2012 NOV 11 — today we celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the day originally proclaimed by president woodrow wilson as “armistice day”, honoring the end of World war i in 1918. unfortunately, the “war to end all wars” did not ultimately fulfil its noble destiny, and the steadfast service and heroic sacrifice of wilson county’s men and women have been required since. thus, today we have veterans day, a single day dedicated to the cause of world peace and To those men, women and families in service to it. we at the wilson times sincerely thank you for your submissions, but primarily, we thank you for your service. - Bradley Hearn, Special sections editor
Pg. 2-4, 6 Family Service pg. 5 Civil war Pg. 5 WW I Pg. 7-10 WW II PG. 11-12 Korea PG. 13-15 Vietnam Pg. 16-17 Miscellaneous PG. 18 Iraq/afghanistan
Families in Service
White, Bryan E. 1988 to present NASA
Watson, Melford Private First Class Army 1944 to 1946 Japan
White, William R. Petty Officer First Class Navy Vietnam
Denton, James D. Staff Sergeant Army 2 Bronze Stars
McCarter, Bobby W. Army Served 22 years Korea
Smith, Samuel L. Sergeant Marine Corps Iraq, Instructor at Camp Geiger
photos at right, FR om the top: staff ser geant do nald stehley, army, wwii ; james b. white, ma rine corp vietnam, s, hotel co mpany, 2n battalion d ; Clarence H. speigh t, navy, 1973-76; melvin am erson, ar my, 2 yrs tech serg ; eant stac y v. west air force , , 1973 to 1993.
Denton, Willie M. Air Force 20 years Vietnam
ants of d n e c s the de ite & h w y l l e james k cer white er sadie m
Mercer, Charles C.D., II Sergeant Army 1953 to 1955
White, Floyd E. “Bud” Navy 1955 to 1974
White, Paul H. Staff Sergeant Air Force 1940 to 1945
Wilson nati ve james H. “doodle” mercer (bo ttom right , standing), served as a pilot dur ing wwII.
Walston, Dennis E. Corporal Marine Corps Helped w/ evac of Saigon in 1975
Mercer, Jay National Guard 24 years
White, James H. Staff Sergeant Army WWII
Walston, Orin V. Air Force Late 1950s
A4OBIT
OBITUARIES Milton Randolph Cook
Denton, Joseph P. Navy WWII
White, Michael First Sergeant Army 1984 to present Iraq
White, Tommy Medic Army 1965 to 1969
Milton Randolph Cook, 62, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton Cook and Rachel Hayes Cook. He is survived Cook, Milton R. by his sons, Milton Marine Corps Cook Jr. of Ashe County, Timothy Vietnam Cook of Sparta Milton Randolph CookNavy Purple Heart, and Richard Cook Commendation Mdl.Terri Kay Cook (Raid) (Amy) of Wilson; sisters, of Wilson and Peggy Cook Sykes of Wilson; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; special loving friends, Chris Coley and Hazel Coley; and his canine companion, Molly. Milton served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a highly decorated veteran receiving the Navy Commendation medal and Purple Heart medal during the Vietnam War. A private graveside service will be held Monday, 2 p.m., in Maplewood Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at www. thomasyelverton.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas-Yelverton at Evergreen Memorial Park, 2704 Nash St. N., Wilson, NC 27896.
John Thomas Perry Jr. John Thomas “Tommy” Perry Jr., 51, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Funeral services will be held Sunday, 2 p.m., at Wilson Memorial Service. Interment will follow in Snow Hill Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his father, John T. Perry Sr., in 2004. John Thomas Perry Jr. Surviving is his mother, Patsy Tripp Perry; sister, JoAnna Haakinson (Greg) of Raleigh; brother, Brian Perry (Wanda) of Wilson; niece, Jessica Perry; nephew, Josh Perry; and best friend, Paul Tucker, of Lucama. The family will be at Wilson Memorial Service, Saturday, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,
Froyo 1 By Rochelle Moore Times Staff Writer
Froyo 101 will start offering frozen yogurt self-service style in the Heritage Crossing shopping center by the middle of November. Froyo, an abbreviation for frozen yogurt, and 101, meaning everything starts here, is a new business in eastern North Carolina, said David Yang, owner. The first Froyo 101 opened in New Bern in 2011. The chain’s second location is Wilson and three more stores are being planned in eastern North Carolina, Yang said. Not only will Froyo 101 offer a variety of frozen yogurt flavors, with up to 50 topping choices, but the store will also be designed with its own unique look and feel. No two Froyo 101 stores are the same and the Wilson store will have a different look each day, Yang said. “Every store, we design differently,” Yang said. “I don’t want the customer to feel like they’re going into the same store again and again. I want them to have a new experience.” The Wilson location’s interior will be painted juicy pink with boxed lights in walls that will change colors and 300 ceiling pendent lights that will change colors throughout the day or once a day. The colors
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will b certa and said. “T smo ably said. have store Th is me ers a whil ent fl a var whic ness to se as m as th
Surpris GOP oy
County, state candi By Corey Friedman Times Online Editor
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Families in Service Your choice for perscription needs
Mooring, Arthur, Jr. Corporal Army 1944 to 1945
Mooring, Phillip A. Specialist 5 Army 1970 to 1976
Mooring, John P. Private Army 1994 to 2000
fathers and sons Rodgers, Donnie Air Force 1974 to 1977
Ruffin, James, G., Sr. S.F.P. - 3rd Class Navy 1957 to 1960
Rodgers, Herbert H. Air Force 1948 to 1952 Korean War
Ruffin, James, G., Jr. Sergeant Army Nat’l Guard 1985 to 1993
Whitley, Mack E. Private First Class Army WWII South Pacific
Whitley, Mack A. Master Sergeant Air Force 1966 to 1967 Vietnam
Whitley, Wayne Private First Class Army 1966 to 1968 Korea
Johnson, Joseph W. Private Cadet Corps - BHS 1958 to 1961 Joyner, James S., Jr. Sergeant Air Force 1986 to 1991
Joyner, James S., Sr. Master Sergeant Air Force 1954 to 1974
Joyner, Norris G. Private First Class Army 1957 to 1959 Served in Germany
Edwin b. langston served in the navy
Langston, Derrick B. Army 1971
Harris, William H. PFC Army 1943 to 1946
Private, short-term accommodations are available in Wilson when you need a short break as a caregiver for an elderly loved one. Wilson PInes is here to help give you that much needed time away. Whether you need 3 days or 30 days, we’re here to help.
