Honoring Our Veterans 2014

Honoring Our Veterans

November 11, 2014

2 - VETERAN’S MEMORIES

VETERAN’S DAY TRIBUTE

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VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 3

World War II H.C. Abbott

Abbott

▲ Year entered service: I volunteered and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program of the Army Air Corps after passing four days of written exams in 1942. I was later sent to California, along with a class of 600 cadets, to be trained as bomber pilots. After months of extensive training, about half the class had “washed out” for various reasons. ▲ First duty: After graduat-

ing as a single and multiengine pilot and rated a second lieutenant, I was very pleased to have been picked and sent to Kansas for a three-month training course in Special Reconnaissance in P-38s.

Upon completion, I was sent to the 17th Photo Recon Squadron located on a small island in the Dutch New Guinea Group. I was a little nervous on my first mission, but all the Recon planes had their guns removed and replaced with

Special section pays tribute to our veterans We at the Statesboro Herald have a long, proud tradition of honoring those who have served our country.

This year, we decided to embark on a long-overdue follow-up of a project operations manager Jim Healy led when he was the Herald’s executive editor — a special section appearing on Veterans Day to honor our local military veterans.

In 2003, when that section appeared, it was focused on World War II combat veterans. Today, the section you are holding in your hands focuses on veterans who served in the Armed Forces during periods of war, whether on the front lines or in support roles stateside or elsewhere.

When Jim came to me with the idea a couple of months ago, I embraced it wholeheartedly. I feel strongly that we can never honor our military veterans enough, and recognizing them in a special section is the least we can do.

We asked veterans or their family members to fill out surveys asking them about their military experience. Some were succinct and to the point; others wrote at length.

What you will see in this section are veterans — or in a few cases, their family members — sharing their experiences in

their own words. Some are lighthearted. Some are harrowing. Some pull at your heartstrings.

We did minimal editing, Jason only for grammar, spelling, Wermers punctuation and style. We did not change the content of the responses we were given.

We also asked for, and received, photographs of these veterans during their time of service as well as more recently.

I had the pleasure and honor of meeting several of the veterans who appear in these pages. All of them were humble and unassuming and, while thankful for the recognition, without prompting, they likely wouldn’t consider what they did special.

But I know better. So do the staff members at the Statesboro Herald, the family members of these selfless gentlemen and ladies, and the members of a grateful nation.

I am proud of the service several close relatives of mine have given to the United States, and of those who are currently serving. I hope this special section reflects even a small portion of the gratitude we all feel for those who gave of themselves that we may continue to live in a strong, free nation.

Jason Wermers is editor of the Statesboro Herald.

Throughout history, at home and overseas, they’ve put their love for their country above all else. On Veterans Day, we proudly honor these brave men and women for their courage, commitment and patriotism.

To all the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have sacrificed so much, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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cameras, which made them lighter and faster, and I was confident I could out run and out climb any of the enemy planes. ▲ First combat duty: My assignments were to pick targets for bombers, photograph enemy installations and beachheads prior to offensive movements, during and after movements, and make photos of certain areas for mapping purposes.

The war ended while I was stationed in New Guinea. I was awarded six Bronze Stars for my involvement in the AsiaticPacific Theater and one for the re-occupation of the Philippines. ▲ Coming home: Coming home was a good feeling as I was the last of three brothers returning home safe from the war. ▲ Most vivid memories: My most vivid memories are dodging anti-aircraft fire while taking the photos and sometimes, on long missions, flying back through severe thunderstorms and getting offcourse and wondering if I would have enough fuel to find my base.

I came to Savannah after I was released from active duty and married a Savannah girl, Virginia Parker. I joined the Savannah Air National Guard. After a couple of years, we transitioned from P-51s to F80 jets. In 1950, I was called back to active duty. After about four months, I heard that a fighter unit of National Guard at Memphis, Tennessee, was called to active duty and were to become Reconnaissance pilots. After writing a letter to the commanding general of the 13th Air Force and telling him of my qualifications, I was transferred to Memphis to help in the transition of the pilots from P-51 fighter pilots to Recon pilots in the F-80 jets.

After a few months, the squadron received an order to send one pilot to a large maneuver at Watertown, New York, as a forward air controller. Since I was the only pilot to have been to the Forward Air Controller School, I volunteered for the assignment. My job was to go out in the field with an armored division to call in air strikes and control the aircraft to certain positions. The weather was 20 degrees below zero with an average of two feet of snow.

At the end of all the field actions, I returned to my unit to find all the pilots had been sent to Korea. Since I had finished my assignment, I was released from active duty, with rank of captain. I moved my family to Statesboro in 1952.

I owned and operated Statesboro Electric Motors, Inc., until I retired.

And may I say this: I am proud to be a paid-up-for-life member in the American Legion with 67 years as a member.

Akins

Euel Akins

Year entered service: Drafted in 1944 Branch: Army Rank, assigned to: Private First Class; 10th Mountain Infantry Division, 87th Regiment, Company D ▲ First combat duty: Italy ▲ First combat reaction: The total destruction of an area with wounded and dead from both sides was totally heart-wrenching and yet within a few hundred yards, you could see small children playing. ▲ Coming home: With the ending of hostilities in Europe, our unit was designated for redeployment to the Pacific Theater of Operations. We were transferred to Camp Carson, Colorado, for refitting with a short delay in the States. We arrived at Newport News, Akins Virginia, aboard the transport ship Mount Vernon on Aug. 11, 1945.

I traveled to Atlanta by train and then by bus for the balance of the trip. When the bus arrived in Macon, there was a great celebration happening on the streets. The date was Aug. 14, 1945, which was the ending of World War II. Our bus driver had abandoned the bus and left the passengers. Through the generosity of a man on his way to Savannah, I was given a ride to the Savannah bus station, where my wife and several friends were waiting for me.

Our celebration joined in with those joyous people on the streets of Savannah.

At the expiration of my leave, I still had to report to Camp Carson. Since I had sufficient service credit, I received an honorable discharge on Oct. 22, 1945. ▲ ▲ ▲

VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 5

Most vivid memories: Crossing the Po River in Italy and breaking out into the Po Valley was one of the major battles of the war. The Germans were withdrawing to the Brenner Pass. The 10th Mountain Infantry was spearheading the attack. The deadly mine fields were behind us, and the Germans had no time to lay new ones. They were in full rout, and we had no time to take prisoners. We merely directed them to the rear.

We had fought our way through the mountains and the beautiful sight of the Po Valley lay before us as far as could be seen. After 19 consecutive days of fighting and chasing the Germans across the Po Valley, the end of hostilities in Italy came on May 2, 1945. ▲

Belton Braswell, far right, stands with three buddies from Michigan on a Landing Craft Infantry vessel in the South Pacific during World War II.

▲ Year

Belton Braswell

entered service: Volunteered in 1943 for Naval Reserve; drafted by Army later ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Corporal, 32nd Infantry Division ▲ First combat duty: Southwest Pacific, New Guinea, Dutch East Indies ▲ First combat reaction: Scared, very scared. But, I think everyone was. My first experience was when the Japs bombed our area every morning and afternoon for several days. We dove in foxholes that were always full of water as it rained every day but had to react to enemy fire. ▲ Coming home: To return to American soil was a feeling unlike anything I ever felt before. We are so fortunate to live in this country. We are truly blessed. ▲ Most vivid memories: My tour of duty began at Fort McClellan, Alabama, at an IRTC (Infantry Replacement Training Center). After 18 weeks of extensive training on heavy weapons (machine guns and mortars) we had a

few days leave and our group met at Fort Ord, California, a staging area near Monterey. This overlooked the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. We zigzagged across the Pacific Braswell for seven weeks, and no mail. We did stop at several islands on the way over. Finally, we arrived at the big island of New Guinea at a place called Finchaven. We moved up the coast to Aitape and joined the 32nd Infantry Division. I was assigned to a machine gun squad on the MLR (Main Line of Resistance). Not too much going on there, so we moved to the outer bend of a river. The artillery fired many rounds that landed a few hundred yards in front of us. As we sat there in the dark each night, flares were used to light up the area to check if any Jap soldiers were trying to cross the river. They did try to cross below our position. The Japanese either gave up or moved back into the jungle. They had been cut off and starving so they survived by eating coconuts, papayas and other things.

We later moved back to our company headquarters and prepared to board a LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) on Sept.

11, 1944, for the Dutch East Indies. We landed about 75 yards from the beach and stepped off on coral in above 5 feet of water. Some almost drowned as everyone was loaded down with equipment and ammunition. A good friend of mine went under, and we had to hold him up until we got closer to the beach.

Unfortunately, he was killed later by a sniper. My other close friend was blown out of a foxhole by a concussion grenade.

I began to be bothered by a rash on my hands and feet. It was fiery red and began to spread and weep a fluid that had a very bad odor and would harden and crack and weep some more. All this time it was spreading over my hands and feet. (I waded to the beach with my hands completely wrapped in white gauze.) My toenails and fingernails began to slide off. This was caused by a fungus called Jungle Rot. My case took a long time to clear up, but not until going through six hospitals and being treated in the States in a skin ward.

Believe it or not, they found that uncooked oatmeal in bags that were submerged in a tub of lukewarm water soothed and eventually dried up the fungus. We soaked in this for many hours. The cooler, dry air certainly aided the healing of this condition.

After I was well enough to return to

field duty, I was sent to Fort McClellan as an instructor. The war was winding down. I was discharged at Fort McPherson in Atlanta. My parents met me in Atlanta with my civilian suit. It was quite an experience, and I was thankful to be home.

My brother and I both served in the Pacific. He was on a carrier that was damaged by a torpedo. The ship later was repaired and went on to fight again.

The infantry will test your strength and resolve. But millions did what they had to do.

