LAURENS COUNTY’S
SILVER STAR RECIPIENTS
The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States, which does not justify being included in a higher award. The award, the third highest honor in the Armed Forces, may be awarded to a member of the Armed Forces who distinguishes himself by extraordinary heroism in an action against an enemy of the United States, military operations involving conflict without an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces in an armed conflict against an opposing force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
Over the last century, Twenty seven native Laurens Countians or residents have received the Silver Star for their extraordinary heroism. With three multiple award recipients, the total number of Silver Stars awarded to Laurens Countians remains at the phenomenal number of thirty. Six of these men lost their lives in action.
WORLD WAR I
Lt. Ossie F. Keen, USA
WORLD WAR II
Lt. Robert T. Adams, USAAF
Corporal James W. Bedingfield, USMC, also awarded Gold Star.
Captain Walter Bedingfield, USA
Lt. Cary Braddy, USA (posthumously awarded)
Captain Bobbie E. Brown, USA (2 awards), also awarded Congressional Medal of Honor.
Lamar Hogan, USA
Dr. Milo Holden, USA
Captain Will Henry Jones, USMC (posthumously awarded)
Tech Sgt. Johnnie Rowland, USA
Lt. Paul Jimmy Scarboro, USAAF (posthumously awarded)
Lt. William L. Sheftall, USAAF
Capt. Raymond Talbird, USA (2 awards)
Captain William C. Thompson, (2 awards) USN
Master Sergeant George Walker, Jr. USA
Tech Sgt. Luther Word, USA (posthumously awarded)
Tech Sgt. Thurman Wyatt, USA
Sgt. Frank Zetterower, Jr., USA (posthumously awarded)
KOREAN WAR
Lt. Col. Robert L. Hawkins, USA
Sgt Wesley L. Hodges, USA
Lt. Col. George Alton O’Neal, Jr., USA
VIETNAM WAR
R. Benny Andrews, Jr. USA
Jerry Wayne Gurka, USN
Col. Addison Hogan, USA
Lt. Col. Clyde Stinson, USA (2 awards, one posthumously awarded)
Capt. Fred M. Stuckey, USA
Major James F. Wilkes, USAF
By their branches of service the highest decorated veterans are; Capt. Bobbie E. Brown, US Army, Major James F. Wilkes, United States Air Force, Corp James W. Bedingfield, US Marine Corps, Captain, United States Navy.
Let us not forget the selfless contributions that these Laurens County men gave so freely. Their heroism in times of need affirm that when the times demand, Laurens Countians step forward to do what is right and just. If you research these awards among those of Georgians from similar size counties to Laurens, you will find those lists are much shorter than those of Laurens County, the land I love.
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