Day of honor…
Woody Carpenter uses a pointer to identify articles on the POW/MIA as George Mills explains their meaning. | Clif Knight
Purple Heart recipients from Morgan and Cullman Counties were singled out for special recognition at the Purple Heart Memorial in Hartselle’s Sparkman Park on Saturday.
The memorial service was sponsored by the Finis J. Self Chapter of the Order of the Purple Heart and was attended by more than 150 veterans, elected officials and family members and friends of Purple Heart recipients.
Key speaker Brigadier General Joseph Stringham gave a brief history of the Purple Heart award and challenged veterans and their families and friends to honor and protect its legacy.
“The Purple Heart decoration is the one that is most frequently awarded and probably the one that is most often abused,” he stated. “There is probably an equal number of our brothers who were wounded in battle but chose to remain with their units. When questioned as to why they didn’t make their wound a matter of record they simply shrugged it off and said they were just glad to be alive.”
“Unfortunately,” he added, “the theft of decorations has crept into the forces. “We must guard against it; it’s our legacy.”
Stringham also spoke out against the leak of top security information at the national level.
“When this happens,” he pointed out, “it puts our military forces at risk. “Most of the time when it happens the guilty party has never heard a shot fired in battle.”
A highlight of the service was the calling out of the names of Purple Heart recipients found inscribed on the memorial’s monuments. Four public officials participated as name callers. They were Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley, State Representatives Ed Henry of Hartselle and Mac Buttram of Cullman and Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long.
As each name was called, a bell was sounded and a commemorative Purple Heart flag was presented to a family member or a friend in attendance.
Among those receiving a flag was Faye Ackerman of Hartselle. Her uncle, James David Player, a Marine, was killed in action at Okinawa .She was accompanied by World War II vet Dewitt Miller Sr. who served in both the Navy and Army.
“I think this is wonderful,” Miller said. “It’s educational for our young people.”
The colors were posted by members of the Priceville High School JROTC and members of the Patriot Guard stood with American flag during the entire service.
SFC Donna Johnson sang the National Anthem and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic and Nell Baker sang “Spirit of America,” a song she wrote. Steve Larsen played Taps at the close of the service.
Clifford Gissell, commander of Chapter 2212, gave the welcome and made closing remarks. George Mills, a World War II POW presented the POW/MIA table with the assistance of Woody Carpenter.
Father Patrick Egan of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church gave the opening prayer.
Purple Heart recipients honored are listed as follows:
Lyle Absher-WW2, Paul Absher-WW2, Ottis F. Alford-Korea, Alfred J. Ashford Jr.-VN, Kermit C. Barnett-WW2, Lloyd C. Bates-WW2, David A. Bean-WW2, Billy Joe Beard-VN, Dexter Bell-VN, Baskem Bennett-WW2, Royce Bennett-WW2, Robert J. Blair-WW2, Chester W. Blankenship-WW2, Theron A. Blankenship-WW2, Ray Bowlan-WW2/Korea-Ulyes Bowman-WW2/Korea/VN, Cornis Bradford-WW2, Warren Brindley-WW2, Charles W Brown-WW2;
John S. Burnett-WW2, Ernest D. Burrow-WW2, Howard E. Bynum-WW2, Athel Calvert-WW2, Marion D. Calvert-VN, William E. Cammon-WW2, James Caretti-WW2, Joseph L. Chambers-WW2, R.M. Chenault-WW2, William A. Cheuvront-WW2, Ashford H. Cjristopher-WW2, Ausie Clement-VN, Grover A. Cobb-WW2/POW, M.L. Cox-Korea, Zelma Curnel, WW2, Earl Davis- WW2, Warren F. Dingler-WW2;
Bluit A. Drain-WW2, Jimmy C. Elrod-VN, James M. Eubanks-WW2, Raymond Everly-WW2/Korea/ VN, Willie W. Foshee-WW2, Marvin H. Galin-WW2, Charles G. Glasscock-WW2, Willie E. Glasscock-WW2, Troy R. Glenn-Iraq, Charles G. Glover-WW2, John D. Greene-VN, O’Neal Greenhill-WW2, Erskine L. Grigsby, VN, Sheba Harbison-WW2, Macon Hardwick-WW2, Gary Harris-VN, James F. Hawkins-WW2, Uyless V. Haynes-WW2, William A. Hendon-Korea/VN;
James E. Higdon-WW2, James Hoffman-WW2, Russell A. Holcomb-WW2, Luther F. Holmes-WW2; Joe R. Hooper-VN/Medal of Honor. Robert P. Hopkns-WW2, Lonie Horton-WW2/POW, Hartwell R. Howington-WW2, James Hughes-WW2, Bruce M. Hurt-Korea, Richard J. Hyche Sr.-WW2; James D. Johnson-WW2, James P. Jpohnson-WW2, John P. Jones-WW2, Marion A. Jones-WW2, Ottis Kilgo-WW2, Billy R. Laney-VN, William F. Lessman-WW2, Jon-Erik Loney-Iraq, Erskine L. Maddox-WW2, George E. Mann-WW2, Albert O. Mayhall-VN, Joseph A. McAnnally-WW2, Sammie G. McAnnally-WW2, George D, McCall-WW2;
Darril R. McNeal-WW2, Carl E. Meton-WW2, Melvin W. Miller, WW2, Joan A. Molitor-Korea/POW, Travis Nelson. Iraq, Arthur L. Nesmith-WW2, Clarence D. Nicholson-WW2, Freeman L. Norwqood-WW2/POW, Fred Nothdurft-WW2, Henry G. Nunn-WW1, Jim D. Perry-VN, Verbon Pinyan-WW2, James D. Player-WW2, James Prater-VN., Frank Puckett Jr., WW2, Rube E. Puckett-WW2, J.C. Queen-WW2/POW. Vonnie O. Quick-WW2, John R. Racster-WW2;
Carlton Ragsdale-WW2, Joshua Rath-Afghanistan, Millard C. Reeves-WW2, Jimmy L. Riddle-VN, Arville L. Rollins-WW2, Robert Q. Rollins-WW2, Alvin Rose-VN, Alfred L. Sachs-WW2, Cecil Samples-WW2, Reubin Sandlin-WW2, Finis J. Self-WW2, Johnny B. Sewell, VN, H.W. Shoemaker-WW2, Charles A. Simpso0n-WW2. Harold Singleton-WW2, Gene Sivley-WW2, James L. Skalberg Jr., Afghanistan, Donald Slateen-Korea, Jonathan L. Smith-Iraq, Fred M. Speake Jr.-WW2’
Kerry L. Stephenson-VN, Coy Stinnett-WW2, Deeside H. Talley-WW2, Horace Ray Turner-WW2/POW, Marion F. Turner-WW2, Harry R. Vandercar-WW2, Leonard L. Vernon-WW2, Truman C. Ward-VN, Vernon Ward-WW2, Mel F. Watermna-WW2, Hershel Weeks-WW2, Charles H. West-WW2, Millard A. Williams-WW2; and Percy Woodard-WW2.