James C. Brown entered service: Drafted in 1944 ▲ Branch: Navy ▲ Rank, assigned to: Second in Command; USS LCS (L) (3) #59 ▲ First combat duty: We were first sent to the Brown Philippine Islands and later to China. ▲ First reaction to combat: Most of it is hard to remember now, but the experience of being just a country boy and being sent into combat is one you don’t forget. ▲ Coming home: It was very emotional. I was so glad to make it home and my family was glad I made it. ▲ Most vivid memories: Most of it is hard to Brown remember now. I remember a lot of rough water and a lot of combat.

Branch: Army Rank, assigned to: Private First Class; Company B, 255th Engineers Combat Battalion ▲ First combat duty: Hawaii Fullmore ▲ First combat reaction: I was young and scared, but proud to be serving my country. ▲ Coming home: I was glad to be home and alive, but sad for the ones who didn’t make it home. ▲ Most vivid memories: I can remember fellow soldiers being shot down beside me, and not being able to always stop and help. ▲ ▲

▲ Year

Howard Fullmore holds a framed picture of himself from his World War II days, complete with his military service awards.

Howard Fullmore ▲ Year

1941

entered service: Volunteered in

C.M. “Monty” Graham Jr.

Year entered service: 1943 ▲ Branch: U.S. Navy Landing Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: Petty Officer 1st Class, E-9, Landing Force (Europe) ▲ First combat duty: 1943 to Dartmouth, England; 1944 to Remagen, Rhine River Crossing, ▲

Graham

Germany ▲ First combat reaction: Concerned about German 88 artillery firing across the Rhine River. Our Landing Force unit was serving with the 1st Army. ▲ Coming home: Had 30 days in June 1945 — very happy time. ▲ Most vivid memories: Seeing the Germans send the Trust Jet Plane over the Remagen bridgehead.

I was a first-class electrician in the U.S. Navy E-9 Unit Landing Craft Repair Unit. We were assigned to Gen. Hodges 1st Army for the Rhine River Crossing.

We carried Landing Craft Mechanized and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel to Aachen, Germany, in October 1944. The Battle Graham of the Bulge started in late December near us. We loaded our boats on Christmas Day; we moved back into Belgium. In March 1945 the railroad bridge was captured at Remagen; then the Germans tried to blow it up. We used our landing craft in building a pontoon bridge, moving

6 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

troops and dropping 24 depth charges every 20 minutes to stop the Germans from trying to swim with explosives and blow up the bridge. The bridge fell on its own 10 days after the crossing. After the crossing, the war was over in Europe in two months. We returned back to the U.S.A. and later were sent to California to further transfer to the Pacific war zone. The war ended before we shipped out.

and dressing and crawled back. I sprinkled the sulfa on any open wounds, applied dressings where I could, wrapped him in the blanket, gave him a cigarette when he wanted one and tried to keep his mind occupied as much as possible. Though he had multiple wounds, he never complained. It was obvious he was in great pain, but he only smoked an occasional cigarette and quietly waited.

After what seemed forever, Sgt. Reynolds led the rescue party back.

They first had to clear the area of mines.

In addition to nine S-mines in the immediate area, there was a belt of shoe mines in front of the German positions.

They got Lt. Game on a stretcher and we went out. I don’t think we went souvenir hunting again.

Cecil F. Jacobs Year entered service: Drafted in 1943 Branch: Army Rank, assigned to: 1267th Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Army ▲ First combat duty: European Theater ▲ First combat reaction: Doing my duty to serve my country. Struck by fragment of S-mine to head; hit the ground praying. This wasn’t during active combat but while walking through the woods in Germany. ▲ Coming home: Good to be back. ▲ Most vivid memories: Shrapnel to head, blood running down face and seeing the number of dead GIs. One day when we had no duties, a buddy and I decided to see what we could find in the way of souvenirs in the area the armies had passed through. It was April and the snow had begun to melt. As we walked through a heavily wooded area, we noted the sweetish odor that is common Jacobs to decaying flesh. As we proceeded through the area, we noted a large number of bodies that were being uncovered by the melting snow. As we got closer, we realized they were American soldiers and there were entrenchments in front of them. It was obvious that the Americans had been attacking the German positions. It was also obvious that this area had been missed by graves’ registration and snow had covered the bodies during the winter. In the path we had been following was the body of a medical corpsman who obviously had been killed by a machine gun since there was a line of bullet holes across his body.

We went back to an area where some of our outfit was working. We reported the finding to Lt. Joseph B. Game, and he told us to direct him to the area in order that it could be reported to graves’ registration. When we reached the area, he asked that we look at some of the bodies to see if we could determine to ▲ ▲ ▲

Lannie Lee Year entered service: Drafted in 1942 Branch: U.S. Army Air Force (8th Air Force) ▲ Rank, assigned to: T4 (Technical Sergeant); 9th Engineer Command, 902nd Engineer Air Force HQ Company, 8th Air Force ▲ First duty: I was sent to Lee England first, on Oct. 7, 1943, as an airplane mechanic. I rebuilt B-17 and B-24 engines throughout England. In Germany and Holland for six months, I was a heavy equipment operator. ▲ First reaction: I never saw combat but saw the aftermath of combat/war. Entire cities/towns destroyed. Lives lost. ▲ Coming home: Bittersweet. I was sent home on emergency leave when my mother died. ▲ Most vivid memories: I was sent to England on a troop ship convoy. It took 15 days to cross the ocean. During the crossing, we encountered a terrible storm that lasted for three solid days.

The waves were 30 feet high at the peak of the storm. All of us were extremely seasick for those three days. Word of mouth said the convoy of two battleships and nine destroyers covered 100 square miles and had 100,000 troops in it.

The British were overjoyed to see us.

We received a warm welcome. ▲ ▲

Jacobs which outfit they had belonged. To do this, we had to leave the path. Paul Margelli (my buddy) took the lead. I followed, then Lt. Game. One of us hit a trip wire, which set off an S-mine (an S-mine was a German antipersonnel mine. When the trigger line was struck, a charge blew the mine about 5 feet in the air where it exploded and sent shrapnel in all directions). Almost simultaneous with the sound of the explosion I was struck in the right temple, hit the ground, felt blood running down over my face, started praying. (I list these separately, but they all took place at the same time.)

After a minute or so, I realized I was going to live and turned to check on the others. Paul had not been injured, but Lt. Game had been hit by numerous pieces of shrapnel. It was quickly decided Paul would go out and get help while I did what I could for Lt. Game.

I got him as comfortable as possible leaning against a tree. It was obvious he was in pain and was cold. He could not move his lower extremities. He wanted a cigarette, which I gave him. I remembered the dead medic we had seen earlier. It was about a hundred yards away, and by now it was obvious we were in the middle of a mine field.

I started out crawling toward his body; not that I couldn’t walk, but I was looking for trip wires. It seemed like six or eight hours, but I reached the medic.

I took his blanket, some sulfa powder

Raford C. ‘Mac’ Mathis ▲ ▲

Year entered service: Drafted in 1943 Branch: Army

▲ Rank, assigned to: Corporal, assistant halftrack driver; Machine Gun Platoon, 2nd A r m o r e d Division (Hell on Wheels), 41st Armored I n f a n t r y Regiment, Headquarters Battery, 3rd Mathis Battalion ▲ First combat duty: I reported to Camp Blanding, Florida, and was sent to Camp Campbell, Kentucky. From there to Boston — loaded on a troop ship bound for Liverpool, England (arrived May 15, 1944) then to Southampton, England, then to Normandy, France (July 9, 1944). ▲ First reaction to combat: I was a part of a replacement unit sent over to France after the Normandy invasion. We landed in Normandy, and the first town was Ste-MereEglise. From there, we moved toward Saint-Lo. Every evening at around sundown, a German Mathis bomber would come over our area around Saint-Lo. We called this “Bed Check Charlie.”

It was understood that no one would fire on the bomber since we did not have fire power to destroy the plane.

However, we did “dig in” each afternoon in anticipation of the bomber’s appearance.

As we progressed, the 29th Division was moving toward us after being in Saint-Lo. These troops were very fatigued after their time in combat around Saint-Lo. They would actually just lie down along the road to rest, without cover or protection. During one “Bed Check Charlie” time, someone from the 29th fired on the German bomber.

As a result, the bomber turned and made a pass over the area, dropping personnel bombs along the road. Eightyone men were killed. At that time, I realized the importance of following orders when the sergeant yelled the words, “Dig in!” I dug foxholes all across Europe! I am here today because I “dug in.” ▲ Coming home: At the end of the war, I returned to Fort Meade, Maryland, and then on to Camp Gordon, Georgia, and on to my home in Waycross. It

wasn’t a huge fanfare or anything, but I was joyfully welcomed by my family. I was excited to see my youngest brother, who was only around 2 years old when I left, and I had a brand-new baby sister who was born while I was overseas. I remember being worn out. One of the best things about being home was being able to sleep every night in a bed instead of a foxhole. ▲ Most vivid memories: Combat started immediately upon arriving in Normandy. Planes were constantly strafing our area. Looking back on this time, every memory becomes vivid.

No one can fully explain it without having been there. We were under fire all the time, constantly watching and listening; being ready to dig in and engage.

In August 1944, I was attached to the 2nd Armored Division. We were somewhere in Belgium or the Netherlands.

We were out in the weather all the time.

My time in the 2nd Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge was the most vivid and memorable while overseas.

It was snowing most of the time, freezing 12- to 15-degree temperature or lower. The ground stayed frozen all the time.

One night in early or middle December, I was on patrol. When I came off patrol in the early morning, everyone was loading up to leave. I learned that we were moving out to participate in the German Ardennes offensive, later known as the Battle of the Bulge. We traveled in a long convoy for around two days. We arrived and secured ourselves in trenches.

