williams was sent to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for a 6-week basic training, then to Fort Polk, Louisiana for Advanced Infantry Training. “I had a first cousin who had been in the service and when I told him when I was going to Fort Polk for my AIT, he told me that I was going to Vietnam. He told me right then that I was going to Vietnam,” Williams explained. Only months after being drafted, Williams landed in Vietnam at Long Binh in February 1967. While in Vietnam, Williams served as a door-gunner on a rescue helicopter for the Fifth Special Forces. “The reason why I was a door-gunner on a helicopter was because I shot expert with an M-60 machine gun. My MOS was infantry, which means I should have been on ground, but because I shot

State Gazette photo/ submitted Larry Williams in 1966

State Gazette photo/ Brandon Hutcheson Local resident Larry Williams served in the United States Army from 1966-1968, fighting one year in the Vietnam War. Williams reported to Vietnam as a 19-year-old tasked as a helicopter door-gunner and infantryman. For his service, Williams received The Purple Heart of Valor, among many other decorations.

expert with the M-60 they put me on the helicopter,” he said. Williams and his team conducted 8 missions during the Vietnam War from February 1967-1968, occurring in areas such as Pleiku, Da Nang, Qui

Nho’n, Antenna Valley, among others. “My year in Vietnam – I would say I went on 8 missions during my tour. My missions lasted mostly 30 days. We would go out and drop 5-mean teams with the Fifth Special Forces. We would drop them off in hostile territory, and they would ‘sneak and peek’ for 3 or 4 days. In other words, we dropped them in at day and they immediately went and found a place to hide,” explained Williams. “Then, they would come out at night. They had the best night vision equipment you could get and did their patrolling at night. The reason they were there was to try to find the best spot, recon the area and see where the movement was, for the Army or the Marines to come in if they wanted to take over. We went in prior to anybody coming in, and our guys didn’t do nothing but sneak and peek. We also had a unit attached to the Fifth Special Forces that were Vietnamese. They actually dressed like the enemy, had the enemy weapons, and actually communicated with the enemy and came back with information. They were with the U.S. Army. They would give all of that information to the Army. “When we would go to pick them up, they would have a red scarf tied to a designated area,” continued Williams. “We’d go to pick them up and the flight commander would say something like ‘they are going to have a red scarf tied to their left, upper leg’. What we would have to do is a gunship would have to fly right over them to identify them. Then the helicopter would pick them up.” It was during one of those pick up missions that Williams’ chopper was shot down. “I got shot down once while I was in Vietnam. I was identifying the red scarf on the team when

State Gazette photos/ Brandon Hutcheson Left is a photo of a helicopter Williams and his crew members would use to perform various assignments. Pictured below shows the M-60 machine gun that Williams would fire. He would position himself on the outside of the chopper to perform his duties.

it happened. As soon as I identified it, they [the enemy] started shooting.” According to Williams, bullets began to come through the bottom of the helicopter. One bullet ricocheted off a gun barrel lying next to him in the floor of the helicopter and struck Williams in the back of the leg. “Because it struck the barrel, then came up and hit me, it didn’t shatter my leg. I just knocked a hunk of meat out of my leg,” he said. The helicopter went down in the jungles of Vietnam. Williams and his crew chief were the lone survivors. “We lost both of the pilots. The crew chief and I made it out,” he said. “Now, the grass in the jungle is about 10-15 feet tall. When my helicopter went down, as it was coming down, with me being an infantryman I have to be the first on the ground. I have to secure the ground. So, I took a couple hundred rounds and threw it on my shoulder, unscrewed the M-60 from the mount, took the machine gun, and looked out to the ground. I looked out and said ‘It’s time for me to go. I’m close to the ground’. No, I wasn’t.” With the wind from the helicopter propeller pushing the grass back, Williams thought he was 5-6 feet from the ground. In reality, he was about 15-20 feet. “I hit that ground, and boom – I didn’t even know where the rounds were. I was totally rattled. I was dazed. By the time I got myself together and got to the chopper, it was on fire.” He located his crew chief, and both took cover along

a hillside. “The feeling is unreal when you hear the choppers leaving. You say, ‘oh me’. You heard it get lower and lower, but they had to leave. The only thing I had was a gun on my hip because I lost my M-60 when I hit the ground. By the time the sound of those choppers were gone, the F-15s were coming in. Now, that’s a good feeling,” he stated. “They started dropping those bombs all around us. It must have taken them about 6 hours, but they [choppers] came back. So, I got ready. I flagged them with my orange flag, and they came down and took me out. They took me out under fire. That happened about 2 months before I was about to come home.” Following his rescue, Williams was sent to an area to begin his return home. However, in early February 1968, he was sent into action in Nha Trang. “The Vietnamese came into the city and killed a bunch of people. So, I went out fighting again until about a week before I left to come home. In fact, I got my first 3 confirmed kills [in Nha Trang] right before I