Call Lakitta Morgan
252-237-0724
for more information and up-to-date availability Jones, Luther J. Drill Sergeant Army 1963 to 1969 Retired from Wilson PD
Langston, Jerome E. Navy 1969 1st brother to enlist
403 Crestview Ave., Wilson, NC
252-237-0724
Families in Service
All the men of the Thompson family fought in wwii with the exception of louis thompson, who joined later and served in the korean war. he was joined by glenn thompson, who served in the navy for over 20 years.
Thompson, Wash Navy WWII
Williams, Christopher S. Navy 1990 to 1998
Surname, Name Rank Branch War
Thompson, Vance Army WWII
Thompson, Fate Army WWII
bands of brothers
Thompson, Louis Navy Korea
Thompson, Glenn Navy 20+ years WWII, Korea
Williams, Billy E. Navy 1975 to 1977
The sons of the late james earl williams, shirley williams batts and stepfather rudolph batts of wilson.
High, Gerald R. Tech. Sergeant Air Force 1958 to 1978 Japan, Germany
Williams, Kennieth R. Navy 1976 to 1980
Jones, Royce F. E-4 Army 1965 to 1967
Jones, Johnnie L. E-5 Army 1965 to 1967
Jones, Curtis R. E-4, MP Army 1969 to 1971
Davis, James E. E-4 Army 1965 to 1967
High, Horace H. 1st Class Sergeant Army 1955 to 1975 Vietnam, Camp David
Jones, Joel A. E-4 Army 1980 to 1986
High, Billy I. Pvt. - Army, ‘54-’56 Lt. Col. - Army Reserve, Nat’l Guard, 6 years
McCray, Maurice E-4 1980 to 1983 Reserve - ‘83-’86
Descendants of roy and mattie davis jones, the first four veterans (starting clockwise) are their sons, the next three their grandsons, the next their great-granddaughter, and the last is a cousin.
In grateful appreciation for service, dedication, sacrifice, honor and commitment Hinnant, Lamon E-4 Air Force 1998 to 2001
Pone, Shanna J. E-4 / Senior Airman Air Force 1996 to 2000
Farmer, Joshua L. SPEC-4 1969 to 1971
Thank You Veterans!
GREENFIELD SCHOOL The Option for Excellence in Education
Honoring W.C. (Billy) Herring Army - World War II And All Veterans For Serving Their Country!
TRACTOR & TRUCK
Veterans Residential Services
COMPANIES
DBA: White’s International Trucks/IC Bus and White’s Idealease Bobcat of Wilson/New Bern
of Wilson
1700 US 301 South, Wilson, NC
252-291-0131
East Coast Equipment
2500 Nash St. NW, Suite E • Wilson, NC • 252-237-4778
Private First class ernest W. Thorne, a native of elm city, was inducted into the 81st Army Division (comprised of men from north and south carolina) during world war I. after heavy casualties were sustained by the 81st, thorne was transferred to the 42nd rainbow division where he saw action in france and germany for the remainder of the war. To the right, Thorne’s dog tags, as well as a new testament bible he carried during the war. part of a county-wide initiative, the bible’s inside cover reads: “presented by the churches of wilson county sept. 19, 1918”
Wiggins, Calvin R. Army WWI 20th Division
Finch, Albert P. Corporal. Army 1917
Winstead, John N. Army WWI France
Langley, Singleton Civil War Died in battle in 1862
Above, two separate reunions of wilson civil war soldiers in downtown wilson sometime in the early 1900s.
Wilson C. Daniel
Families in Service The Uss juneau served as a temporary home for ricky L. Aycock (right) during the late 1970s.
Aycock, Ricky L. E-3 Navy 1976 to 1980
Thompson, W. Gordon Staff Sergeant Army 1944 to 1946
K. Wayne Aycock SP-4 Army, ‘64 -‘66 Vietnam 25th Infantry Div.
Thompson, Maggie Ruth Narron Comm. Telegrapher, 3rd Class Navy, 1944 to 1946
The sons of thomas w. pridgen and lily carter pridgen (from left to right): Richard d. pridgen, sr., staff sergeant, marine corps, 1939-45; thomas o. pridgen, sergeant, army, served as a tank operator in the pacific; william w. pridgen (see right); fred c. pridgen, petty officer third class, navy, 1946-51; wilbur r. pridgen, tech sergeant, army, occupied italy during wwII.