Around Christmas Day, the bad weather cleared, and our planes could fly. The clear weather was a big part of our success. At the time, the Germans were advancing on us, traveling on narrow mountain roads. The long German convoys were single file on the winding roads. Our planes and artillery were able to bomb the first vehicles of the long line, and that would totally stop any traffic for a while. There were no options for alternate routes. We had fought through Belgium and crossed the Rhine River.

By this time, it was late March.

Because of our success in Belgium, the Belgium government awarded us the Belgian Fourragere to be worn on our dress uniforms. We were some of the first American troops to cross the Rhine into Germany.

Continuing in Germany, we fought in deep snow. Many, many soldiers died from the severe weather. It was treacher-

VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 7

ous. Digging foxholes was almost impossible because of the frozen ground.

It has been almost 70 years, and I still can’t stand cold weather to this day.

Our 2nd Armored Division was the first or one of the first American divisions to reach the Elbe River near Berlin.

We were the first to make it to the German capital city, Berlin. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. I think our division lost around 1,200 men by the end of the campaign.

Later on after the surrender, we were informed that our division would be the honor guard for the United States during the Potsdam Conference. United States President Truman, British Prime Minister Churchill and Soviet leader Stalin were all there.

It was really strange during that time in that the enemy was the Germans, but the Russian troops who were there as guards were more suspect to all of us.

The Russians wanted everything we had with us; our clothes, our food, our cigarettes, our boots and, especially, our weapons.

They would do just about anything to get what we had.

It was a tense time. The conference lasted until early August, but we stayed on into the fall.

William Josiah Neville ▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1941 ▲ Branch: U.S. Army Air Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: Started as a private; ended World War II as a captain ▲ First combat duty: India, 1 year; then to Burma for 14 months. ▲ First combat reaction: Probably not “fit to print.” ▲ Coming home: Wonderful! ▲ Most vivid memories: My “most vivid memory” was simply that I lived through it!

Roxie Remley Year entered service: Volunteered Aug. 13, 1942 ▲ Branch: Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and Women’s Army Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: After Officer Candidate Remley School at IT, Des Moines, Iowa, to Washington, D.C., Feb. 15, 1943; 89th CHAA, Battery X (T.S.) ▲ First duty: Company officer (1st Lieutenant) HQ Service of Supply, ▲

Cheltenham, England, AprilSeptember 1944. London W A C Detachment. ▲ First reaction: Not in combat, but in L o n d o n October 1944 t h r o u g h October 1945.

Remley Allied Forces could not respond effectively when London was bombed day and night with V-1 and V-2 bombs, lasting until May 9, 1945, coming from Nazis still in France.

We lost no women. A few had injuries. ▲ Coming home: Great! Arrived home, Crawfordsville, Indiana, November 1945 in time for Thanksgiving dinner and thanks for my service from family and friends. ▲ Most vivid memories: Sitting on the ground D-Day 1 a.m. to early morning watching our plane fly toward the English Channel, returning with dead and injured. We cried and cheered.

Robert Scherer Year entered service: Drafted in 1943 Branch: Army Rank, assigned to: Sergeant First Class, Fire Direction Chief, 11th Airborne Division ▲ First combat duty: Leyte, Philippine Islands ▲ First combat reaction: Scared! ▲ Coming home: Seeing parents, family and a young lady who later became my wife. ▲ Most vivid memories: 1. First parachute jump.

2. Assisting the release of prisoners at Los Banos Prison Camp.

3. McArthur Honor Guard when he arrived in Japan. ▲ ▲ ▲

Rusty Tracy Year entered service: Volunteered in 1942 ▲ Branch: United States Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: Buck Sergeant; Raider Battalion ▲ First combat duty: My Tracy first combat was at Guadacanal as a private first class. Then we invaded Bougainville, where I received two promotions in combat.

Next was the invasion of Guam, where I was evacuated by air to the naval hospital in Hawaii suffering from being “flash” blinded and having malaria and dengue fever. I was wounded twice Tracy and was discharged as a “buck” sergeant. ▲ First combat reaction: Hate for the enemy. ▲ Coming home: Wonderful! The whole town celebrated for 30 days. ▲ Most vivid memories: Hand-to-hand combat; Japanese banzai attacks; getting strafed by Japanese Zeros when making a beachhead.

Wayne S. Tucker

Year entered service: Volunteered Dec. 5, 1941 ▲ Branch: Navy and Merchant Marine ▲ Rank: Sea Captain ▲ First combat duty: 1943 to South Pacific and June 6, 1944, D-Day at Tucker Omaha Beach. ▲ First combat reaction: Japanese air raids were scary but not as much as when shells landed nearby. ▲ Coming home: Never returned. Continued sailing until retirement in 1967. ▲ Most vivid memories: The sight of so many young men (kids) going ashore on the invasions Tucker in both the South Pacific and D-Day in France. I was too young myself and didn’t understand that I was supposed to be afraid. ▲

▲

Allen E. Webb

Year entered service: 1945 Branch: Army First reaction: Don’t ignore those who were not in combat! ▲ Most vivid memories: During World War II, there were heroes who were never in service, and some who were in service and never went overseas; some who went overseas but never in a battle.

After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor ▲ ▲ ▲

8 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

Our group was dropped like a hot potato. We were sent for basic training.

I was sent to Fort McPherson in Atlanta. They insisted since I had been in so long I must have already had basic, so I was placed behind a desk in the Separation Center.

I did my part in getting heroes out of the Army and back into civilian life.

After six months, someone checked records and found I had not had basic training.

Over one year in the Army, and a private first class and I had to go through basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, then to Fort Benning, Georgia, where I was put behind a desk in the Separation Center.

There were many heroes who were in combat, but many who were not in combat, each doing what he or she could do to keep this country free.

Webb

W L Wilkes

and the United States declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy, the U.S. was not prepared for military action.

The people did what was necessary at the time. Women did what before was men’s work — welding, tractor/truck driving — anything to fill in for the men sent overseas. People put up with shortages and rations of food, shoes, gas, etc.

When the local National Guard went overseas, boys 16 and up, 4F’s and men over 40 joined the Georgia State Guard for local service. Before I graduated from Statesboro High School, we were given a math and physics test, and 200 from all over the country were chosen to Webb be allowed to join the Army and be sent to college to serve the Army.

When I graduated in May 1945 at age 17, I was sent to Clemson College in South Carolina. There were 200 of us divided into groups of 20. We were given all sorts of math and physics problems to solve. We worked individually and in groups to solve them. At the time, we had no computers or calculators, just pencil and paper and slide rules.

When we had solved some of them, the professor would say, “Ah, that’s it. I have to go to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I’ll be back in three days. Work on these problems while I’m gone.”

When the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, the professor said, “That’s what you have been working on.”

▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1943 ▲ Branch: Navy ▲ Rank, assigned to: Shipfitter 2nd Class, COM SEC #5 E-9-206; Garrison Beach Battalion One Company B ▲ First combat duty: Honolulu, Pacific, Okinawa ▲ First combat reaction: I was scared to death.

We landed Easter Sunday morning with the 2nd Marine Division with orders to take the Yon Tan Airfield. We had Easter services at 4 a.m. before the landing began. There were Baptists, Jews and Catholics that morning, but no atheists. We were able to capture the airfield by noon, the Japanese had withdrawn from the airfield to the south side of the island. Battleships began bombarding the shore before the landing.

The worst part was the Kamikaze planes.

At the landing everyone was shooting at everything. I shot at a Kamikaze and something flew off his plane. He dipped his wings and headed for another ship that was off shore.

He crashed into that ship. There were so many shells exploding that our clothing would flutter from the concussions of the bombs. Our job was to recover and repair the landing craft.

We stayed on the island for three or four days. The Japanese had buried their dead in very large tombs, but with very small entrances.

The names of the dead were written on small pieces of wood and placed with the body. Our commanding officer used one of the tombs for safety and shelter

during the battle. ▲ Coming home: It was heaven.

I was overseas for a full year. I returned home to St. Simons Island. I worked at a filling station. There were no jobs available for the returning soldiers. Soldiers were given a monthly allowance that you went to the draft board to pick up. My pay during service was $51 per month for a seaman with a family. ▲ Most vivid memories: After three or four days on the island, we moved from the beaches about four miles to a river.

There we set up camp, and all of the supplies came into that camp. We stayed there for several months and left in June to go back to Honolulu. I was assigned to the USS Cowpens, which was a light carrier. We patrolled the Pacific for months.

I was also sent to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands.

I was at Leyte Gulf where Gen. Douglas MacArthur went ashore. At Ulithi, a repair base for ships was set up in the open ocean.

There was a ring of coral reef in that area, and nets were strung across it to keep Japanese submarines out of the repair base.

At the time, it was the largest and most active anchorage in the world, with a total of 722 ships in the anchorage.

Korean War

James Ed Bailey

Year entered service: Volunteered in March 1950 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: E-5 at discharge; Communication Unit assigned to Atomic Energy Commission ▲ First overseas duty: No combat duty.

First went overseas January 1951, Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. ▲ First reaction: Assigned to Communications Unit.

Participated in Operation Green House in 1951.

Then Operation Sandstone in 1952.

These consisted of numerous atomic bomb tests and the first H Bomb Test. ▲ Most vivid memories: The H Bomb Test was viewed from a ship 50 miles away.

The heat wave was if you were very close to a large container of gasoline which was suddenly ignited. The shock wave was severe enough to rock the rather Charles R. Williams Sr. ▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in large ship.

1939 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank: Sergeant

Carlton F. Bowen ▲ First combat duty: Omaha Beach, ▲ Year entered France s e r v i c e : ▲ First reaction to comVolunteered in bat: All of the training I May 1952 received all came to me. ▲ Branch: Air My training was necesForce sary. ▲ Rank, assigned The first German shells to: Master started falling, and I said Sergeant, retired this is for real. after 20 years of Coming home: Williams ▲ active service Knowing the war was ▲ First overseas over, I came back home safe to my famOkinawa and duty: Bowen ily and friends.

