THE LAND OF HEROES
The Silver Star Medal, the nation’s third highest medal for heroism, is issued to those persons who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Seventeen Laurens County men have been awarded the highly regarded medal during World War II. Three of them were awarded two Silver Stars. They are: Lt. Robert T. Adams, USAAF; Corporal James W. Bedingfield, USMC (LEFT) ; Captain Walter Bedingfield, USA; Lt. Cary Braddy, USA; Captain Bobbie E. Brown, USA (2 awards) Charles E. Harrison, USA); Lamar C. Hogan, USA; Dr. Milo Holden, USA; Captain Will Henry Jones, USMC; Tech Sgt. Johnnie Rowland, USA; Lt. Paul Jimmy Scarboro, USAAF; 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; Tech Sgt. Thurman Wyatt, USA; and Sgt. Frank Zetterower, Jr., USA.
The Distinguished Flying Cross, also 5th in order of precedence, has been awarded to at least twenty-one former Laurens Countians. Among them are: Lt. Lucian Bob Shuler, a former Cadwell High School basketball coach, was an ace, having shot down seven Japanese planes in combat. Captain Shuler (LEFT) was awarded eleven Distinguished Flying Crosses and nineteen Air Medals. Lt. Garrett Jones - heroism in aerial battle by piloting his crippled bomber under the attack of at least 20 German fighter planes back to its base and in the process saving the lives of himself and his entire crew. Lt. Col. Ezekiel W. Napier of Laurens County, a graduate of West Point, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and retired from the Air Force in 1959 as a Brigadier General. Lt. Arlie W. Claxton won the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943. Captain Alvin A. Warren, Jr., of Cadwell, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying 70 missions in the Indo-China Theater night and day through impassable mountain ranges and high clouds. Flight officer Emil E. Tindol also received the same award, just days before he was killed in action while “flying the hump” - a term used for flying over the gigantic mountain ranges of India and Burma.
Among the other World War II veterans who wore the DSC were Staff Sergeant James W. Haywood, tail gunner who served on 25 missions on a B-17 in Europe. Izzie Bashinski, Jr., radioman and gunner on 51 missions in Asia. W.J. Gay, (LEFT) a tail and waiust gunner, who was awarded the medal at the age of 20. Roy D. Wilkes, a Navy pilot, James A. Wright, Wallace A. Walke, Jr. Edsel Hobbs, Cecil Taylor, Henry Grady Neal, Dr. William Daniel, Sgt. Mack Fitzgerald, Lt. Joseph d. Beam, Jr., Mack Bankston, and Col. Marion Rodgers, a post-war commander of the Red Tails unit of the Tuskegee Airmen.
America is a land of heroes. Laurens County, Georgia is a land of heroes too. Only one man in the 212-year history of Laurens County has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for heroism in combat. His name is Captain Bobbie E. Brown, who was one only 22 Georgians who received the ultimate award during World War II. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Brown (LEFT) received 2 Silver Stars, a Bronze Star for Valor, and seven purple hearts (13 wounds) and is in a virtual medal tie with Audie Murphy, generally regarded as America’s greatest hero of World War II.
Second highest in the degree of heroism is the Distinquished Service Cross or the Navy Cross. Bill Brown, of Dexter, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I. Commander Robert Braddy, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, was awarded the Navy Cross, our nation’s second highest honor for naval heroism, for his actions in North Africa in November of 1942. Rear Admiral Braddy retired from the service in 1951.
Captain William C. Thompson was awarded a Silver Star, two Gold Stars, a Navy Cross and a Bronze Star for his outstanding naval submarine service. Captain Thompson was the executive officer aboard the submarine Bowfin, which was credited with sinking the second highest Japanese tonnage on a single war patrol. Thompson was aboard the U.S.S. Sealion when it was struck by Japanese planes at Cavite, Philippines. The submarine was the first American submarine to be lost in World War II. Both men are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Sgt. Frank Zetterower, Jr.
During the Korean War, three men received the decoration: Lt. Col. Robert L. Hawkins, USA; Sgt Wesley L. Hodges, USA; Lt. Col. George Alton O’Neal, Jr., USA;
Silver Stars were awarded to Vietnam servicemen Benny Andrews, Jr. USA, Jerry Wayne Gurka, USN., Col. Addison Hogan, (S. Vietnam) USA, Lt. Col. Clyde Stinson, USA (2 awards, one posthumously awarded); Capt. Fred M. Stuckey, USA; and Major James F. Wilkes, USAF (2 awards).
Major James Wilkes
James Durward Barnett, a one time resident of Laurens County, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1925. He retired as a U.S. Army Colonel. Colonel (Quartermaster Corps) James Durward Barnett, United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit (nation’s fifth highest honor) for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, 77th Ordnance Base Group, from 1944 to 1945.
Col. John Whitehead
During the Korean War, Col. John Whitehead, a Tuskegee Airman who became the first African-American test pilot in the U.S. Air Force, was awarded the DFC six times.
In Vietnam, John Popovich, Sr. David L. Green, Jr. Danny Collins, Shanon P. Dunlap, and Wayne Powell were recipients of the coveted flyer’s award.
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, and Captain William C. Thompson, United States Navy
Collectively Laurens Countians in less than a century have been One medal of honor, the nation’s highest award; (2nd) Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross, 3 men; (3rd) Silver Stars, 27 men, 32 total awards; (4th) Legion of Merit, 1; (5th) 37 Distinguished Flying Crosses by 27 men. The names included herein surely are not all of the major awards given to native or temporary Laurens Countians. The vast number does show that the people of this county do answer the call of duty to our country and they serve with honor, dignity, and pride.
On this Veteran’s Day, let us all salute all of our veterans for their service and their heroism. Some, or many, may disagree, but to me they are all heroes in a land of heroes.
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