RETIRED ASHEBORO FIRE CHIEF INADVERTENT WITNESS TO WORLD HISTORY

“I am the last person on earth who can tell this story first person,” said 93-year old John McGlohon.  His audience overflowed the Asheboro Public Library to the point I suspected the Fire Department might ask some to leave. 

JOHN MCGLOHON LOOKS OVER MAXINE FEREBEE PRUITT'S MEMORABILIA
HER BROTHER, TOM, WAS BOMBARDIER ON ENOLA GAY

That concern became moot when the Asheboro mayor introduced McGlohon, “John started as a voluntary firefighter in 1948, came on full-time with fire department in 1955, and retired in 1985 as fire chief.  He also served 18 years on the Asheboro City Council.” 

Obviously, no one would be leaving at the Fire Department's bequest until the chief had his say.

When a standing room only crowd turns out on a steamy summer evening – for a speech by a retired public servant – expectations rise.  John McGlohon fulfilled all expectations, and more.

He and his older brother, Robert Ashley McGlohon, were born in Guilford County but the family moved to Asheboro when the boys were very young.  The older brother became an Army Air Forces bombardier and killed in action during World War II.

As a photographic specialist, Technical Sergeant John McGlohon flew reconnaissance/mapping missions over South America while mapping the Southern Ferry Route to Europe.  He helped map the Alaska Highway and chart the air route over The Hump between India and China. 

THIS B-29 CREW SURVIVED BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
T/SGT JOHN MCGLOHON IS THIRD FROM LEFT (STANDING)

The August 6, 1945 mission for his B-29 crew was to map Japanese coastlines in preparation for the Invasion of Japan.

While McGlohon’s crew took off from Guam on their 15-hour mission, another Tarheel’s B-29 took off from Tinian.  Mocksville’s Tom Ferebee was the bombardier aboard that aircraft, the Enola Gay.  Neither of the B-29 crews realized the other was in the air.

The Enola Gay made history that day – for McGlohon’s aircraft – not so much.  At least, not so much for 50 years.

Per McGlohon, “Back on Guam that evening, we learned about the Hiroshima bombing.  Having seen and photographed the humongous blast, we surmised a bomb had hit a fuel or ammunition dump – my photos would verify the hit for the pilot.

In those days, film came in 9½ inch by 500 foot long rolls.  I didn’t stick around for processing, since the word was out that the war would end soon.  I didn’t even get to say goodbye to all my crew-members.

Nagasaki was hit on August 9, Japan surrendered on September 2.  I was back home in Asheboro by October 5, 1945.  I haven’t had the urge to leave since.”

T/SGT JOHN MCGLOHON

McGlohon told family and friends about his Hiroshima photographs, “A few newspapers carried my story.  I made a good number of talks.  The military higher-ups remained in denial – I couldn’t have cared less.”

Over 50 years after taking the only close-range photos of the Hiroshima mushroom cloud, McGlohon attended a reunion of his outfit in Tampa, “I walked in and saw the photograph I had taken displayed on the wall!  It was still labeled top secret, and dated August 6, 1945.  I told my wife, that’s the photo I took!”

While McGlohon, the only surviving crew member, has quietly maintained his resolve about the photo over the decades, questions and accusations have come and gone.  As Joe Knox wrote in the Greensboro Daily News on August 3, 1975, “It was an accident.  It was a mistake.  They (3^rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron) shouldn’t have been there.”

On a brighter side, Chatham County’s Ken Samuelson interceded for John McGlohon.  After two years of interviews and meticulous research, Samuelson documented McGlohon’s claim to his photo taken over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.  Among other things, Samuelson discovered McGlohon’s photo had been published by a military newspaper as early as August 11, 1945 – with no credit to the photographer.

McGlohon now has the rest of the story – an officer in the Guam Army film laboratory saved the film and brought it back to the States after the war.  Following his death, it was donated to the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum in Tyler, Texas.

HOMETOWN HERO, JOHN MCGLOHON, DREW STANDING ROOM ONLY CROWD

McGlohon married a former Army nurse cadet in training, Marietta Jane Gellback, on April 30, 1948.  She is now deceased.  They were active members of Asheboro’s First United Methodist Church.  They had two sons, Bob and Steve, two grands, and five great-grand-children.

After the war, McGlohon operated an Asheboro photography studio for several years and even served a stint as photographer for the Greensboro Daily News.

 

     

OLYMPIAN IN OUR MIDST

While Colonel Guy Troy, U.S. Army (Retired) was a late bloomer as a modern pentathlon athlete, it did not keep him from winning a gold medal in the very first Pan American Games 1951 in Buenos Aires.  It wasn’t lost on Troy that another Armored Army officer finished fifth overall in the same sport in the 1912 Olympics at Stockholm.  That soldier’s name was Patton.