Korea 1954, non It took a little time to adjust; howev- combat er, time took care. ▲ Summary of service: I retired in May ▲ Most vivid memories: The weather 1972 from Det. 3, 12th RBS, Statesboro was bad.

Airport.

In summer there was lots of rain, and I participated in numerous overseas during the winter, snow and ice. When assignments and several stateside assignthe Battle of the Bulge broke, we did not ments. My duties were related to the logishave the proper clothing for that kind of tics/supply career field. weather. ▲

VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 9

Hendrix

Oscar Hendrix ▲ Year entered service: 1950 (Guards mobilized) ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Corporal, 3rd Division ▲ First combat duty: Korea ▲ First combat reaction: Scared. ▲ Coming home: Great. ▲ Most vivid memories: When called up to fire on mountain for foot soldiers.

Keith F. Hickman ▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1951 ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: Staff Sergeant, 3310th Maintenance Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois ▲ First duty: I entered service through the Colorado Air National Guard during the Korean War. Served at Tinker Air Force Base in a radio/radar air division installing aircraft control and warning sites in the U.S. Later transferred to Scott Air Force Base as an Aircraft Electronics Technician until discharged from service.

After duties ended: I returned to Colorado State University to complete a degree and help dad on our farm.

Germany.” ▲ Overseas reaction: I had to stay out in the field in case anyone got h u r t .

T h a n k f u l l y, there were any real deep, serious injuries.

I’ll be blunt: It was basically a two-year Melton vacation. I went hiking.

Sometimes I’d go up some mountain where they had the old mansions. ▲ Coming home: After two years, I came back to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I got a ride home. I went with four others in one car that brought us back to Augusta. One of the guys lived in Sylvania, so his daddy took me there, and we got to Sylvania about midnight. You would think he was my daddy by the way he hugged me.

Then he carried me back to Melton Statesboro. ▲ Most vivid memories: Our commanding officer in Germany ran us through some rounds. He was tough. Some of the guys and I worked to collect donations for the people in town.

Well, one of the guys stole some money out of there. So my commanding officer says to me, “Melton, you find out who done it. And when you find him, don’t bring him back here. Put his (butt) in the hospital.” Well, that’s exactly what we did. We beat him up so bad when we found out who it was, we put him in the hospital for three weeks.

Harry Lamar Merck William E. ‘Emory’ Melton Year entered service: Drafted in 1954 Branch: Army Rank, assigned to: Specialist, medic, 34th Medical Battalion ▲ First overseas duty: I made it to the jumping-off point to go to Korea.

Then the 34th was transferred to Germany.

I already had my papers to go to Korea. I was packed and everything. Before I Melton got there, they called me back and said, “You’re not going to Korea.

You’ve got to meet the 34th Battalion in ▲ ▲ ▲

Year Entered Service: Volunteered in 1951 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: First Lieutenant.

Received Croix de Guerre of Foreign Theaters of Operations with Bronze Star from the French government; Bronze Star from U.S. government. ▲ First combat duty: Korea Merck ▲ First combat reaction: Concerned. ▲ Coming home: Great! ▲ Most vivid memories: Concern and fear. ▲

Melton

Melton

10 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

Vietnam War Louis “Chap” Ashmore today.

Louis “Chap” Ashmore during his military Heart; Combat Infantryman’s badge; and service. others. ▲ First combat duty: Tay Ninh Province, Louis ‘Chap’ Ashmore Vietnam, Oct. 16, 1969. Wounded Feb. 3, ▲ Year entered service: October 1968 as a 1970, near Cambodia doing reconnaissecond lieutenant. Graduated from the sance for April/May Cambodia Invasion.

U.S. Army Infantry School, Airborne ▲ First combat reaction: Very scared, and Course, Ranger Course and Jumpmaster how unbelievably unorganized a fire fight becomes.

Course. ▲ Coming home: Spent 11 months in ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Infantry Platoon hospitals, two months in Japan (Camp leader, Charlie Company 2nd Battalion Zama) and nine months at Fort Benning Seventh Calvary, 1st Calvary Division. Army Hospital so a return home was welAwarded Silver Star for gallantry in action; comed. I retired from the military after two Bronze Stars, one with “V” device for getting out of the hospital. I have been in heroism in ground combat; Air Medal for construction (graduate of building conmore than 25 combat assaults; Purple struction 1968, University of Florida) for 43 years and am still going strong. ▲ Most vivid memories: Body parts and blood.

and came back for college at Georgia Southern.

Before college, he volunteered for military service, and was inducted into the Air Force in May 1967. In 1969, Rick was sent to Ramstein Air Base in Barr Germany, where he served two years as an E-4,with the 68th Bomb Wing and 26th Avionics Maintenance Squadron. ▲ Most vivid memories: His worst memory is being sick with the flu there, at Christmastime, far from home. ▲ Coming home: Every year now, he especially appreciates the blessings of good health and being with family during the holidays.

Donald E. Suddeth

Year entered s e r v i c e : Volunteered in 1953, 31 years of service. ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank: Master Sergeant ▲ First overseas duty: Korea, then Vietnam Suddeth ▲ First reaction: I was never in actual combat. I flew in supplies and ammo to the fighters. ▲ Coming home: Home sweet home! ▲ Most vivid memories: That America was free and I was going to be one of Suddeth many to keep it that way! ▲

Rick Barr (written by his wife, Shari R. Barr) ▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1967 ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: Senior Airman, E-4, 68th Bomb Wing, 26th Avionic Maintenance Squadron ▲ First duty: Rick’s dad, Charles Barr Richard Barr Sr., was a World War II pilot stationed here long enough to meet, woo and win Rick’s mom, Bulloch County native Betty Grace Hodges. After the war ended, his parents lived in Columbus, Ohio, where Rick was born. He spent summer vacations here,

Thomas Michael ‘Mike’ Brown

Brown

Korean War

The taxi driver who heard and saw this happen gave me a free ride and a “welcome home.” ▲ Most vivid memories: When I had to shoot and kill a Viet Cong trying to throw a grenade at the eight of us on guard on a bunker full of ammo.

Later found out he was 14 or 15 years old. I felt bad about it until by buddy was killed by rocket shrapnel one week later.

We were gonna meet at the chow hall and have some coffee in about 10 minutes when we had incoming hitting the flight line and motor pool.

Beall

Joseph P. Beall ▲ Year

entered service: Volunteered in 1964 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Sergeant; C Company, 229th Aviation Battalion, 11th Air Assault Group, 1st Air Cavalry Divisionh ▲ First combat duty: Processed thru Cam Rahn Bay,Vietnam, sent to C Company, 229th Aviation Battalion ▲ First combat reaction: Scared to death.

Bullets and mortars, rockets (122 mm) flying everywhere in Quang Tri, Vietnam. Later on, the company moved down to Tay Nihn,Vietnam. ▲ Coming home: A big let down. A war protestor met me outside the Savannah airport, cussed me and Beall called me a low-life war monger, baby killer and spit in my face at which time I politely knocked him out!

▲ Year entered service: Drafted in 1966 ▲ Branch: U.S. Army Security Agency ▲ Rank, assigned to: Staff Sergeant (E6); Army Security Agency (ASA) Far East Theatre & ASA Headquarters,

Arlington, Virginia First overseas duty: Army Security Agency, Southern Japan ▲ Coming home: A rude awakening to the anti-war environment in the U.S. ▲ Most vivid memories: Brown The death of political involvement in the day-to-day operational conduct of the war efforts. ▲

Cecil Wendell Bunch

Year entered service: Volunteered in 1957 ▲ Branch: U.S. Navy ▲ Rank, assigned to: USS Intrepid CVA11, USS Enterprise CVAN-65, USS America CVA-66, USS Saratoga CVA-60 ▲ First duty: 1968-1970 Vietnam — off shore close to air support ▲ First reaction: Hard, dangerous work.

Not in country, but on ship in support. ▲ Coming home: I was called a warmonger by a civilian contractor at Naval Base ▲

VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 11

Bunch Gitmo. No pleasant memories. ▲ Most vivid memories: Twelve hours on, 12 hours off, 30-40 days at a time; three to four days off for repair and maintenance and back to 12 and 12.

knowing what! ▲ Coming home: From Vietnam, my country, family and friends were in a state of confusion. ▲ Most vivid memories: July 1967, Da Nang, Vietnam, at night, being totally surrounded by huge explosions on a mega scale.

In 1972, I received a Mustang Commission and was promoted from a second lieutenant to a lieutenant colonel.

I retired at Parris Island, South Carolina, in November 1990.

Georgia Power proudly honors our veterans We thank them for their dedicated and loyal service to our country.

Honoring Our Veterans Senator Jack Hill

Cowan

Thomas Cowan Year entered service: 1969 ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: 354th Automated Manifest System Tactical Fighter Squadron ▲ First combat duty: Vietnam ▲

Carl H. Corby Jr. today.

Carl H. Corby Jr. Year entered service: Volunteered in July 1960, Norfolk, Virginia ▲ Branch: U.S. Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: Private to Lieutenant Colonel (Mustang); have been assigned to all three ME Divisions and Wings Corby ▲ First combat duty: Cuban Blockade, Vietnam ▲ First combat reaction: Eyes wide open, looking for any and everything but not ▲

Cowan

Georgia’s 4th District

jack.hill@senate.ga.gov • Phone: 404-656-5038 Local Office: 912-557-3811

Mitchell Marion “Mickey” Daughtry (compiled by brother C.L. Daughtry and daughter Jennifer Daughtry) ▲ Year entered service: Drafted in 1967 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Narrative: My brother, Mitchell Marion

“Mickey,” was a combat veteran of the

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12 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

Mickey Daughtry in Walter Reed Hospital in 1969. He weighed less than 80 pounds after being severely wounded in Vietnam.

