We
used to think that if we survived Ol’ Man Winter until Groundhog Day,
we could surely coast through until spring…but we’ve witnessed the
mildest winter months I’ve ever seen in my lifetime and if Old Whistle
Pig doesn’t see his shadow this year, I’ll be fooled.
This
mild winter was good for our heating bills but it may cause more pests
for us to battle in the vegetable gardens this summer which reminds me
of the boll weevil song, “Just a’Lookin’ for a Home”.
We’ve
had a very busy week as folks are trying to beat the time deadline for
getting info on our veterans in to us. Since we decided to make this
our Founder’s Day book after we had originally set that deadline, we
thought it best to extend it a couple of weeks as some people are just
learning about the project.
I’ve
been saddened by some of the write-ups we’ve received on our veterans.
Since we are living in the “fast lane”, I fear our present generation
will forget the sacrifice our military endured, especially those who
didn’t return from the foreign battlefields so that we today can bask
in the freedom they gave their lives for. I would like to revive the
patriotism shown by those at home who did without some of the luxuries
of life to support those on the battlefield.
The
quagmire that resulted when our troops came home from Viet Nam was
very shameful to those who so gallantly served their country in that
conflict. We have troops on the battlefield today and I dare say the
protestors are playing right into the terrorist’s hands. Let’s make a
special effort to welcome them home as the heroes they are so they
won’t feel they need to shed their uniforms on the way home as many
Viet Nam veterans did so they wouldn’t be spit upon by protestors.
One
of the people we heard from this week was Lena Auxier saying her
mother was going to send info on her father, Oran Marshall, but she
believed he wasn’t eligible for our book since he was born in
Breathitt, even thought he lived the most of his life in Magoffin.
Oran was a sniper in WWII and was a POW for over a year in Germany.
We are very happy to report that Oran Marshall filed his discharge in
our county court clerk’s office, page 101, book 4 and we urge your
mother to send us pictures and info.
Oran
served from 21 Oct 1943 to 24 Nov 1945, served in Normandy, central
Europe and northern France. Yes, we can see why it would be sad
indeed, if Oran wasn’t listed among Magoffin’s heroes.
Lena
also sent these names: Boyd Manns b. 1918 in Magoffin, died at sea
near the Philippines during WWII during WWII, son of Kennis Manns and
Mary “Polly” Arnett. She says she has no photos and there was no
discharge, only that telegram. We also received from her pictures of
Leander “Lee” May, Spanish American War veteran b. 1880, son of James
Samuel May and Christine Tackett; as well as Adam “Add” Marshall b.
1894, WWI veteran, son of Anderson Marshall and Arty Minix.
Virginia Parker, dau of Hatcher and Grace (Prater) Allen wrote that
her mother passed away when she was a little girl and her dad died in
1976. Her brother Jimmie Allen was a US soldier who was killed in the
Korean Conflict. She remembers the soldier who brought the telegram
to her parents telling that Jimmie was missing in action. Her mother
died a few months later, never knowing that her brother had been
killed in a bridge explosion. Virginia says she can barely remember
the funeral. Her mother died two days after Christmas in 1951 and
Jimmie’s remains were shipped the following summer and buried in the
Hatcher Allen Cemetery, located 2 1/2 miles up the Right Fork of
Puncheon Camp road: Jimmie Allen b. 3 Nov 1930 d. 5 Jul 1950.
We
need to remember the families who received these telegrams and their
loved ones. I recall that during WWII stars were displayed in the
windows of families who had sons or daughters in the military; some
had two, three or more.
Jimmie’s mother was born Grace Prater b. 1911 d. 1951, the dau of Jim
Prater and Lulie Prater. Jimmie didn’t receive a discharge or
separation papers so we have to depend on family members, such as
Virginia, to supply pictures and info for our forthcoming book.
Let
us not forget those who gave their all for the freedom we still have.
I personally would like to visit Jimmie’s gravesite to plant an
American flag and to see if it is kept in respectful shape.
Lisa
Ludwig wrote to ask if we had received the info she sent on George
Andrew Sprague from WWII who married Roxie Bailey. George Sprague, at
age 25, son of Darius M. Sprague and Carrie Holiday, married 20 Mar
1946 to Roxie Bailey, age 19, dau of Benjamin Bailey b. 1891 and Minta
Pennington. Minta was a dau of Henderson Pennington and Nancy
Slusher. George entered service 13 Oct 1942 and was discharged 17 Dec
1945. He was born 3 Feb 1921 Harper, KY, a Private 1st
class, assigned to medical corps, central Pacific. Yes, Lisa, we have
received your information.
We
need pictures and info on any person born or lived in our county who
served in the military. We would like to have a picture in military
clothes, a picture in later life and perhaps a group picture with
family.
Michael Gibson wrote that he and his brother are both veterans. His
brother, Jeffery L. Gibson, USMC, was called to active duty during
Desert Storm. He, Michael, served in the US Navy from Feb 1984 to Nov
1995; they are sons of James Morris Gibson and Emma Harper, grandsons
of Charles “Buck” Gibson and Alma Cook and gr/grandsons of Raleigh
Gibson and Rose Crace.
Sgt.
1st Class Howard H. Patrick, b. 1949 Salyersville, KY, son
of Monroe Patrick and Rosalee Hale, enlisted 24 May 1971 in Warsaw,
IN, was discharged 1 Oct 1993, served in Indiana, Texas, Colorado,
Louisiana, Hawaii, Germany and Kentucky. This is an example of a
veteran born in Magoffin and enlisted in another state. We feel there
were many more such enlistments and we urge everyone to review their
family history and that of their neighborhood to search for anyone who
served in the military so that they are not forgotten.
We
have other projects going on at the same time such as our Good Times
Cook book, the last in the series we have printed. This one has photos
of individuals and family groups, short stories with family recipes.
We are continuing to work toward getting markers for some early
settlers. We appreciate the gift from Doris Rose of Rodeo, CA toward
the John Hamman marker and the gift from Nancy Power Tackett of
Belcher, KY which will help on other projects.
We
are also finishing the first Journal of 2006 so we invite all those
who have not done so to send in their membership dues of $14 which
entitles you to the four Journals we will print this year. Our
mailing address is Magoffin County Historical Society, Box 222,
Salyersville, KY 41465.
You may also contact us at
[email protected],
telephone 606-349-1607.
Magoffin County Historical
Society
This
article, written by Todd Preston, the president of the
Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the
February 9, 2006
issue of