“Having served as a Cavalry Platoon Leader in Europe, I would have been happy if the Army had sent me directly to the Korean War from Buenos Aires after the Pan-Am Games.  Instead, they sent me to West Point to form and recruit a modern pentathlon team and start training for the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki,” Troy recalled from his home in Liberty, North Carolina.

Perchance you know more about shooting baskets or pool than pentathloning, here are the Cliff’s Notes of competitive events: Fencing, pistol shooting, 200 meter free-style swim, 4000 meter horseback ride with 25 jumps, and 4000 meter cross-country run.

During Olympic try-outs, player/coach Troy did well his first two days, “I was first in fencing, second in shooting, and sixth in swimming.  I was about six years older than most of the runners and came in eighth.  My wheels did not run off in the horseback competition, but my horse did – she fell about half way to the finish line.”

TROY POINTS TO TAG REPRESENTING
 HORSE HE DREW IN 1952 OLYMPICS

Troy finished fourteenth in individual completion and coached his team to a fourth place position in those 1952 Summer Olympics, “Actually, we tied with Finland for third, but they won the bronze medal because they beat us in the cross-country.”

He holds no grudges against his Olympic steed, “That horse had some age on her.  She did the best she could.  After all, she was one of 14 hand-me-downs sent to us from Fort Riley, Kansas.”

At 93, and retired to his Liberty, North Carolina farm, Troy is still an Olympic enthusiast.  “Will I be watching the events in Rio de Janeiro?  You bet!”  

FORMER OLYMPIAN GUY TROY RECEIVED
EARLY COPY OF 2016 PROGRAM FROM RIO

He has served in many Olympic capacities, including event judging in 1972, 1980, 1984 and 1990.  He fondly recalls witnessing the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid. 

Even though the Pan American Games and Olympic competition kept Troy from Korea, he later commanded an Armored Reconnaissance Unit.  He served in Vietnam as intelligence officer for the 25^th Infantry Division in 1967-1968.

Although Troy is a graduate of West Point, he originally enlisted as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps in 1942.

“I already knew how to fly.  When the war started, I knew I wanted aviation.”  During aviation training, he was selected for the Academy in 1943 and graduated in 1946.  He served Cold War assignments in Germany and Austria before and after his pentathlon competition.  In 1959-1960 he served as a Military Adviser in Iran.

Troy married Winifred Hildegarde Charles, who died in 2009.  They had two sons, Guy K. Troy Jr., a West Point graduate and retired military, and Thaddeus W. Troy, a 30-year CIA employee.  There are four Troy grandchildren.

FRANK HEBERER (L) AND GUY TROY
TWO RETIRED COLONELS WHO SERVED TOGETHER IN
CONSTABULARY FORCE AFTER WW II

Troy’s father, Dr. Thaddeus Troy, practiced medicine in Greensboro for many years.  He and Dr. Wesley Long III were cousins.  Dr. Troy served in World War I and retired from the Army Reserve as a colonel.

There is another colonel of interest in Guy Troy’s lineage – Colonel Andrew Balfour.  According to Troy, ‘He is my great-great-great grandfather.” Balfour’s tombstone on Doul Mountain in Randolph County reads, “ …murdered by a band of Tories at his home.”

Balfour’s execution by the notorious loyalist leader, David Fanning, was one of many such incidents in the Piedmont wherein Whigs were gunned down during the unofficial “Tory War” in early 1782.  It has not gone unnoticed by the folks of Randolph County.  An Asheboro community is named in Balfour’s memory, as is a DAR Chapter and Masonic Lodge.

Obviously, Troy is a man of many interests – in his Liberty environs of several hundred acres, he has farmland and timberland, “Right now, I would have to say, my passion is forestry!” 

He has his own tennis courts.  Even though he has ample room for a golf course, he opted out, “Golf takes too much of my day – I have other things to do.”

Troy is a founder and active member of All Souls Anglican Church in Asheboro.  He also serves with the Randolph County Honor Guard, which conducts hundreds of military funerals each year for veterans across the Piedmont.  He is active with the West Point Society.

RETIRED ARMY COLONELS  FRANK HEBERER AND GUY TROY AT
TROY'S FARMHOUSE IN LIBERTY, NC
DECEMBER, 2015

  

            

MODERN DAY MARINE

Never underestimate the importance of a highway sign. 