Lt. Walter E. Brown (seated on the right in the photo) was a doctor in the medical corps of the navy during wWII. A native of wilson and graduate of duke university school of medicine, brown was aboard a c-47 transport plane carrying wounded and sick soldiers away from guadalcanal when the aircraft was blown into the water. His
Aycock, Lewis T. Sergeant NC Nat’l Guard 1962 to 1968
D. Gerald Aycock Army, ‘64-’66 Coast Guard, ‘72-’01 Dominican Republic, Desert Storm
Chief medical corpsman William W. Pridgen served in the navy from 1936 to 1958. He was stationed at pearl harbor while it was attacked and saw action in normandy, including d-day
Courage. Sacrifice. Dedication. Honor. presumed date of death was nov. 14, 1943.
emma grace davis, of wilson, while on a trip to washington, DC this summer with her parents, Carey and shannon, visited the wwii memorial and struck up a conversation with a wwII vet, proclaming: “you’re my hero!” the veteran, also visiting for the day, was moved to tears, and the two spoke for a long time before hugging and posing for the above photo.
We Salute You!
in november of 1944, William thomas daniel received the silver star for gallantry in action during the battle of the rhineland near gey, germany. these two photos were snapped before and after his commanding officer pinned the medal on during a brief lull in the fight.
Swinson, Aaron Army WWII 1943
Clewis, Allen L. Staff Sergeant Army WWII
Winstead, Arthur Army WWII Deployed: Germany, France, Italy
Williams, Ben Sergeant Army 1941 to 1946
C. Johnson Moore, Sr. Lt. Army Air Corps & Defense Intelligence Agency
Winstead, Carl M. PFC - Army 1941 to 1945 POW, Purple Heart, Bronze Star
McKeel, N. “Bill” PFC Army 1942 to 1945 Japan, Germany
Nichols, Cecil E. Staff Sergeant Army 1941 to 1944
private first class elmer I. joyner served in the north and south pacific with the army from 1942 to 1946
Honoring Those Who Have Served
WILSON CRISIS CENTER 24-Hour Telephone Listening, Information and Referrals
24-Hour Crisis Center
HOTLINE 237-5156
237-5156 243-6444 Ferrell, Charles R. Corporal Army - Anti Aircraft 1942 to 1946
Mitchell, Clarence R. Tec. Sgt. Army 1942 to 1946
Eason, Clifton T. Naval Radioman 1939 to 1945
~
237-7626
If you need to talk, we’re there to listen!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! A UNITED WAY AGENCY
Petty officer third class ernest A. Whitley served in the navy from 1944 to 1946. He fought in the pacific and received several medals, including a bronze star for his bravery in combat.
Thigpen, E.L. “Buster” AMM 1/C Navy 1941 to 1944
Ford, Bruce Army 1944 to 1946
Bowen, Edsel Technical Sergeant Army 1945 to 1948
Hyman, Willis E. Navy WWII
Walls, Elmo, L., Jr. Corporal Army, 1940 to 1945 D-Day Photo w/ wife Kitty
Newby, Garland T. Army 1944 to 1948
Mercer, Garry D. Private Army, 1944 to 1945 MIA - Battle of Bulge Sister, Cleo M. Sullivan
Pope, George I. Master Sergeant Army 1939 to 1945 N. Africa, Italy
Lamm, Harry L., Sr. Seaman First Class Navy 1945 to 1946
Sharp, George T. Sergeant Army 1941 to 1944
Casey, James Navy Dec. 15, 1943 to Aug. 14, 1945
Gardner, James E. Navy, ‘43-’45 Army, ‘46-’47
Felder, James V. Master Sergeant Army 1943 to 1946
Boykin, James A. Chief Warrant Off. Army, 30th Inf. 1941 to 1945
Mercer, Jesse “Jack” Army WWII Purple Heart
sterling c. harris, of rocky mount, served in the army from 1942 to 1946 and achieved the rank of first sergeant. after basic training with the 83rd infantry div. at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, he was stationed at Fort leonard wood in missouri and fort benning in georgia (where he also served as drill sergeant). Along with two of his sons, Jack and Jim Harris, a commemorative brick has been laid in his honor at The Rocky Mount Veterans Memorial at Jack Laughery Park.
Thanks to Michael Thigpen, Joshua D. Barnes and to all who have served our great country, we salute you all!
Michael Thigpen
Winstead, Henry C. Army WWII
Bass, Isaac Lester Sergeant Army 1942 to 1946 Battle of the Bulge
Webb, Willie C. PFC Army WWII European Theater
Goff, Horace Private Army Air Corps 1944 to 1946
Winstead, Jacelle Corporal WWII Gen. service engineer, England/France
Atkinson, Willie M. PFC Army 1945 to 1946 Five medals
Senior Gunner Rank: Specialist 3 Tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Joshua D. Barnes Lance Corporal Okinawa, Japan
Remembering our Courageous Veterans
earl s. winstead, gunner’s mate first class, served aboard the uss pc-623, which rescued survivors of other ships sunk by enemy action in the philippine islands. Winstead, who served in the navy from 1942 to 1945, ultimately received a letter of commendation from his commander and president truman for his courageous actions. Amid the chaos of rescuing the survivors of a
Maplewood & Rest Haven Ce MeteR
ies
battle on november 18, 1944, he defied direct orders and placed himself in harm’s way, jumping into sharkinfested waters to save a soldier who had already lost one of his legs to the sharks.