State Gazette photo/ submitted Williams (far right) sits as a helicopter crew repairs a propeller damaged in battle.

left,” Williams said. “It was during the TET Offensive in Nha Trang. Three guys went up in a water tower and every time someone would try to go up there to them, they [the enemy] would come out shooting. So, they called us. The pilot flew over, and I put some bullets right in the tower, and before I left they let me know all 3 were dead.” Upon his return to the states in late February 1968, Williams finished his military career at Fort Hood, Texas. “I was an infantry soldier at Fort Hood. I did guard duty and did whatever they told me to do,” Williams laughed. “When I returned, [Lyndon] Johnson was president. He was from somewhere out of Texas. Anytime he came home, the entire base was on alert. If he decided to come home on the weekend, everyone had to be ready to move. The whole base was on alert.” For his service, Williams received The Purple Heart of Valor, among many other decorations. Following his completion of service, Williams returned to Michigan and resumed his career at GM, eventually becoming General Foreman until his retire-

ment in 2002. He returned to Dyer County in 2005 and became curator of the Bruce Museum, a member of the Bruce Alumni Association, and election commissioner, a Church Trustee at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, and a member of the Board of Directors with the local Salvation Army. Williams credits his military service for helping him in his successes in life. “Just being dedicated in doing your job – I was dedicated in making sure all of my guns and equipment on my helicopter was the way it should and had to be.” That dedication carried over to his employment at GM, as well as the time and dedication Williams spends being involved in numerous community organizations. Speaking of his military service, Williams stated, “I don’t regret anything about my service. In fact, I’m proud to say I served. You just had to do your job. I was blessed enough to come back home and have a stable mind and succeed in life. I don’t regret [my service] at all. Larry is married to his wife Patricia, of 49 years, and is a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Free dental care provided for veterans at West Tennessee Dental Group

State Gazette photo Dr. Scott Self (left) and his staff at West Tennessee Dental Group in Dyersburg has offered the ‘Veterans Day Special’ over the previous 5 years, providing free dental care to area servicemen and women. STATE GAZETTE

Over the past 5 years, Dr. Scott Self and his staff at West Tennessee Dental Group in Dyersburg has provided a service to those who have fought for our freedom. Dr. Self and staff have offered free dental care for veterans with limited financial resources annually in November, near Veterans Day. Known as the ‘Veterans Day Dental Special’, servicemen and women can save thousands of dollars in cleanings, extractions, root canals and more. Dr. Self and his team have served hundreds of area veterans who have fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, as well as current military men and

women serving in the Middle East. Veterans not only are provided a service, but they also have an opportunity to share their stories with Self and his staff. Veterans can apply for services, normally in October, by visiting the office, located at 174 Community Park Road in Dyersburg, and pick up a pre-appointment packet. Following the completion of the standard preliminary paperwork and addressing any medical issues prior to their scheduled appointment time, veterans are also asked to bring their military ID and provide a complete list of medication they are currently taking. For those wishing to schedule an appointment, call West Tennessee Dental Group at 731-285-8890.

Veterans Services offers assistance in filing benefit claims RACHEL TOWNSEND rtownsend@stategazette.com

State Gazette photo /Rachel Townsend Benny Spain is the Veterans Service officer for the Dyer County Department of Veteran Services, located at 631 James H. Rice Rd.

Located at 631 James H. Rice Rd., the Dyer Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Veteran Services office offers a wide range of services to local veterans and their widows. Veterans Service officer Benny Spain says the agency provides assistance to with processing paperwork and determining eligibility for death/burial benefits, war-related disabilities, healthcare benefits, VA pension claims, filling out DD214 forms and other services. In 2015, Dyer County veterans received compensation benefits of approximately $10,527,000 based off a veteran population of 2,794. Spain is a veteran himself, having served 23 years of active duty service with the Army and Tennessee Army National Guard before retiring in 2001. He worked as a civilian contractor for the Tennessee Army National Guard managing the Recruit Sustainment Program for 9 years. He also served as secretary on the Veterans Affairs committee for the Tennessee County Commissioners Association for 4 years. He is a Desert Storm veteran. Veterans wishing to apply for healthcare benefits must have enlisted for service on or after Sept. 7, 1980, or have entered into active duty after Oct. 16, 1981 and served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were

called to active duty in order to be eligible. The minimum duty requirement may not apply to veterans discharged for hardship, early out or a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. The Dyer County Department of Veteran Services is located in the former THP office. The department is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8-4 p.m. and Thursdays from 8-noon.