Vietnam War. He was severely wounded on Sept. 26, 1968, and received the Purple Heart for his service. Mickey grew up at 111 Buster Miller Road in Bulloch County. He was a 1966 graduate of Marvin Pittman and later earned a degree in trade and industrial education from Georgia Southern University. His parents were Margaret and Clarence Daughtry.

Mickey was drafted into the Army in 1967, as a 19-year-old. He was sent to Fort Benning for basic training and then to Fort McClellan in Alabama for advanced training in the infantry.

Soon after completing training he was promoted to sergeant and received orders for Vietnam.

He left for duty in Vietnam in July. He called me several times the night he left from Fort Dix, New Jersey. They sat on the runway for hours waiting for their plane and he stood in line the entire time waiting for his turn to call me or his parents.

Finally, when the phone quit ringing, we knew he was gone. When he arrived overseas, he went directly into battle in charge of a platoon of solders. We received regular letters telling us of the horrors of war he faced every day in the rain-soaked jungles. He said that one of the worst decisions you faced was who was the enemy, and who was on your

Mickey Daughtry, left, with cousin Ronnie Hill in Vietnam in September 1968.

side.

He said that one day, they had to shoot a woman who came out of the jungle firing at them.

In late September, my parents received a cablegram delivered by the military that said Mickey had been slightly wounded and would be returned to duty within several days.

We were later notified that he had been severely wounded on Sept. 28 and that his recovery was not assured. We heard little else until Elliot Hagan, then our congressman, was able to get us regular updates that were not encouraging at all.

News finally came that he had been transferred to a hospital in Japan. We got a phone number and called the hospital.

Mickey had a trach tube in his throat and could not speak, but a nurse who shared our last name held the phone and let him hear us talk. She told us he smiled, and then tears rolled down his face. We called several times and talked to him through the nurse, and Mickey Daughtry, right, at a train station he was able to speak a few in Savannah with his father, left, in 1968. words.

M a c e d o n i a weighing less than 80 pounds. His face Baptist Church was gaunt, his eyes sunken in their socktook an offering ets, hands hung above the ribs in his to help with the chest and his arms were skin stretched cost of the over bones. My mother went in next, and I had to show her where he was. Mickey phone calls.

On Sunday made a slow but sure recovery and was after church, we able to visit at home in several months. all gathered at When he came home he was greeted by home to put in a friends and family, but there was no welMickey Daughtry at call to Japan. I coming committee and no Wounded Fort Benning, 1967 placed the call Warriors to help with his recovery. and asked to Several times while in the hospital, he speak to Mickey. After a few minutes, almost lost his leg because of infection. someone came on the line and told us We received notice one day that they that he was not there and they had no were taking him into surgery the next record of him. Shocked, I hung up and morning and that he would likely lose his tried to make sense of what might have leg. Daddy and I drove Mickey’s Mustang happened to him. Almost before I could to Washington to try and be there when speak, the phone rang. I answered and he came out of surgery. Just before dayheard a faint voice say, “Brother, I’m light a Virginia State Police trooper home.” He was indeed home. He had just stopped Daddy for speeding. Daddy arrived at Walter Reed Medical Center in explained the situation to the officer, and he told me to follow him. He took us to Washington, D.C. We made plans immediately and my Washington at 90 mph and had the city wife, my mother and I left for Washington police meet us and take us to the hospias soon as we could. When we arrived at tal. We arrived at the hospital while he Walter Reed, we were directed to the was in surgery and were there when he ward full of wounded solders. They woke up. He didn’t say anything for a would only let us in one at a time, and I long time and then he asked Daddy what went first. They pointed out where he they did with his leg. Daddy said, “They was, and I walked down the aisle looking left it where they found it, you’ve still got for him. I walked past him and heard your leg.” A big smile broke out across his him call my name. I turned around and face and tears rolled down his cheeks. could barely believe what I saw. My Mickey kept his leg but suffered with the brother, who went to Vietnam as a 165- pain and disability for the rest of his life. pound picture of health came back He walked with a shuffle and sometimes

dragged that foot. He was awarded a 90 percent permanent disability by the VA and Social Security. Social Security revoked its disability when he went to work to support his family.

According to Mickey’s account, his injuries took place in this manner. He had problems with trench foot from the constant exposure to the rain and water in the jungle. He was sent to an aid station for treatment and recovery from this problem. While at the aid station, he went into town and by pure chance ran into our cousin, Ronnie Hill, who was in the Navy and on shore leave. Ronnie also grew up on Buster Miller Road and spent a lot of time at our house. They enjoyed the day together and Mickey said it was his happiest day in Vietnam. The following day the aid station was overrun by the Viet Cong, and everyone had to help defend it. Mickey said he was firing at waves of the enemy and they were crawling over the bodies of the fallen to get by the rolls of barbed wire used on the perimeter. He ran out of ammo and moved to a machine gun nest where the operator had been shot. While firing the machine gun, he was hit in the back by an enemy grenade that bounced off and exploded behind him. He was hit by the shrapnel on his left leg and up his back.

As he fell forward, he was hit in the right shoulder by a round from an AK-47. He says he remembers a medic dragging him to a helicopter and evacuating him to a hospital. The doctors said that his quick evacuation to the hospital and into surgery saved his life. Mickey never talked very much about his injury and never expressed any bitterness to me. He was just glad to be alive.

After his recovery, he married Elaine Belin and raised three daughters and two sons.

They are Scott, Jodi, Jennifer, Julie and Mitchell. His wife, Elaine; daughters, Jennifer and Julie; and son, Mitchell, live in Statesboro. Jodi lives in Waynesboro, and Scott lives in South Carolina. After raising his family, Mickey attended Georgia Southern and earned a degree in trade and industrial education Mickey became ill in 2003 and died from his illnesses. He got hepatitis from

Mickey Daughtry stands with his weapon in Vietnam in 1968.

VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 13

during the Vietnam War. My Daddy’s brother, Willie Daughtry, served in the Merchant Marine and was killed when his ship was sunk during World War II. Another brother, Harry Daughtry, served in the Army during World War II. My mother’s brother Raymond Warren Miller served in the Navy during World War II. Both my wife’s parents, Thelma Marie Hanson Mickey Daughtry’s family today: From and William Leslie Hague, served in the left, daughter Jodi, son Mitchell, wife Elaine Navy during World War II. We also have Belin, daughter Julie, son Scott and daugh- half-dozen ancestors who served the South during the Civil War. ter Jennifer.

blood transfusions during his hospitalization. He also developed liver cancer that the doctors said may have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam. He was treated at the VA hospital in Augusta and died at Fort Gordon Army Medical Center in Augusta and is buried next to his parents in the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery on Macedonia Road.

Soon after Mickey got out of the hospital, I was drafted into the Army and served two years. Luckily, I was sent to Germany and served my time there.

Another cousin, Ray Miller, joined the Air Force and served his time in England.

There were four of us cousins who lived less than a half mile apart who served

Barbara Marie Davidson Year of service: Volunteered 19631989 ▲ Branch: Army National Guard (Medic), two years; Air National Guard (aeromedic), four years; U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, 20 years. ▲ Rank: Retired as Lieutenant Commander (O-4). Member of Surgical Team from Camp Pendleton attached to the USS New Orleans (LPH-11) as medical support for a battalion of Marines assigned to the ship. ▲ First overseas duty: 1972 in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam ▲ First reaction: No direct involvement in ▲

combat. Assigned as a part of a surgical team that was a part of the Battalion of Marines on the ship that had they been deployed. I did take care of sailors critically wounded in a gun turret explosion that occurred on one of the ships in our group for over a week. I was there for three months. ▲ Coming home: No real difference. So you are/were a Vietnam veteran. No big deal. (My wife and family were glad to see me.) I was actually stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, at the time I was assigned to the surgical team as the operating-room nurse. ▲ Most vivid memories: I remember tales about corpsmen that I knew from previous duty stations, either coming home in body bags or missing limbs.

Of note. I was also assigned to a surgical team as the OR nurse from Naval Hospital Portsmouth, Virginia, that went down several days after the U.S. invaded Grenada in 1983 and relieved the surgical team already down there. Most of the combat activities were just about done when we arrived and were there for a week.

Of note to keep the records straight, I was then known as William M. Davidson IV, Lt. Cmdr. NC USN, Retired. I am now known officially since June 2012 as Barbara Marie Davidson, Lt. Cmdr. NC USN Ret.

Hugh H. Deal

Year entered s e r v i c e : Volunteered in 1960 ▲ Branch: United States Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: F i g h t e r Squadron VMFAW 531 ▲ First combat Deal duty: Cuban Missile Crisis, Boca Chica Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida. ▲ First combat reaction: Our planes intercepted anything flying out of Cuba. We had several shot down and shot down several Russian MiGs. Scary Deal at the time as Russia had missiles with nuclear warheads in Cuba. ▲ Coming home: Happy to get there. ▲ Most vivid memories: The day that Russia backed down and removed their missiles from Cuba. We were on the verge of an all-out nuclear war, and our planes were prepared to use nuclear weapons. ▲

SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II William Josiah Neville United States Army Air Corps 10th Air Force, 683rd AAA Machine Gun Battery (Airborne) Mr. Neville served in the China, Burma and India Theater of Operations during the period 1943 - 1945.

Mr. Neville served as an anti-aircraft artillery officer in the CBI. Along with other Allied soldiers, Mr. Neville was responsible for the perimeter defense of American-held airfields and for the anti-aircraft defense of the airfields from and against Japanese aircraft.

(Mr. Neville is the uncle of Lovett Bennett, Jr.)

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Derek Lee Duke in Vietnam in 1967.

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▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1965 ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: Lieutenant Colonel; 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam ▲ First combat duty: I was initially assigned to fly arms and munitions into Vietnam returning with aeromedical (hospital) flights. These were out of Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. Those were heartbreaking.