Burnette, Joab P. Gunnery Sgt. Marine Corps WWII Guadalcanal
Batchelor, John A. Army WWII
Hackney, John N. Captain Army 1942 to 1945
Miles, Joseph E. Private Army 1943 to 1946
Bissette, Julian S. PFC Army WWII Combat medic
McAllister, Kenneth E., Jr. Tech Sgt. Army WWII - Pacific Theater
Johnson, Lester L. Staff Sergeant Army 1940 to 1945
Exum, Levell, Sr. Sergeant Army 1941 to 1945
Vick, Linwood Army WWII
Conley, Lloyd E. Chief Pety Officer Navy 24 years
Batts, Lossie Corporal Army 1945 to 1946
Nichols, Louis E. PFC Army 1941 to 1944 Heavy artillery
Ashe, Katherine J. Lieutenant Navy WWII
Howell, Milford J. Private First Class Army 1943 to 1945 Bronze Star
Dickerman, Morgan Paul, II Lieutenant, Jr. Grade Navy 1942 to 1945
Howell, Osburne K. Army Air Corps WWII 1942 to 1944
Lucas, Paul A. Army WWII Purple Heart
Lamm, Randolph Corporal Army 1942 to 1945 Battle of the Bulge
Stickland, Ransom “Pete” Edward Corporal Army Air Corps 1943 to 1946
Eagles, Robert B. PFC Army 1944 to 1946 Battle of the Bulge
Barnes, Robert Tech 5th Grade Army 1946 to 1947
Poole, Robert B., Jr. Corporal Army WWII
Gray, Robert M. Marine Corps 1943 to 1946
Woodall, Robert N. Private First Class Army Air Corps 1942 to 1945
Watson, Lannis Staff Sergeant Army 1944 to 1946
Jones, Roma “Big Boy” Staff Sergeant Army WWII
Batchelor, Sherwood H. Navy 1945 to 1948 30 years in N.C. Army National Guard
Colonel william S. Stone served in the medical corps of the army from 1930 to 1955. in 1946, he was awarded an “order of the british empire” (O.B.E.), the highest honor granted to americans by great britain and the equivalent of being knighted.
Jones, John “Red” Marine Corps 1942 to 1946 2nd Marine Division South Pacific
Turner, Sydney Gunners Mate 3rd Class Navy, 1943 to 1945 Okinawa Invastion
Craft, Stephen D. HAIC Navy 1944 to 1946 South Pacific
Bowen, Theodore Navy 1943 to 1948
Newby, Thomas Army 1942 to 1946
Winstead, W. “Cliff” PFC Army 1942 to 1945
Butts, W. H. “Pete” Army 1940s
Barnes, Wade D. Army Air Corps WWII Photo: England, ‘45
Eason, Wilbur L. Army WWII
Williamson, Wiley C., Sr. Seaman 1st Class Navy 1943 to 1944
Lamm, William W. PFC Army — Infantry 1943 to 1945
White, William R. Sergeant Army 1941 to 1945
Dotson, William T. Private Army 1943 to 1946
Blackwell, Willie B. Staff Sergeant Army 1945 to 1948
Newby, Willie L. Army 1943 to 1947
Lisa’s Beacon Orthotics Ad Has to be color
We salute you for your extraordinary courage and dedication to our country!
Front, Jayme B. Perry, PA-C, James Kovach, PA-C Standing, Paul Greenlaw, MD, B. Todd Smith, MD, Adam Thorp, MD, Gerald C. Vanden Bosch, MD, Michael J. Kushner, MD, Robert N. Satterfield, MD, Lewis P. Martin, MD
Jerald f. bass, sr., Private first class, served as a military policeman and with the security force co. in the marine corps from 1957 to 1960. he was stationed at norfolk naval base and guantanamo bay, cuba. Below, a clipping from the wilson times in 1957, featuring bass and fellow wilson natives ted perry, hatten hodges and billy moosha comparing measurements after returning from marine basic training at parris island, sc. the men reportedly gained between 10 and 30 pounds of muscle each during their training.
william h. pridgen, a corporal in the marine corps, served from 1951 to 1953. The photos above were taken during his time in the korean war.
Langley, Allie L. Army Served 20 years Korea
Scott, Benjamin F., Jr. Corporal Army Korea
Ford, Bobby Army 21 years Korea, Vietnam
Turnage, Carson Air Force 1952 to 1955 Deployed to Seoul, Korea
Lewis, Charles L. PFC Army 1950 to 1954 Korea
Davis, Clarence J. Army 1951 to 1953 Korea
Davis, Clifford H. Private First Class Army 1951 to 1953
Sullivan, Edward E. Army 1951 to 1952
Adams, Franklin E. Airman 1st Class Air Force 1957 to 1965
Johnson, Willie R. Corporal Army - 1950s Radio Operator, Germany
Fields, Bobby W. Private Army - Infantry 4 years
Crumpler, Carris Corporal Army 1952 to 1955 Korea, Purple Heart
Sgt. 1st class Bobby moore, of the 7th calvary dispensary, participates in winter training on mt. fuji, japan during the winter of 1956. Moore served in the army from 1953 to 1961.
Cpl. willie r. johnson, pictured in the middle, served as an army radio operator in germany from 1952 to 1954 during the korean war.
lonnie r. tomlinson, sr. served in the army with company b (out of fort jackson, sc), 502nd airborne infantry, from 1955 to 1957.
Flowers, George M., Sr. Military Police Army 1956 to 1959
Ford, Henry C. Army 30 years Korea
Black, Henry H. Sgt. Major - Marines Korea, D.R., Vietnam Purple Heart, Silver Star, 3 Bronze Stars
Williamson, James B. Lt. Colonel Army WWII
Farmer, James, E., Jr. Private First Class Army 1953 to 1954 Artillery, (264th FA)
Smith, James H., Jr. Sergeant First Class 82nd Airborne and Special Forces 1948 to 1957
Viverette, James R. ‘JR’ Private First Class Army, 1953-55 A. Reserve, 1955-’63 Served in Germany
Brown, Jerry Seaman Navy 1957 to 1961
Teague, Kenneth E. “Tommy” PFC Army 1954 to 1956
Atkinson, Lacy Gunnery Sgt. Marine Corps 1943 to 1965
Rowe, Malary C. SP-3 Army 82nd and 101st Airborne Div.