State Gazette photo /Rachel Townsend Spain encourages veterans and veteran spouses/widows to stop in and learn more about eligibility requirements and processing claims for current compensation programs.

Clint Alan Wallace RACHEL TOWNSEND rtownsend@stategazette.com

On August 9, 2018, hundreds of residents lined the streets of downtown Dyersburg to honor and pay tribute to the life of late veteran and Dyer County Sheriff deputy and K9 handler Clint Wallace, whose life was tragically cut short following a car crash in Crockett County. The loss of Wallace has been one felt by the entire community. Born July 30, 1981, Clint Wallace was born and raised in Dyer County to parents, Barry Wallace and Patty Wallace Harris, stepfather, Terry Harris, and stepmother, Kay Wallace. He was a graduate of Dyersburg High School and earned his B.S. in Criminal Justice from Bethel University. An avid outdoorsman, Patty says it was on rare occasion you would find Clint inside of the house. “He was all boy,” said Patty, laughing. “He would rather be hunting, fishing or shooting than doing anything else. If it was hunting or outdoors, he would want to be there doing it. His dad always said if Clint could live out in the woods, he probably would do it, and be happy submitted doing it.” State Gazette photo/ on deployment in ile wh Patty says his aspirations of joining the Army were en se is nt Cli Pictured above, announced from an early age. Iraq. “He never wanted to do anything else. We weren’t expecting that,” Patty explained. “He just sort of went and signed up. Of course, I was like any other momma. I was worried about him being sent off overseas, which he did. You just worry everyday they are gone. I didn’t listen to the news and didn’t watch the television. I prayed the good Lord would bring him home. I knew if something happened to him over there, he would die doing what he loved and I would have to be good with that.” Over the course of his seven years in the military, Clint received honors including: Soldier of the Cycle and was first in his class in marksmanship. Clint was also recognized as a distinguished soldier at Redstone Alabama Army Base and advanced to PV2 out of boot camp. Clint is seen State Gazet “On one of their training sessions, he te photo/ su 101st Airborn re at target practice wh bmitted they had to go out and build an underile serving o e 5th Specia verseas with l Forces grou the p.

said Patty. Following his departure from the military, Wallace continued to serve and protect as a deputy of the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department. “He was a K9 officer for about 5 years,” Patty recalled. “He loved working with everyone at the department and he did everything with his K9, Lucky. He took that dog everywhere. Lucky is the sweetest dog. He was just like my kid. I love him.” Patty says the only thing Clint loved more than hunting and serving his country and community was spending time with his two girls, 14-year-old Jenna Wallace and 5-year-old Caty Jewel Wallace. “His two girls were his whole world. He involved them in everything he did. It didn’t matter if he was cleaning out the kennels or fishing or hunting, he had them in the outdoors just as much as he was. In fact, he even took Jenna on a hunting trip in Nebraska. She loved it. Caty Jewell was always saying, “When am I going to get to kill a buck deer?” that’s what she called it,” laughed Patty. Following his death in 2018, Patty says the community displayed an outpouring of love to members of Clint’s family. “I was contacted by all the surrounding counties. They contacted me with cards and calls and gifts, it was n Hayes to y unreal the outpouring of love they showed for him,” said la C f o rtesy t a vets photo/ cou a e y tt tr e z n Patty. “I never imagined he touched so many lives.” a u G his co State and K9 nly served o ty u t p o e n d a ce a s ll Clint Wa mmunity a ’s Department. rved his co eran, he se e Dyer County Sheriff th officer with

ground bunker,” said Patty. “Then, people had to go out and try to find them. Clint was the only one who wasn’t found. He did that good of a job.” Following basic training in 2005, Clint was sent to Ft. Campbell where he joined the 101st Airborne 5th Special Forces group, later deploying to serve in back to back tours in Iraq, and a joint deployment with the Navy at the Horn of Africa. Patty says Clint was training for the Green Beret when he sustained injuries so severe they would bring an early end to an otherwise promising career in the military. “He would have stayed in the military until he retired if his health would have allowed him. He suffered from a couple of different injuries during Green Beret training, and had some other injuries from his time in air assault. He had Osteonecrosis of the femur and his shoulder had been forced out of socket,”

To all of our defenders ... past, present, and future

THANK YOU! 35

Red Cross and First Citizens needs your help in saying “Thank You to local heroes Special to the State Gazette

