A Postwar Thanksgiving

By Benjamin Sanderford | Photos by Johnston County Heritage Center

It was November 1945 and Johnston County folk were settling down in a world no longer consumed by war. Veterans were returning home, the normal rhythm of life was resuming and everyone looked forward to Thanksgiving.

As usual, the Smithfield Herald reported on local people and events. The paper’s Nov. 20 issue announced that Rev. James C. Cammack of the First Baptists in Smithfield would deliver the special message during the community-wide service held at his church on Nov. 28. Rev. Cammack was also scheduled to speak at the Clayton First Baptist church on Thanksgiving Day itself.

The Clayton First Baptists expected to surpass their previous annual contribution of $504.85 to the Baptist Orphanage of North Carolina. The American Legion Auxiliary, meanwhile, advertised its request that people donate their canes to the Oteen Veterans Hospital. Those interested were directed to contact Mrs. W.M. Henderson.

Meanwhile, Johnston’s newly discharged servicemen were arriving just in time for the holidays. Technical Sergeant Joseph W. Lynch of Selma received his discharge on the 19th at Fort Bragg after spending 33 months with the 20th General Hospital in India.

The Army discharged Private Charlie N. Rose of Bentonville Township at Fort Bragg as well. He had taken part in the D-Day landings and the final push into Germany.

PFC Junious F. Coats of Four Oaks, who served as a rifleman in North Africa and Italy, became a civilian again on Oct. 24 at the Separation Center at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He returned home with the Good Conduct Medal and the European Theater of Operations ribbon with two battle stars.

Navy Lt. John C Diehl Jr. of Selma had yet to be discharged by November 23, but he was honored at a ceremony in Columbus, Ohio. His commanding officer, Commander James A. Peterson of Air Ferry Squadron Two awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal and three Gold Stars for making 26 strikes against Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa.

Thanksgiving would be an especially joyous occasion for these veterans, but some had even more to celebrate. Nov. 10 witnessed the marriage of Elizabeth Lassiter of Four Oaks at her home to Ross Carlton Gregory of Angier, who had recently returned from Europe.

Twelve days later, it was the turn of Patsy Mitchell of Clayton and Staff Sergeant Larry Cooper of Cary to tie the knot. The new husband had just received his discharge after spending 20 months with the Army in Iran.

As for PFC Junius B. Godwin of Benson, he decided the previous month to marry an Englishwoman, Joyce Vera Barnes, formerly of the Air Transport Auxiliary, near her home in Canford Cliffs, England.

Sadly, some would never enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones. Exsoldier Glenn Atkinson died on Nov. 14 of injuries he received in a car crash three days earlier.

PFC Earl L. Adams of Princeton had been dead since April 8, killed in action just weeks before Germany’s defeat. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for “heroic achievement” against German forces.

The dead were mourned, but the living would be respected as well. Albert Coates, the Johnstonian-born Director of the Institute of Government, announced on November 22 that his organization would open a statewide Veterans Service Citizens School in Chapel Hill to educate former servicemen on what opportunities were available to them.

The Johnston County Red Cross, meanwhile, was busy organizing the collection of Christmas gifts for hospitalized servicemen at Laurinburg air base and Fort Bragg. All gifts were to be dropped off at the Thornton Building, Smithfield by December 5. This year’s Thanksgiving was special. The people of Johnston County had overcome a time of great peril, hope for the future had never been brighter and everyone felt gratitude for those who sacrificed themselves so that the country could live in peace.

Perhaps Reverend H.K. King captured the popular mood best during his first sermon as Pastor of Centenary Methodist church on November 25. With conviction, he told his listeners that “thanksgiving for the return of peace should go up again and again until it should become a habit in the lives of our people and until we have the peace of Christ.”

Benjamin Sanderford, a resident of Clayton, studied social science at UNC Greensboro. He can be reached at benwsanderford@gmail.com