Howell, Marvin R. Staff Sergeant Army 1953 to 1961
Whitfield, Starkey E. PFC Army 1958
Winborne, Thomas J., Sr. Army Photo: 1954
Wastson, William T. Colonel Army 1948 to 1979 Purple Heart
Nobles, William “Tom” Staff Sergeant Air Force 1951 to 1955 Air Comm. Service
Blizzard, Willie ‘Bill’ SP-3 Army 1954 to 1956 Korea
Sullivan, Wm. Nathan Army 1951 to 1953 Korea
CAROLINA FORGE
MaJ. Bob Carlson served in the Marine corps from 1960 to 1980. Pictured above, carlson in danang, vietnam in 1970.
Bill vaughan served in the navy from 1969 to 1972 and was stationed aboard the uss neptune, an intelligence gathering vessel during vietnam. from 1971 to 1972, he worked for the commander and chief of the navy’s atlantic fleet.
Sgt. Dennis W. edwards pictured (right) with two friends to the day they left vietnam. edwards served in the Army from 1966 to 1968.
Michael kushman, e-5, prepares to drive a 3/4 ton truck with a trailer full of weapons and equipment into a chinook helicopter during “operation: santa fe” in november of 1967. Kushman served in the army from 1965 to 1969.
PFC Wayne whitley served in the signal corps of the army from 1966 to 1968 and was stationed in korea.
Kersey, Alan YN-3 Navy 1962 to 1966 USS Enterprise
Langston, Alton P. SP-4 Army 1966 to 1968
Smith, Andy W. SP-4 Army 1970 to 1971
Joyner, Arnold W. SP-4 Army 1963 to 1965 Korea
Harris, Benjamin Sergeant Marine Corps 1967 to 1973
Stone, Robert T. Major Army Medical Corps 1970 to 1972 95th Evac. Hospital
Page, Buddie H. Army 1966 to 1968 Vietnam
Warren, Calvin L. Corporal Marine Corps 1970 to 1973 Vietnam, ‘71-’73
Parker, Carlton R. Sergeant Air Force 1970 to 1974
Christian, Charles H. Sergeant Army 1966 to 1971
Witherspoon, Charles E. Sergeant Army 1969 to 1971
Joyner, D. Wayne SP-4 Army - 1968 to 1969 2 Bronze Stars
Cotten, Dan R. Air Force 1971 to 1974 Vietnam
Van Casey, Danny PFC - Marine Corp Deployed: 3/5/69 KIA: 3/24/69
Cpl. Doug Tennis poses with a captured bolt-action, Russianmade mosin-nagant sniper rifle in Ahn Hoa in august of 1968. tennis served in the Marine corps from 1967-69.
Brothers earl and ron ford eventually both joined the Air Force in the early 1970’s. Ron served in Vietnam and Earl was stationed in Alaska.
Hinnant, Elm Ray Sergeant Air Force 1974 to 1978
Currie, Dennis E. SPEC-4 Army 1967 to 1969
Pipkin, Edward E. “Buddy” Sergeant Army 1968 - Korea
Pittman, Elme L. Sergeant Army 1950 to 1972 Medic - M.A.S.H.
Ward, Ernest L. CW-2 Army 22 years (‘63-’88) Vietnam
O’Briant, David C. E-4 Marine Corps 1968 to 1974
White, Ezzard C. SPEC-4 Army 1972 to 1975
Kearney, George E. Sergeant Army 1968 to 1970
Letchworth, George P. SP-5 Army 1966 to 1968 Vietnam
Bunn, Gerald D. Staff Sergeant Air Force 1967 to 1971
Fulghum, Gerald PFC Army 1966 to 1968 Vietnam
Davis, Greadly SPEC-4 Army 1971 to 1974 Vietnam
Ruffin, Herbert, Jr. E-4 Marine Corps 1968 to 1970 Vietnam
Overton, James A., Sr. Specialist E-4 Army 1959 to 1965 Germany
King, James D. E-4 Army 1966
Lucas, James T. SPEC-5 Army 1967 to 1973
Frey, Jerry PFC Army - 25th Inf. Vietnam
Howell, Jerry O. Sergeant Air Force 1966 to 1970
Nelson, Jerry R. Sergeant Marine Corps Vietnam - Tet
Smith, Jimmy E. Sergeant Marine Corps 1968 to 1972
Wells, Jimmy D. Army 1972 to 1976
Shepard, Jimmy E-4 Army 1974 to 1978
Jenkins, John W. Sergeant Army - 1968 to 1971 9 service medals and bars
Barron, John Sergeant Army 1960 to 1968
Batchelor, Johnny H. Marine Corps Vietnam
Short, Joseph B. Lieutenant Army 1967 to 1990
Batchelor, Kenneth W. Sergeant Army 1968 to 1974 2 years in Vietnam
Ward, Kenneth “KW” E-4 Army 1973 to 1976
Jarmon, Larry E. SPEC-4 Army 1968 South Korea
COUNTRY RESTAURANT BAILEY PHARMACY Hwy. 58 • Near Country Club Your One Stop Pharmacy Open Daily 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. • Call 237-8723 For Pick-Up Service
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Webb, Randy G. Corporal Marine Corps 1973 to 1977 S. Pacific, Germany
Hardison, Leslie “Les” Airman First Class Air Force 1962 to 1966 Airplane mechanic
Davis, Linwood E. Corporal Marine Corps 1966 to 1968
Bryant, Luther, Jr. Master Sergeant Army, ‘64-’67 Army Reserve, ‘77-’04
Batchelor, Ray t. SPEC-5 Army 1966 to 1968
Edmundson, Rodney G. Airman First Class Air Force 1962 to 1965
Glover, Ronald E. Sergeant Army 1968 to 1970
Witherspon, Martin SP-4 Army 1963 to 1965 Radar Operator
Rios-Maldonado, Pablo, Sr. E-4 Army 1961 to 1964
friends david neal and quince watson, both serving in the army, met up in vietnam in 1970. Neal was stationed in thailand and watson vietnam.