Nearly 100 wounded soldiers were aboard, and many faced lifelong injuries from which even useful life recovery was near impossible. I was then assigned to Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam for all of 1972 to fly over 150 combat missions in South and North Vietnam and Laos.

Those missions were the strike intelligence missions that supported the fighter and bomber aircraft. I also commanded the Air Traffic Control Tower at Da Nang during combat operations. There were many times day and night the Air Base was attacked and shelled. You never forget those. Yes, they really get your attention. ▲ First combat reaction: When it’s in your face, you become too busy doing your job to think about it. You put trust in God and your country and your fellow

soldiers and do your job. Sitting around thinking “bad” things you do not do, if you are smart.

Firsthand losses of life affect you no matter which side it is on. War is Hell. Truly. ▲ Coming home: The idea that I had survived and Derek Lee Duke Sr. was returning with his family in 2013. home did not really sink in until I walked off the Delta jet in Atlanta. Suddenly, I was surrounded by family and wife Pat (from Statesboro), and realized I was safe and sound and “back in the world.” ▲ Most vivid memories: There were many missions where bombing raids were done, and we were there in close air support.

All that fire power from the sky and from the ground amazes. An unexpected round burst in an F-4 Phantom jet engine during his attack run north of Da Nang at Hue. We were there as he pulled up on fire and made for Da Nang Air Base to the south. He headed just east to be offshore away from the mountains and jungles and fast he flew, burning brightly. We followed when both pilots ejected just as the F-4 exploded and tumbled backward as a fireball from the sky into the blue South China Sea. We dove down to search for the pilots and drop aid when we saw them. As we approached, the Jolly Green Rescue helicopter from Da Nang arrived and, incredibly fast, rescued both pilots from their rafts, each only a few hundred meters apart. Two saves. That was Jolly Lingo for doing their job at the highest level. That helicopter was joined by his backup helo and they sprinted back to Da Nang, inviting us to tag along. We did.

My entire crew of nine gathered at the open doors and windows to watch our “formation” arrival with popping orange smoke signaling, “We saved 2 lives.” There was a jubilant party on the ramp for two men whose lives were saved by those who did their job to exact precision. That teamwork success was one of the highlights of my tour.

James L. Dutrow ▲ Years

of service: Volunteered 19581962 ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: Airman 1st Class, Air Defense Command

VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 15

Gardner

Fred W. Gardner ▲ Year

entered service: Volunteered Feb. 17, 1960 ▲ Branch: United States Air Force ▲ Rank: E-4 ▲ First overseas duty: North Africa (Morocco) in support of B-47 aircraft ▲ Coming home: It was a Gardner blessing.

Joseph P. Gramiak

Year entered service: Volunteered in 1961 ▲

▲ Branch: United States Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: Sergeant (E-5); Anglico (air, naval, gunfire) 2nd & 3rd Marine Corps Divisions ▲ First combat duty: Da Nang, Vietnam; also at Gramiak Shoe Ralley Ho Chi Minh Trail ▲ First combat reaction: Scared.

I had a team that called close air support for Army units.

If we stayed in the air over 30 seconds, we were dead.

We called air strikes on Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. ▲ Coming home: Lousy.

We were spit on and got Gramiak stuff thrown at us when we came home. ▲ Most vivid memories: You never forget the screams of men being hit and burned from Napalm. I’ve never forgotten that scream and smell of burned bodies.

Serving

Jimmy Clifton Grant

Ye a r entered service: Drafted in 1968 ▲ Branch: U.S. Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: Corporal, Third Marine Division 1-9 ▲ First combat duty: Vietnam — 0311 Infantry ▲ First combat ▲

Grant

reaction: Scared.

Coming home: I feel like it took me 30 years to get my life back.

I’m still working at it. It was hectic. I felt lost. ▲ Most vivid memories: All my friends whose lives were lost during combat. I think about them even now, all the time. Sadness.

Grant ▲

Ralph E. Howard

▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1963

Ralph Howard

Branch: Army Rank, assigned to: 1st Lieutenant (1965-66), Military Assistance Command Vietnam, 10th Army of the Republic of Vietnam Division; Captain (1968-69) United States 9th Infantry Division, 3rd Corps, South Vietnam ▲ First combat duty: South Vietnam ▲ First combat reaction: Scared, extreme ▲ ▲

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16 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

chaos, loud noises, foul odors (smells), massive confusion. ▲ Coming home: Happy but disappointed at lack of concern by Americans over the war being fought ▲ Most vivid combat memories: T h e textbook way the enemy executed a night attack using horns, whistles and screams. These were coordinated with flares, morR. Howard tar fire and machine gun fire. Seeing young (18-, 19-, 20-year-old) soldiers in body bags awaiting evacuation.

Vern Howard

Year entered service: Drafted in 1968 Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Sergeant (E-5); 130th General Hospital, Nuremburg ▲ First overseas duty: Nuremburg, Germany ▲ First reaction: My job was chief administrator of V. Howard the admissions office of the 130th General Hospital. We were not in combat. We were a “MASH,” 450-bed hospital whose mission was to treat

▲ ▲

Vern Howard wounded and diseased soldiers and their dependents. Reforger II was the training operations for hundreds of thousands enlisted, drafted and reservist military personnel. As a triage hospital, we tended and treated U.S. Army soldiers for injuries, crashes, burns and numerous diseases. We were equipped for rapid deployment to Vietnam, and we provided medical attention to “combat ready” military and civilian personnel. The tragedies and traumas resulting from “war games” were numerous. My two-plus years in Germany and three years of active duty had me witness atrocities of combat training and the “hands on” support for combat training. Preparation for war was intense and the psychological

burden was immense. Our hospital staff retained full gear for deployment, participated in weapons training, experienced “gassing” as exposure to chemical weapons and were always on “ready.” ▲ Coming home: The disdain shown by fellow Americans for my involvement in the Vietnam War was disheartening. I was order to report for military service, and many who were ordered fled the country. “Love not war” was the theme of the hippie movement, and we quickly shed our uniforms to alleviate the verbal and sometimes physical attacks for being in the war. We served and did so in honor and glory of God, country and fellow Americans. I experienced hate! ▲ Most vivid memories: A warrant officer went down in a chopper into power lines, was transported to our hospital and I helped him as I stayed by his side. He had his pistol welded into his hip, his fingers were burned off, and only black, charred stubs were left. He was in his early 20s, and he died. I’ll never forget this man who was a victim of a horrible war. Over 50,000 died and many of those were in training missions. I am haunted to this day.

Rank, assigned to: Sergeant (E-5); 23rd Infantry (Americal) Division, 196th Infantry Brigade ▲ First combat duty: Vietnam, Chu Lai, Tam Ky, all in Quang Tin provJones ince.

Radiotelephone operator and wireman.

First combat reaction: Fear; uncertainty; lots of tracer fire; mortar and rocket attacks daily; afraid for myself and my friends, some of whom died. ▲ Coming home: Two-and-a-half years in Vietnam with visits on leave. Good to be home. No hostility to me. ▲ Most vivid memories: Partial overrun of base camp by Viet Cong sappers.

Much damage, panic and fear of friendly fire. Sight of war dead. ▲

James Robert Meadows

Ronald Lee ‘Ronnie’ Jones ▲ ▲

Year entered service: November 1968 Branch: Army

Year entered service: Volunteered in 1968 ▲ Branch: United States Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: Corporal (E-4); C-1-1, 1st Marine Division, FPO San Francisco ▲ First combat duty: ▲

Meadows

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VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 17

Vietnam, outside Da Nang ▲ First combat reaction: I was scared but soon learned to keep eyes open and ears listening for movement. ▲ Coming home: We were Meadows not welcomed home with a lot of fanfare. ▲ Most vivid memories: Having a friend hit a trip wire and get injured, and being shot at with an RPG rocket launcher.

My reaction: I was scared and anxious at the same time. ▲ Coming home: I served my first tour in Vietnam from March 1966 to March 1967. I was very thrilled to be going home having survived an ordeal forever etched in my soul and my mind. There were no parades or supporters meeting the returning soldiers from Vietnam.

Actually, protesters of the Vietnam Conflict were our welcome-home committee.

I left Vietnam with no orders for my next duty station, which was common during the Vietnam Conflict. I was home 35 days before I finally went to Fort Stewart and told the personnel section the situation. I was given orders to go to Germany. I protested as much as a lowly ranked soldier could, but to deaf ears. I arrived in Germany and was assigned to a unit getting ready to go to Vietnam. I submitted a request to be transferred out of this unit. I was successful.

Within four months, I was sent back to Vietnam for a second tour.

Most vivid memories: After my arrival back in Vietnam, I was waiting to be assigned to the unit I was to spend my next year with. I, along with many other soldiers, would stand in formation every day, and they would call your name and the unit you were assigned to. I was trained in Field Artillery, and I spent my first tour in a Field Artillery unit.

They called my name on that day to be assigned to a Combat Engineer unit that I found out later was close to the DMZ. When I tried to tell personnel in charge that a mistake had been made, their answer was “headquarters at my new assignment would correct it and get me where I needed to be.” Long story short, I served my second tour as a Combat Engineer Explosive Specialist.

Tet Offensive 1968 was the most vivid memory I have of my two tours in Vietnam. Tet is when they celebrate the new year in Vietnam. As a Combat Engineer, I was witness to more gore and grisly sights than a person should see in a lifetime. I told myself after surviving that

William M. Metzger

Metzger

▲ Ye a r entered service: Volunteered in September 1955 ▲ Branch: Navy ▲ Rank, assigned to: Lieutenant, many ships and stations ▲ First combat duty: Da Nang, Vietnam; USS

Repose AH-16 ▲ First combat reaction: Scared, amazed, unsure. ▲ Coming home: Wonderful. But would repeat if ordered to do so. ▲ Most vivid memories: Wounded personnel.

