World War II veteran puts country before self

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
When Dewey Welch and his wife Marion moved to Hartselle three years ago one of the first things they did was install a flag pole in their front yard at 2904 Barkley Bridge Road and raise the American flag. The reason was simple – both are proud Americans and they don’t mind showing it.
Welch was one of several Hartselle area veterans who visited Washington D.C. last month as a member of North Alabama’s fourth Honor Flight. A highlight of the trip was a visit to the World War II Memorial.
Welch, 86, joined the Army Feb. 4, 1943, as a 19-year-old Maryland resident.
As an Army recruit Welch underwent basic training at Fort McClellan near Anniston. It was there where he met and married the love of his life, Marion Spurlock. More training followed in North Carolina and Louisiana and he was later shipped overseas with an engineering unit. His unit landed in France and was stationed in Germany with responsibility for building shelters for German prisoners. The unit later had the same job to perform in the Philippine Islands and Japan
While stationed in Germany Welch came under enemy fire at a destroyed bridge on the Rhine River.
Welch was discharged Jan. 9, 1946 as a PFC. He received decorations for service in both the European Theater of Operations Southwest Theater of Operations. He later served in the Alabama National Guard for 11 years as a sergeant first class.
After re-joining his wife and son in Anniston, he was employed at the Anniston Ordinance Depot. They had another son, Jimmy, in 1950 and he retired with34 years of government service.
Welch said he is enjoying retirement while living next door to his son, Jimmy, and his family and follows daily the progress of his comrades fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.