Durham, Ronnie C. Sergeant Army 1968 to 1969 Nat’l Guard, ‘80-’82
Woodard, Roscoe, Jr. “Squirt” Lance Corporal Marine Corps 1967 to 1969
Barnes, Roy SPEC-5 Army 1967 to 1970
Finch, Rudy F. Staff Sergeant Air Force 1966 to 1970
Webb, Rufus L., Jr. Marine Corps 1967 to 1968 Vietnam
Godwin, Stanley H. A1C Air Force 1960 to 1964 Alaskan Air Command
Christian, Vernon W. PFC Marine Corps 1967 to 1970
McKeel, William C. E-4 Army 1968 to 1970 Bronze Star
Bradley, Woodrow, Jr. Sergeant Army - 1971 to 1977 First Signal Brigade DaNang RVN
Rogers, Zane D. SPEC-4 Army 1968 to 1970
Bulluck, William H. SPEC-4 Army 1963 to 1966
Williford, William “Billy” Army Nat’l Guard 1963 to 1969
Sunday, November 11th at 3:00pm
Lt. Col. Mavis G. cisneros served in the army nurse corps from 1954 to 1975. She received numerous medals, including a bronze star and army commendation medal.
Batts, Lee R., Jr. Corporal Marine Corps 1974 to 1978
Ford, Bobby R. Army 1947 to 1968 In Vietnam, cook to Gen. Westmoreland
We Salute Our Veterans!
Join Us As We Honor Those At Avante Who Honorably Served
FAST SERVICE ... TAKE OUT, TOO.
We are highly committed to the values of community, integrity and service, and our ultimate goal is to help our residents reach and maintain the greatest possible level of independence. Our thoughts and prayers to all who have served our country.
DONALD
ERIC
KEVIN
Hwy. 301 South • Wilson, NC OF WILSON
Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation A 5-Star Quality Care Rated Facility
1804 Forest Hills Road Wilson, NC 27893 252-237-8161
(252) 237-0972
The Veterans “Moving wall” in washington dc, submitted in honor of vietnam veteran William R. O’Briant, 1st Airborne, Army Sergeant Bobby lee richardson served in the marine corps from 1980 to 1987.
Blair, Larry O. Sergeant Marine Corps 1981 to 1985
Jones, Riddick Army 1990
Garnett, Roscoe Air Force 1958
Sergeant major james e. lamm served in the army from 1959 to 1982.
Pender, Larry D. SPEC-4 Army 1975 to 1979
Harris, Billy Corporal Army 1984 to 1986
Mincey, George E-4 Army 1980s
Adams, Mark F. E-4 Air Force 1982 to 1986
Stem, Jasper G. Airman First Class Air Force 1956 to 1960
Black, Michael J. Sergeant Marine Corps- 10 yrs. MP, Presidential Helicopter Squadron
Edwards, Johnny R. E-4 Army 1978 to 1981
Woodall, Robert M. Captain Marines, ‘72-’84 Nat’l Guard, ‘86-’96
Ward, Ronald “Ronnie” E-5 Army 1981 to 1995
J. Alan overton, pictured on the right, served as a petty officer in the u.s. navy from may, 1984 to march, 1988.
Veterans, Thank You For Your Service! We Honor You! Harris, Jerry A. E-4 / Spec-4 Army 1976 to 1980
Neal, Kenneth E. Sergeant Air Force 1975
Dail, Robert E. SPEC-4 Army 1956 to 1958 Germany
Dolphin H. Overton, III, M.D.
1812 Glendale Drive, SW, Suite A Wilson, NC 27893 Toll Free: 888-561-2971 • Office: 252-360-4374 • Fax: 252-360-4391
Wells, Timothy Army 1979 to 1985
Jenkins, Tony “TJ” Sergeant Army 1984 to 1990
Lucas, Vernill E-6 Army 1978 to 1992
Neal, Willie L., Jr. Sergeant Army 1975 to 2001
McDougal, Anthony M. Staff Sergeant Marine Corps 1984 to 1995 Kuwait
Little, James C. Master Sergeant Air Force 1956 to 1978 Vietnam
V E T E RAN S
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Our deepest gratitude and admiration to those who have served our country with honor, dignity, pride and sacrifice
Private Second Class Jayson wain bacott served in the army in 2003 and was stationed at Ft. jackson, sc.
the photo of Sergeant Benjamin williams above was taken this summer during his tour in afghanistan. williams is in B company, 1-508 Parachute infantry regiment, 4th brigade combat team, 82nd airborne.