Actions of the population of Vietnam. Again, scared, which is normal.

Metzger

William ‘Bill’ Mincey

▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1965 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: First Sergeant; Field Artillery Training Center, Fort Sill, Oklahoma ▲ First combat duty: My first combat duty assignment was Cu Chi, Vietnam. I was 19 years old. I deployed with the 25th Division from Hawaii on March 7, 1966. The entire division was deployed by ship. The trip took 18 days. ▲ First reaction to combat: My first contact was just weeks after arrival in country. We came under mortar attack while in the process of building our base camp at Cu Chi. This became the Base Camp for the 25th Division while it was in Vietnam. This was around the area known as Hobo Woods along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Bill Mincey during his military service.

period of mayhem, that if the Lord let me survive this tour, they could have this Army, I was done.

I was good as my word. When I returned to Fort Lewis, Washington, I turned down re-enlistment bonus money and promotion and received my honorable discharge and proceeded back home to Metter. I had my uniform pressed and hung it up in my closet and told myself when I think things are tough, I will open my closet and say, “They are not that tough yet.”

So after I had spent most of 19661968 and still pretty sane, my military career was over, or so I thought.

After I was discharged, I gradually settled back in to being an ordinary citizen. I got a good job, met a young woman, and about a year later, she would become my wife and after almost 45 years, we are still happily married.

About a year after we were married, the company I was employed with started downsizing and, since I was kind of the new kid on the block, I was one of the first to go.

I found other what I called dead-end jobs, with no future to them, so I was at a crossroads as what to do at this stage of my life. We were living in Savannah at this time. One night, my wife and I were watching an airing of “The Bob Hope Show,” while he was in Vietnam visiting the troops. I, to this day, don’t know why I asked my wife, “How would you like being in the military?” We discussed it and we gave it some serious thought because this was 1971, and the Vietnam Conflict was still going strong. After a few days, I decided to go talk to an Army recruiter to see what were my options.

Turned out they were pretty good. If reenlisted within the next 12 days, I could retain my rank that I was discharged with back in 1968.

Enlisted: Oct. 6,1965 Re-enlisted: March 1,1971.

Retired: Sept. 1,1992, as First Sergeant (E-8) Years of service: 27 years, 3 months, 26 days.

fuel depot. It was a hazy, gray day. Jets came out of the haze and dropped nearly 50, 500-pound bombs, hitting the gigantic fuel tanks. Explosions, fire, and dark smoke erupted.

The captain called out over the 1MC (intercom), “They hit the fuel depot, we’re getting the hell out of here!”

We sped north up the coast and joined a gun line of Navy destroyers, providing combat support.

My reaction: Wow! This is for real! ▲ Coming home: Anticlimactic. No parades. No free beer from vets. No banners. No welcome home. War’s over, I’m out. What now?

The flight back: For four days, we reported in dress whites to the air terminal, only to be told that all flights were full. But we felt blessed, honored and humbled to be there. Because all those flights were for the Vietnam POWs that were returning after years of torture and death. After that, we were on the first flight back to the states. ▲ Most vivid memories: Riding out two typhoons on the way. Nightly bombs and rockets. Constant firing of our 3-inch cannons. Loud and heavy metal. Watching carpet bombings by B-52s. Looking over the side of the ship as we passed close by a little ole fisherman in a bamboo basket, tending his nets. Pulling over to inspect.

Beautiful, white-sand beaches with palm trees and numerous mountainlike outcroppings.

Eugene O. Neville Jr.

▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1966 ▲ Branch: U.S. Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Lieutenant Colonel; N Company, 75th Ranger, 173rd Airborne ▲ First combat duty: Vietnam ▲ First combat reaction: Fear, shock, prayer. Training takes over and you get the job done as a leader while taking care of your soldiers. ▲ Coming home: Disappointing. ▲ Most vivid memories: Looking in a dead North Vietnamese Army soldier’s wallet and seeing a picture of his family.

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Mitchell ▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1969 ▲ Branch: Navy ▲ Rank, assigned to: E-5;USS Fanning DE 1076 ▲ First combat duty: Gulf of Tonkin, Da Nang and north to DMZ ▲ First combat reaction: Early the first morning we pulled into Da Nang Harbor.

We were sitting near the Air Force base

Terry L. Preslar

▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1967 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: E-3; 196th Infantry Brigade America L Division, Chu Lai, Vietnam ▲ First combat duty: Vietnam ▲ First combat reaction: Scared. First

18 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

night in Vietnam, was put on guard duty.

Told to shoot anything that moved. Luckily, did not fire a shot that night. In countr y six months, had first fire fight to protect my portion of

Preslar perimeter. ▲ Coming home: We had to take off our uniforms and travel in civilian clothes. In California, had a protestor in my face. I told him to leave, or it would be bad.

Lady at the counter thanked me for telling him off. ▲ Most vivid memories: Last night in camp had a fire fight. I was scared that I was going to get killed last day there. Fired weapon as often as needed to keep them from coming my way. At daybreak, I was told to sweep the area. I Preslar refused because I was leaving. Sergeant didn’t push the matter.

I served 22 years and retired Nov. 1, 1989, from Fort Benning, Georgia, as a Chief Warrant Officer 3.

Cam Quick Year entered service: Volunteered in December 1952 ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: Tech Sergeant, Tactical Air Command ▲ First combat duty: Vietnam ▲ First combat reaction: Doing my duty to serve my country. Proud to serve. ▲ Coming home: People looked down on vets who fought in Vietnam. Felt rejected. ▲ Most vivid memories: Changed my life. Met my wife. Made me grow up.

Proud to be an American. ▲

▲

Holmes Ramsey Year entered service: Volunteered in 1968 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: E-5; 14th Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division ▲ First combat duty: Dong BA Tin Khahn HOA Ramsey

▲ Coming home: I lived in a small north-

Providence II Corps First combat reaction: Stunned and scared. I stayed afraid and alive. ▲ Coming home: A relief, but most people at home did not understand what was going on. ▲ Most vivid memories: Sighting down my M-16 the first time and pulling the trigger to kill my first person.

west Ohio town.

Very nice to come home to family and friends. Quiet. ▲ Most vivid memories: Coming under mortar and rocket attack, unable to defend against them. They were random and deadly.

Flying helicopters and fixed- wing reconnaissance looking for enemy positions.

▲

Richard M. Robbins Year entered service: Volunteered in 1955 ▲ Branch: Air Force ▲ Rank, assigned to: Retired captain; USAF Security Service, Strategic Air Command, Air defense Command.

Trained as a Russian Robbins linguist by the Air Force and assigned to Security Service in Germany during the Cold War. ▲ Duties: Served 14 years with Strategic Air Command as an airman, later as an officer (Mission Combat Skyspot) with two tours in the Far East and a return tour to Germany as an electronics maintenance officer.

Served three years with Air Defense Command.

Retired after 23 years of service. ▲ Reaction: Harsh reality of war set in when seeing pallets upon pallets of casRobbins kets on tarmac of Tan Son Nhut Air Base upon my arrival. ▲ Coming home: The elation of soon being again on American soil was dampened after we were advised to wear civilian clothing for the last leg to our homes “to avoid unnecessary conflict.” ▲

Mack Rushing in Vietnam. was nice to be back home to family and friends. There were no parades or homecomings, but the Vietnam War was not something our country was proud of.

Even knowing the way it turned out, I would do it all over again. ▲ Most vivid memories: Flying on a search-and-destroy mission in Cambodia, my helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade that hit under my seat and failed to detonate, in addition to the five bullet holes the aircraft took. We were able to make it back to a safe location to land, we all jumped out and kissed the dirt, so glad to still be alive.

Crawford Sewell Year entered service: Drafted in 1968 Branch: Army Rank, assigned to: E-5; 507 Heavy Equipment Maintenance Company ▲ First duty: I spent November 1968 through March 1971 at a large maintenance depot in Germany. ▲ Coming home: Kind of strange. A lot of people acted hostile toward somebody wearing a uniform. ▲ Most vivid memories: Driving my deuce-and-a-half truck down to the Czech border and seeing the Communist forces on the other side. Made you realize why we were there. ▲ ▲ ▲

Mack Rushing ▲ Year entered service: Volunteered in 1968 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Sergeant, D Troop, 1/10th Cavalry (19691970); Retired Chief Warrant Officer, Georgia Army National Guard ▲ First combat duty: Pleiku, An khe, Quy Nhon, Vietnam. ▲ First combat reaction: Rushing Kill them before they kill me. ▲ Coming home: Was a great feeling, it

Ed Thatcher Year entered service: Volunteered in 1968 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: 2nd Lieutenant; 2nd Corps HQ, 55th Military Intelligence Detachment ▲ First combat duty: Vietnam — Nha Trang — Thatcher Pleiku Phan Thiet — G2 Operations HQ ▲ First combat reaction: Alert, aware of your surroundings, look out for your buddies. ▲

Gary Witte

Year entered service: 1968 ROTC Volunteer ▲ Branch: A r m y Corps of Engineers ▲ Rank, assigned to: 1st Lieutenant; 2 0 t h Engineer Battalion (Combat), 1 8 t h Engineer Witte Brigade ▲ First overseas duty: Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, then Pleiku and other locations in Central Highlands ▲ First reaction: First few weeks in country involved inspecting work along highway between Pleiku and an KHE. The VC mined culverts along the way and I was very nervous, anxious and fearful riding down the road. There had been casualties. ▲ Coming home: Great. ▲ Most vivid memories: Meeting an American missionary and his wife when Witte my platoon and I were working on a construction project in a small village in the Central Highlands.

