 |  4th Armored Tank Division of General Patton's Third Army;Purple Heart Recipient; P.O.W. |
Uel Lloyd Arthur, born May 3, 1926 in the Farmer Community of Crosby County Texas to James Roswell Arthur and Frances Henrietta Shipman Arthur. He had a severe case of whopping cough when he was three days old and was not expected to live. He had seven older siblings, Morene Arthur Phipps, Benjamin Samuel Arthur, James Roswell Arthur Jr., Philip Earnest Arthur, Francine Goleta Arthur Moore, Ezra Lee Arthur Jones Kreutzer, Juanita A. Arthur Lackey Perkins, a younger brother Aaron Richard (Whizzer) Arthur.
He attended grade school at New Home, four miles North of Ralls, Crosby County Texas. A farming accident almost cost him his right arm. Doctors wanted to amputate at elbow. His dad objected and told them to sew it up. It mended very well. He had full use but could not straighten it completely.
Before finishing high school he was inducted into the Army at Fort Bliss El Paso, Texas in October 1949. He had basic training there then moved to Camp Walters at Mineral Well Texas. He got leave for Christmas/New Years holidays and married January 1st 1945 to Dorothy Fay Davis, born May 20 1927, daughter of Paul Franklin Davis and Althea Pearl Cox Davis. After completing training in March 1945 he was sent to New York to board The Queen Elizabeth. The ship zig zaged every seven to ten seconds, it was unaccompanied because of its speed. When near Ireland the ship was met by ferries to transfer troupes into Ireland to board other ships to Southampton England, crossed the English Channel into France. Uel was assigned to Company A and was placed in a school house for the night. That night the school house had mortar attack. Three nights later they were assigned to General Patton's Third Army, 4th Armored Division and was sent on a mission to attack a German Prison Camp to free Patton's son-in- law. An account of this mission in "Raid the untold story of Patton's Secret Mission", by Richard Baron, Major Abe Baum and Richard Goldhurst. Uel was on the lead tank going to Oflag X111 B. Oflag was on the opposite end of a bridge the point of ambush. He was on the back of the lead tank with no protection he was blown off. He got shrapnel in his forehead, foot and ankle. His ankle swelling where he could not take his combat boots off. Company A was taken prisoners on March 26, 1945. They marched by day to stay behind the firing line. At night they stayed in hog houses or pens. Both feet were frost bitten. Very little sunshine, quite a bit of rain by day, and snow by night. This was Germany's coldest winter in forty (40) years. The prisoners were given a small potato per day. He was returned to allied Military Control the last day of April 1945. He stayed in Germany waiting for transportation to LaHarve, France. He returned to the states by troupe ship Commander Benson on June 12, 1945 at Newark, N.J. He reported to Fort Bliss and received a month furlough. He reported to Baltimore Resort at Santa Barbara, California. He was transferred to Fort Ord, California for eight months as acting sergeant of barracks and supply sergeant for the Pacific Theatre of War. He was issued Distinguished Unit Badge. European , Africian and Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon. Presidential Citation and Purple Heart. Uel received an honorable discharge at Camp Beal, California on May 6, 1945.
Uel worked in the oil field at Borger a short time and as a mechanic in Ralls. He then worked on a farm for several years. Then bought some eight hundred acres and rented two thousand acres near Ralls. His two sons took over the farming when he retired. His daughter became a P.E. teacher and a basketball coach. Uel had multiple health problems and passed away March 22, 2005.
Transcribed by Grace Ashley
Services for Uel L. Arthur, 78, of Ralls will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 24, 2005, at the Ralls First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Hubbard and the Rev. Larry Reed-Parris officiating. Burial will follow in the Ralls Cemetery under direction of Adams Funeral Home in Ralls.
Uel passed away Tuesday, March 22, at the Ralls Nursing Home.
He was born May 3, 1926 in the Farmer Community to James Roswell and Frances (Shipman) Arthur. He was a member of the Ralls First United Methodist Church, the Friendship Sunday School Class and served on the board of directors and was past president of the Evangelist Ministries Association. He also served on the board of directors of the Pleasant Hill Gas Lines and the Ralls Historical Museum. His family was recognized as Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year, and they were the first couple to be honored as Mr. and Mrs. Cotton Boll. He loved to work on antique cars and was well known for his home-ground corn meal. Uel lived for his grandchildren. Uel served in the 4th Armored Tank Division of General Patton's Third Army. He was wounded, receiving a Purple Heart and was also a P.O.W. He is preceded in death by four brothers, J.R., A.R. "Whizzer", Ben and Philip; and two sisters, Morene Phipps and Izora Lee Kretzer.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy of Ralls; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Lonnie, and Lloyd and Angela, all of Ralls; a daughter, Kena Arthur of Littlefield; two sisters, Oleta Moore of Ralls, and Juanita Perkins of San Antonio; four grandchildren, David, Brady, Makayla and Jadeyn Arthur, all of Ralls.
The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, at Adams Funeral Home in Ralls.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to VistaCare, 1010 Slide Rd. Lubbock, TX 79416-4410 or to the Ralls First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 447, Ralls, TX 79357.
©Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Wednesday, March 23, 2005
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