Alston, Charles A., Jr. Army 1992 to 1994
Newby, Bernard Drill Sergeant Marine Corps 1958 to 1994 Vietnam
Salazar, R. GMG Navy 1996 to 2000
Harris, Corey C. Sergeant Air Force 1989 to 1993
Smith, Jimmie E., Jr. Lance Corporal Marine Corps 1990 to 1993
Wells, Roger L. Army 1977 to 1992
Wells, Tommie, Jr. Army 1989 to 1994
Jones, Victor V. E-4 Army 1988 to 1992 Desert Storm
Mays, William H., III E-5 Marine Corps 1988 to 1991 Desert Storm
Pender, Michael A. Staff Sergeant Army 1995 to Present
Kubas, Robert E. NC Nat’l Guard Present 42nd CST (WMD)
Davis, Justin K. SPC Army 2010 to Present
Best, Rashod D. Sergeant Army 1999 to 2006 Iraq / Afghanistan
Barnes, William E. SPC Army Christmas Cut Outs 1989 to 1993 Christmas Candy Coming Soon CHRISTMAS TREES
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soldier’s best friend Official records indicate the lives of as many as ten thousand soldiers were saved in Vietnam due to the actions of K-9 Teams. On President’s Day, February 21, 2000, a memorial dedication service was held at March Field Air Museum at Riverside, CA. A statue of a K-9 Handler and his dog was unveiled. The statue stands 16 feet tall and is ten feet wide at the base. Story and information provided courtesy of the vietnam security police association, inc. www.vspa.com
‘Welcome Home King’ By chad raper special to the veterans day section
The words on the screen were now invisible, obscured by the ocean of tears in my eyes. After 32 years the Email had just revealed what had happened to King. King, serial number 326F, was an eighty-five-pound German Shepherd, trained as a United States Air Force Sentry Dog, who along with his handler, Sgt. Chris Raper, was sent to South Vietnam in December of 1966. The recent airing of the documentary, “War Dogs,” on television’s Discovery Channel had again opened wounds caused by my experiences in Vietnam, America’s most unpopular war. The scenes of handlers with their dogs on patrol, and the abandonment of these dogs by the military, after the war was over, caused long suppressed emotions to surface. Immediately after the show I posted a short story and message on the War Dogs website, (war-dogs. com). I requested information from anyone who might have been assigned to my old unit, the 31st Security Police Squadron, at Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam in 1966-1967. It was a desperate search for information that might, just might be able to allow me to know what had happened to King. I spent many hours, unsuccessfully, searching web sites for information about King until I found the website for the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, There I met Tom Mitchell, one of the Association’s officers. Not only was Tom instrumental in starting VDHA, he was also a K-9 handler at Tuy Hoa Air Base the same time I was there! I sent Tom an e-mail and waited . Over the next few days I thought of the two and one-half year’s King and I had worked together. We first became a team in July of 1965 at Glasgow Air Force Base in northeastern Montana. King’s handler had been recently discharged from the Air Force and I had been selected to be King’s new handler. After eight weeks of intensive training, we were a working K-9 Sentry Dog Team. King was trained to detect intruders, alert his handler and attack the intruder if necessary. I reflected on our time spent together at Glasgow AFB
and the almost unbearable weather conditions — extremes of cold and heat that would test the endurance of the best. Patrols were from sundown until sun-up but the dogs never complained, just their handlers. I learned to rely upon and trust King’s acute senses and at the same time, King learned to trust and protect me. Neither of us knew at the time that our ultimate challenge lay ahead, in a far away country called Vietnam. The war in Southeast Asia was intensifying daily and more K-9 teams were being sent to Vietnam. Just two weeks before Christmas of 1966, King and I boarded a C-130 for the long flight to Vietnam. I still remember being cold on the flight over and a flight crew-member passing out blankets. It was the last time I would be cold for a long time. Arriving at the sprawling Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon in sweltering heat and humidity, King and I were quick to be introduced to the dangers of war. Just a few nights before our arrival, a sentry dog and his handler were wounded, during an attack by Viet Cong guerrillas. The handler, seriously wounded, was evacuated to
a hospital in Japan. His dog, Nemo, had lost an eye in the attack and was later sent to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, home of the Air Force Sentry Dog School. Nemo, was just one of less than two hundred war dogs of the more than four thousand that served in Vietnam to return to the states. For hundreds of other K-9’s, like King, it was a one way trip. I was both saddened and frightened from the day’s events. The life of this twentyyear-old airman, ten thousand miles from home, was changed forever. That day, before leaving King at the kennels, I hugged him tightly. I think that was when I realized just how attached to one another King and I had become. King and I were sent to Tuy Hoa Air Base, which was located near the coastal town of Tuy Hoa, 285 miles northeast of Saigon. The base was being hastily prepared for the arrival of F-100 jets and for the next year it would be our home. Our time there was spent looking for infiltrators, saboteurs and protecting the outer perimeters of the base from penetration by Viet Cong guerrilla units. It was best described as a sort of “no mans land,” where anything that moved was probably the enemy, and where King and I became a
vital part of the base’s first line the illuminating skyline of of defense. the distant mountains of the Central Highlands, caused by I remembered our nights the B-52 bombers President on patrol in the inky darkness Johnson committed to the war of the monsoon nights, when effort in the summer of 1967. the moon would not appear I remembered the sounds and for weeks. This was a time sights of “Puff the Dragon,” that was valued by the enemy an AC-47 gun ship. Equipped because they could operate with mini-guns, “Puff” would more easily undetected. I refly in a circle above the target membered the torrential rains area, firing six thousand and the times I would allow bullets per minute, to help King to seek shelter under my drive away the attacking Viet poncho. I remembered the Cong. I remembered how C-ration meals we shared to- King’s eyes followed the red gether, while others were able tracer bullets as they formed to sleep or go to the “mess unintelligible characters on area” for hot meals. I remem- their downward spiral. I bered the long, hot and humid remembered the hastily dug summer nights, that would fox holes we shared and how cause rust to form on my I would pray that the bullets CAR-15 rifle, but cleaning it missed us and I believe that if became secondary to King’s dogs could pray King would needs. I remembered the two have said a prayer for me canteens of water I carried, too! I remembered the rising one for King and one for me. sun that signaled the end of When King’s was empty I another night on patrol and would share mine with him. King’s excitement when he I remembered the dry season saw the truck coming that when I would spend hours would take us to the kennels. removing ticks from King’s I remembered the trip back to coat and using a torch to burn the kennels, riding in silence, them from the kennels ceas we were too tired to talk, ment block walls. I rememand how King would seem to bered the sounds of war we know that danger, at least for a shared, the constant flights of while, was absent. In minutes helicopters and the medical, he would be sleeping soundly “dust-offs,” that brought in with his head on my lap. the dead and wounded from the battlefields. We witnessed I remembered the night I the thundering explosions and visited King at the kennels
for the last time and how I tried so desperately to explain why I was going home and he could not go with me. Somehow I knew he did not understand, even as he licked the tears from my cheeks. The walk from the kennels to the living quarters was only a few hundred yards, but in many ways it was longer than the trip home to America the next day. In my heart I knew King would not survive the stress of the war much longer as he was almost eight years old, and for a “war dog” that was old. The tears now were as real as they were then. Wiping them away, I reread the Email - “King 326-F died of a heat stroke in August of 1968. He was eight years old.” King lived only eight months after I left him. The guilt of leaving King and not knowing what happened to him had lived with me all these years. My only consolation is in knowing that because of King there are fewer names on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. King, one of America’s forgotten heroes, will live forever in my heart. Welcome home King 326-F. The war is now over for me too!