Also, seeing the Christmas story put on by the Montagnards in the missionaries’ chapel. ▲

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VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 19

Other times of military service Alex Lyons Year entered service: Volunteered in 1992 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Staff Sergeant; 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division ▲ First overseas duty: My first deployment was in Iraq where I was lead Human Resources liaison in support of the C o m b a t Commanders and Noncommissioned Officers and soldiers engaged in the fight. I was Alex Lyons expected to be tactically and technically proficient in combat operations. ▲ First reaction: In Iraq, everything mattered: My survival, your friends’ survival, everything that you did was a matter of life or death. But, I felt an obligation to my country, my unit, my family but most importantly the soldiers who served under my watch that depended on my leadership. So, there was this sense that, right or wrong, what I was doing is important, and it had an immediate effect many lives. ▲ Coming home: Being over there was definitely a wake up call. It’s a realization that life is precious and fragile, and that it should never be taken for granted. There’s a dense life experience you get from being in an extreme situation. There’s a sense of heightened alertness you embody in a way ▲

that few people know or understand what that’s like. You definitely bring back potent memories. ▲ Most vivid memories: There are many but one happened the first night I landed in theater. I had given my team their close out brief and released them for the night.

My shift had ended as well so after eating chow I decided to bed down. As soon as my head hit the bunk I heard this extremely loud sound; I immediately hit the floor.

Then this alarm started blaring noises and commands. I low crawled out my living quarters and found my way to this cement bunker where other soldiers were making their way to. If I didn’t realize where I was at and what I was doing was real, I did at this moment. After the “all clear” command was given, we learned that two soldiers had lost their lives from an indirect fire attack. I realized that that could have been me. God bless their souls.

(220 Marines, 18 Sailors). Also, April 1980: Operation Eagle Claw to free 52 Americans taken hostage by radical Islam.

Lucian C. Lyons Year entered service: 1987 ▲ Branch: United States Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: E-3 Lance Corporal; Camp Le jeune, Nor th Carolina/0481 (Landing Support Specialist) ▲ First overseas duty: Reserves ▲

Lucian C. Lyons

Stanley Robbins Year entered service: Volunteered in 1987 ▲ Branch: Army ▲ Rank, assigned to: Specialist E-4 165th Quartermaster out of Georgia ▲ First overseas duty: We were deployed to King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia as part of logistics base Bravo. ▲ First reaction: We were not directly involved in combat; we were in a support capacity. But when the Scud missiles started flying, they followed a path that took them directly over us, and we spent many a night in a bunker with the air-raid sirens blaring and Patriot missiles firing from the airfield next to us. Once you hear a chemical alarm Robbins ▲

Henry C. Lyons Jr. Year entered service: Volunteered in December 1978 ▲ Branch: United States Marine Corps ▲ Rank, assigned to: Sergeant; Marine Security, USS Coral Sea ▲ Coming home: Some good, some bad. Your body is home, but your ▲

Henry Lyons mind is not. ▲ Most vivid memories: Oct. 23, 1983, Beirut bombing, 241 Americans killed

American Legion Post # 90 Hwy 301 S Statesboro 912-681-6262

go off at 2 a.m. while you are in a war zone, you can never forget not just what it sounds like, but what it feels like. That sound is terrifying and you feel it in your spine.

The hair on the back of my neck is raised as I write this just from thinking about it. ▲ Coming home: Stanley Robbins dur- It was both joyous ing military service. and a bit confusing coming home. We were allowed to re-acclimate in a safe zone before coming home so we weren’t jumping at every car horn and police siren, but we still had that mindset of always watching our surroundings and being prepared for whatever might jump off. It took a while to actually relax and get back into just being normal again. ▲ Most vivid memories: My most vivid memory is of being in “Tent City,” which was a staging area near Bahrain where they processed you to your destination.

There were thousands of people there and everything felt like it was 1,000 degrees.

The air was so hot, it felt like breathing a thick fog. We had no idea what was going to go on there. We had seen the news and the reports that Iraq had the fourth-best army in the world. We were scared or nervous, and some of us were both. Then the sirens went off, and everybody went to full MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) 5. We didn’t know it at first, but it was just a drill. They put everybody in

House District 160 State Capitol, 401-B Atlanta, GA 30334 Office: 404-656-7855 Jan.Tankersley@house.ga.gov Home: P.O. Box 187, Brooklet, GA 30415

20 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

Medal of Honor 150 years later

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

These days, Stanley Robbins enjoys showing his True Blue Georgia Southern colors. full MOPP at least five times a day there to keep us on our toes and keep our speed up.

When that alarm went off it scared the hell out of all of us, but after about an hour our commanding officer gave us the all-clear and explained that we would have those drills often, we all relaxed and went to our assigned tents. I dug out the Walkman radio that the USO had given us before we deployed and tuned it to the USO station just in time to hear Ray Charles start belting out “Georgia on My Mind” and it felt like a weight had been lifted. I relaxed ... for a little bit anyway. That was like an omen of some kind that the first song I heard in Saudi Arabia was “Georgia on My Mind,” and that is the most vivid memory I have of my service during combat.

WASHINGTON — Weak and bleeding, a Union Army officer who stood fast commanding his artillery battery and was killed as thousands of Confederate forces advanced on his troops received an honor Thursday from President Barack Obama that was more than 150 years in the making: the Medal of Honor.

It is the nation’s highest military honor for battlefield valor.

Obama awarded the medal to First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing, who was killed on July 3, 1863, during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

The fight often is described as a turning point of the Civil War. A distant cousin, Helen

Loring Ensign, of Palm Desert, California, accepted the framed medal.

“This medal is a reminder that, no matter how long it takes, it’s never too late to do the right thing,” Obama told about 60 descendants and supporters of the 22-yearold Wisconsin native during a brief ceremony in a windowless White House meeting room.

Cushing commanded about 110 men and six cannons, defending the Union posit ion on Cemetery Ridge against Cushing P i c k e t t ’ s Charge, a major Confederate thrust that was repelled by Union forces.

On the final day of battle, Cushing’s small force stood

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Barack Obama stands with Helen Loring Ensign, 85, from Palm Desert, Calif., after awarding the Medal of Honor posthumously to Army First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing for conspicuous gallantry during a ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014. With them, from left to right, are Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., Army Secretary John McHugh and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald.

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VETERANS’ MEMORIES - 21

We Salute our Veterans!

Thank You for Your Dedication, Sacrifice and Service.

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22 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

its ground under severe artillery bombardment and an assault by nearly 13,000 advancing Confederate infantrymen.

Wounded in the stomach and right shoulder, Cushing refused to move to the rear and insisted on ordering his guns to the front lines.

Obama quoted Cushing as telling a fellow soldier who had urged him to go to the rear that he would “fight it out, or die in the attempt.”

Obama also paid tribute to the thousands of unknown young soldiers “who saved our union” and observed “that I might not be standing here today, as president, had it not been for the ultimate sacrifices of those courageous Americans.”

The presentation to Cushing was all the more extraordinary because recommendations for a Medal of Honor normally must be made within two years of an act of heroism, and the medal presented within three.

Congress had to grant an exemption for Cushing’s honor.

“Sometimes even the most extraordinary stories can get lost in the passage of time,” Obama said. He acknowledged efforts by Cushing’s supporters, includ-

ing members of Congress, who pushed for the posthumous honor. Included in that group is Margaret Zerwekh, a historian from Cushing’s birthplace of Delafield. Obama said she spent more than 25 years researching and writing letters on Cushing’s behalf.

“What’s more, she even managed to bring Republican and Democrats together to make this happen,” Obama said, two days after elections in which voters expressed their frustration over Washington gridlock by putting the GOP in control of the Senate.

Obama told Zerwekh that “we may call on you again sometime in the next several months.”

Wisconsin Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner, a Republican, and Ron Kind, a Democrat, led the congressional effort to see that Cushing received a Medal of Honor.

Later Thursday, Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were honoring service members, veterans and their families at a musical event on the South Lawn.

Mrs. Obama and Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, led “Joining Forces,” a nationwide campaign to rally the country to support its troops.

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Rare Steinbeck WWII story finally published The Associated Press

NEW YORK — In July 1944, Orson Welles wrapped up one of his wartime radio broadcasts with a brief, emotional reading of one of the country’s favorite authors, John Steinbeck.

The piece was titled “With Your Wings,” an inspirational story about a black pilot that Steinbeck wrote for Welles’ program, and it seemed to disappear almost as soon as it was aired. There are no records of “With Your Wings” appearing in book or magazine form.

Even some Steinbeck experts, including scholar Susan Shillinglaw and antiquarian James Dourgarian, know little about it.

“It doesn’t ring a bell at all,” said Dourgarian, who specializes in selling first editions of Steinbeck’s work. “And that’s saying something if I haven’t heard of it.”

But 70 years after Welles’ introduction in the midst of World War II, “With Your Wings” is getting a second release. Andrew F. Gulli, managing editor of the Birmingham, Michigan-based quarterly The Strand

Magazine, came upon the transcript recently while looking through archives at the University of Texas at Austin. He features it in The Strand’s holiday issue, which comes out Friday.

Steinbeck, who died in 1968, wrote often about social injustice and on occasion featured black characters, notably Crooks in his classic novella “Of Mice and Men.” Gulli, whose magazine specializes in reissuing obscure works by famous writers, said in a recent email that “With Your Wings” was characteristic of the Nobel laureate’s worldview.

“Steinbeck was an idealist. He saw America as this wonderful land with so much to offer but on the flip side, he could see inequality, he could see greed and excess destroying the working classes,” Gulli wrote. “This story strikes me as an effort to show middle America that African-Americans were carrying on a huge burden in defending the United States and the allies during the war.”

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VETERANS’ MEMORIES -23

Honoring the Best & the Bravest For their courage, hard work and dedication to their country, we salute the men and women of our Armed Forces past and present. It is because of their sacrifice that America remains the land of the free, and we thank them for protecting our citizens and our country.

Wishing all of our veterans and soldiers a very happy Veterans Day.

Our Service Men and Women

24 - VETERANS’ MEMORIES

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