While stationed at Camp Lejeune in 1991, Dan Clark read from a sign that Greensboro was an All-America City. “I came here often, Greensboro may not be world renowned as a liberty town, but compared to Jacksonville...”  Upon his discharge in 1992, Clark settled in his favorite liberty town.

PARRIS ISLAND GRADUATE

Clark joined the Marine Corps at 17, after his parents signed the approval papers, “I had to wait several months for an opening at Parris Island, but left my hometown on Christmas Day, 1988.”  After Boot Camp and Radio School, Clark completed deployments as a field radio operator on Okinawa and in Korea before receiving orders to Camp Lejeune, NC.

Almost immediately after arriving, Clark deployed to the Persian Gulf area as a radio operator with the 10^th Marines in preparation for Desert Storm.  “We spent eight months practicing amphibious assaults and field exercises in various Gulf countries.  Compared to the build-up, the war was over in the blink of an eye, but friendships built during those times will last a lifetime.”

Clark wasted no time acclimating to Greensboro.  On his way to a Guilford College degree in political science, he first graduated from GTCC.  All the while, he worked as a part-time tire salesman for Sears and later as full-time Auto Center supervisor until he became store manager of the Sears-owned National Tire & Battery Store in Winston-Salem.

“Even though I thoroughly enjoyed college and working at Sears, I truly missed the Marine Corps.”  Clark found the perfect compromise – the Marine Corps Reserve.  After joining the Reserves in 1993 he was assigned to the Greensboro-based Marine Corps Reserve Unit.

Over the next several years Clark deployed to locations around the world, including Germany, Norway and the Arctic Circle before deploying in 2003 with the Greensboro Reserve unit for Operation Iraqi Freedom as Data Communications Chief.

DAN CLARK PROGRESSED THROUGH LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
IN RADIO, COMPUTERS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

After returning from Iraq, Clark served in several locations around the country, fulfilling the duties of Data Communications Chief and later Company First Sergeant, which brought him full circle back to Greensboro.   

After successful tours as First Sergeant in Greensboro and later Tampa, Florida, he was promoted to Battalion Sergeant Major and completed tours of duty in Newport News, Virginia as well as Aurora, Colorado and Fort Worth, Texas.

In May, 2016 Clark reported to the Marine Corps Reserve Unit in Charlotte for his final tour.  He will face mandatory retirement in May, 2018 after completing 30 years of military service -- at the age of 47.

Clark is the first to admit that the Marine Corps isn’t for everyone, “I joined straight out of high school from the small town of Kissimmee, Florida.  Since I did not have grades, money, or focus for college, the Marine Corps looked to be a way I could grow up, prove my mettle, gain work experience, and travel beyond Florida and Mickey Mouse.”  

It seems to have done all of that for him.

One other tidbit about Reserve service – mandatory attendance, “Admittedly, my commutes were longer and more complicated than most, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.  Long weekends of Reserve duty made Monday mornings especially tough, and duty in the summer sometimes came at the worst possible times.”

When asked about social media’s impact on warfighting, Clark responded “Instant communication is here to stay, but I’ve seen it get too many Marines in trouble, albeit unintentional.  Elements of combat can be taken out of context – the horrors of war don’t need videoing back home or posted on social media.”

Suspecting Clark had no time for hobbies, he surprisingly admitted to saltwater fishing and running as two of his favorite pastimes, completing two Marine Corps Marathons and numerous other events.  In addition, he and his wife Kathy have organized multiple 5K and 10K fundraising events for Hope for the Warriors and other charitable causes.

DAN CLARK -- 2016 -- TWO YEARS FROM RETIREMENT

Sergeant Major Clark has served in every enlisted rank and two wars during his career. He has seen several generations of Marine recruits come and go.  He has a chest-full of personal decorations, and the ethos of a Marine recruiter, “Where else could a young kid lead Marines into battle, handle multi-billion dollar equipment, or fly fighter jets -- all for the good of our country?  

Nowhere!”

RICHARD CRAPSE -- MAN OF MANY SERVICES

Richard Crapse’s military service shadow box could be confusing at a quick glance.  It contains medals, decorations and awards from the Civil Air Patrol, the Marine Corps, the National Guard and the Air National Guard – all of which were stepping stones to his military retirement.

His Marine Corps service came first, 1965-1971.  “Our St. Petersburg, Florida High School senior classes cycled around the services – one year, most joined the Air Force, next year the Navy, etc.  My year was the Marine Corps’ year.”

NEWLY-WEDS KATHLEEN & RICHARD CRAPSE -- 1969

That was also the year recruit training at Parris Island was shortened from 12 weeks to eight weeks, “All that did was shorten the time between being a civilian and serving in Vietnam by one month – the Parris Island experience remained the same.”