Wilson soldier recovering from bomb blasT Sgt. William Lamm, a Hunt High grad, recounts Oct. 23 explosion in Afghanistan By Corey Friedman Times Online Editor
A U.S. Army sergeant from Wilson says he’s recovering after a roadside bomb blast pitched his armored vehicle airborne in Afghanistan late last month. Sgt. William Lamm of the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment was injured when an improvised explosive device detonated as his Stryker armored vehicle returned from a southern Afghan village Oct. 23, he said Friday. “The only thing I remember was my platoon leader mentioning something about seeing a guy he said he had seen in a different area,” Lamm said. “The next thing I remember, I woke up on the ground.” Lamm said the five soldiers in the armored vehicle escaped with broken bones, cuts and scrapes. He suffered a broken humerus, which caused nerve damage to his right hand, a traumatic brain injury and cuts to his face and legs. “We all lived,” he said. “None of us got hurt extremely bad.” Lamm received the Purple Heart and the Army Combat Action Badge, he said. Military officials couldn’t confirm details of the IED attack in time for this story. The Army’s public affairs office referred questions to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, which did not immediately return messages.
‘SHOCK AND DISBELIEF’ Lamm grew up in Wilson and graduated from Hunt High School in 2005. His mother, Vicki Brkic, said she learned of Lamm’s injury through a phone call last week. She described her reaction as one of “shock and disbelief.” “It’s absolutely horrible to know that
they’ve been injured, and you don’t exactly know where they’re at, what their condition is,” Brkic said. “You get bits and pieces for a few days.” Lamm’s mother was frightened, but now she feels fortunate. “We’re very lucky,” she said, “because there’s a lot of people not coming home.” Brkic said she can’t bear to watch news reports of American troops fighting in Afghanistan. “I would not be able to function if I had to watch the news every day,” she said. “That’s all I would do is worry about him. I have to put him in God’s hands. As much as I worry about him, this is what he signed up for. It’s his job and his responsibility, and I’m very proud of him.” After the attack, Lamm said he was hospitalized overnight at the Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Officials transferred him to the Bagram Airfield, he said, and he also received treatment in Germany and Texas before returning to his duty station. Lamm is stationed at Joint Base LewisMcChord outside Tacoma, Wash. He is recuperating at his home on the base with his wife, Beth, and his children, 3-year-old Ryleigh and 1-year-old Ryder. “I’m comfortable,” he said Friday, four days after returning home. “I’m sitting on my couch watching basketball. I’m glad to be home and just kind of hanging out.” The explosion brought Lamm face to face with mortality and made him reflect on the importance of family. “It makes you appreciate things a lot more — things you might have taken for granted earlier in life,” he said. “Just going on deployment and coming back, you learn to focus on the little things that make you happy.”
‘BEST JOB IN THE WORLD’ Lamm works as a unit supply soldier, but he said he was filling in for a chaplain’s assistant on the day of the explosion. Five members of his platoon were returning from distributing surveys in an Afghan village to determine residents’ needs, he said. “We’re still over there doing our jobs,” he said. “We’re trying to help the Afghan people fend for themselves.” The roadside bomb blast came during the seventh month of a 9-month deployment, Lamm said. This was his second tour in Afghanistan. Lamm was in the firefighter training program at Wilson Community College before enlisting in the Army. “I wanted to see the world, and it seemed like the best way,” he said. “I enjoy every part of being a soldier. This is the best job in the world.” Lamm is thankful for the outpouring of support his family’s received. Friends set up a charitable fund, Love for the Lamms, through the State Employees Credit Union.
Donations to the fund will help the Lamms pay for day care and transportation when William Lamm has doctor appointments and help the family make ends meet during his recovery. “I would just like to say thank you to everyone who helped out,” Lamm said. Contributions to the Love for the Lamms Fund can be made at any State Employees Credit Union branch. “The community has been absolutely wonderful with all the support and prayers,” Brkic said. “There are just so many agencies and so many people. Everyone has reached out to see what they can do.” Brkic said her daughter-in-law and grandchildren recently visited her in Wilson while her son was deployed. She’s planning to visit her son at his Washington home in about two weeks. “I’m going to give him a big kiss,” she said. “I haven’t seen him since last April.” [This article originally appeared in the Wilson Times on November 3, 2012.]