First Citizens National Bank and the American Red Cross are asking the community to join them in saying “thank you” to our local heroes by participating in the Holiday Mail for Heroes Campaign. Holiday Mail for Heroes provides the community with the opportunity to send messages of thanks to military members, veterans and first responders. Anyone can participate by making cards or simply signing cards. The cards are then dropped off at your nearest First Citizens National Bank. Businesses, religious groups, community organizations, individuals, families and others can drop off their cards

at any First Citizens National Bank from September 23 through October 18, 2018. Cards will be distributed in early December to Military Units (Active Duty, National Guard, Reservist), Veterans, Fire Fighters, Law Enforcement and other First Responders throughout our community. Sending holiday mail to military members, veterans and first responders is an easy but meaningful way to give something that means something. For more information on how to get involved contact the American Red Cross of the Mid-South: David Compton 901-483-6860 or david.compton2@ redcross.org

to the American soldier.

Past - Present - Future

Dyer County pays tribute to the fallen during annual Memorial Day ceremony

State Gazette photo/ Brandon Hutcheson Former State Representative Craig Fitzhugh welcomes those in attendance to the 2019 Dyer County Memorial Day ceremony. The annual ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on the Memorial Day holiday. BRANDON HUTCHESON bhutcheson@stategazette.com

Held annually on the Memorial Day holiday at 11 a.m., the Dyer County Memorial Day ceremony commences in downtown Dyersburg, recognizing and paying tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving and defending the freedoms of our great country.

The ceremony is sponsored each year by the American Legion Post #30, American Legion Post #191, DAV Chapter 46, and VFW Post #1972 with the event being coordinated by former Dyer County Mayor and Korean War veteran Richard Hill. The ceremony typically begins with Hill who welcomes those in attendance, thanks those who have and is serving,

State Gazette photo/ Brandon Hutcheson The ceremony is sponsored each year ceremony is sponsored each year by the American Legion Post #30, American Legion Post #191, DAV Chapter 46, and VFW Post #1972 with the event being coordinated by former Dyer County Mayor and Korean War veteran Richard Hill, pictured above.

and notes the importance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice of life serving the United States. Following Hill, Dyer County Mayor Chris Young and Dyersburg Mayor John Holden leads the invocation and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. A Posting of Colors is also conducted by the Dyer County High School JROTC. The Star Spangled Banner is also performed. In recent years, Dyer County Road Superintendent Jeff Jones has performed the song. Every year the ceremony has a keynote speaker. In recent years, special guest speakers have included former state representative Craig Fitzhugh, Lewis Jenkins, and Lt. Col. Richie Gammons, among many others. Over the years, the keynote speakers have addressed the sacrifice of those who lost their lives and the importance of their remembrance. “The service members we honor come from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They all possessed courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity – all the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one’s self,” stated Lt.

State Gazette photo/ Brandon Hutcheson The Dyer County High School JROTC conducts the Posting of Colors.

Col. Gammons in 2017. “Many of them didn’t ask to leave their homes to fight on distant battlefields. Many didn’t even volunteer. They didn’t go to war because they loved fighting. They were called to be part of something bigger than themselves. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to the nation’s call because they wanted to protect a nation, which has given them and us, so much. “Live your lives and be good Americans, then all veterans will be proud to know that their sacrifices were not in vain,” added Gammons. This is the thanks Americans can give. Live your lives well, as productive citizens should.” “We must remember. We must remember and recount what it takes to be free and honor the dead by living the ideals for which they died,” said Fitzhugh during the 2019 ceremony. “I’m reminded today of a saying engraved on a memorial in South Boston, Massachusetts. The statement on this memorial says, ‘If you forget my name, then I truly died in vain’. You showed up here today because you refuse to forget the names of those who fought for us. You know that this day is not a holiday for indulging ourselves, but it is a day for a living memorial – a testimony to the sacrifice of these brave people. “Enjoying our freedoms and families is the best tribute to the sacrifices to the men and women we honor today. Our nation endures and will continue to do so. To not do so would be a betrayal of the men and women that we honor,” Fitzhugh added. “It has been said many times, but it becomes truer as each year passes, freedom is not free. Peace has a price, and if it were not for the brave, there would be no land of the free. Our lives and our fami-

lies are priceless, but today, we remember those who paid that ultimate price.” To close out the ceremony, a benediction is led, TAPS is performed, and closing comments are made. Prior to the event, flags for veterans’ graves are distributed at Fairview and Memorial Park cemeteries the Saturday leading up to the ceremony.

State Gazette photo/ Brandon Hutcheson To close out the 2019 Memorial Day ceremony, Will Armor performs TAPS.