Actually, Crapse was given a choice between Arctic Survival Training or Vietnam, “I didn’t figure a Florida boy would fare well in the Arctic, so by year end, I was lobbing 105mm howitzer shells into the Vietnam jungle.

Our guns were of World War II vintage and needed rebuilding after firing 50,000 rounds.  Several big wheels came out in the jungle to our battery to congratulate us upon firing our 100,000^th round – at 150,000 rounds we were withdrawn for refitting on Okinawa.”

As for World War II, Crapse recalls eating C Rations of that vintage as well, “They still tasted OK.”

From Okinawa, Crapse made brief stops in the Philippines and Taiwan before his 105mm battery was assigned to a Battalion Landing Team operating from an LST off Vietnam, “With amtracs, helicopters and small boats, we could do about any type mission.  We took casualties of all sorts – from enemy fire, friendly fire, and others from crashes and accidents.

At times, North Vietnam artillery was incoming from our front and big guns from the Navy were incoming from our rear.  Those were the times I wondered how it was in the Arctic!

During one operation, we were too far inland to resupply from the beach and the jungle too thick for helicopters to land, so we had to improvise.  We took five-gallon cans to a river for water, and made a bath call while there.  The enemy jumped us in our birthday suits, but we had enough Colt 45s close by to ward them off.”

While Crapse was flown into Vietnam in an air-conditioned airliner with stewardesses, getting out was more complex, “Offshore, aboard a Navy ship, I was told I had been rotated and that a helicopter would pick me up.  It never showed and the small boat I could have caught left the ship before my gear could be loaded. 

I was finally helicoptered to Da Nang, but my orders could not be located.  I missed the short-timer flight from Okinawa by one day.  While in the waiting mode, a typhoon came through and blew away the shed in which my seabag had been stored.  Most of my personal gear and uniforms were lost.

After traveling on emergency orders, I reached Travis Air Force Base and eventually made it to safe haven at Camp Lejeune.”

Later, Crapse interviewed for duty at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., home of the Marine Corps Band and ceremonial drill teams.  “I told them, no thanks, but they told me it was an order, not an invitation.

I was honored to be at Marine Barracks, but did not want to stay, so I signed waivers to go back to Vietnam.  Instead, they sent me to Jacksonville, Florida, where I signed more waivers to go back to Vietnam.  This time they worked, but only got me as far as Okinawa and Japan for a year or so.”

It was back to Camp Lejeune in 1971, where Crapse was again ordered to Washington, D.C. – this time to quell Mayday protests.  “We were dropped into the Mall to take back the Washington Monument from protesters – the Park Police had given it up and taken cover inside the Monument.

The next day’s Washington Post identified us as secret storm troops.”

Crapse admits that his time at Marine Barracks wasn’t all bad, “I escorted six girls to an Evening Parade one Friday evening.  I shuffled five of them off to buddies, but kept one for myself – Kathleen Pummer, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, and I have been married 47 years.”

RICHARD & KATHLEEN CRAPSE -- 2016

Kathleen has a master’s and law degree from Campbell University.  Her law practice was in Reidsville, where they have lived for the past 24 years.  Richard Crapse has worked in law enforcement and the Greensboro Housing Authority.

 

      

THESE AREN'T CUSTER'S CALVARYMEN

Several hundred Vietnam War enthusiasts will converge on Grandover Resort June 1, 2016.  From Michigan to Atlanta, from Texas to New Bern, North Carolina, they’re coming to hear Joe Galloway talk about the Battle of la Drang and his best-selling book, We Were Soldiers Once…And Young.  

GRANDOVER RESORT -- GREENSBORO, NC

This talk is the West Point Society Piedmont’s idea of celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.  The luncheon meeting is by reservation only -- details and registration available at https://secure.west-point.org/wps-piedmont/luncheon/.

The November, 1965 Battle of la Drang was the first major battle of the Vietnam War.  Joe Galloway was the only war correspondent on the ground during the battle.  For his bravery in rescuing wounded soldiers under fire, the Army awarded him a bronze star.

Of Galloway, a Vietnam veteran wrote, “Joe has been one of the few from the media who has been kind to us – he is a wonderful spokesman for our involvement.” 

Several members of the 1^st Battalion, 7^th Cavalry, 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), including Medal of Honor recipient, Joe Marm have registered to attend.

While the North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and North Carolina Chapter of the 1^st Cavalry Division Association will turn out in force to join their Air Cavalry peers, they will not lunch alone – Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard veterans – many who served in Vietnam – will join them. 

Officers from second lieutenants to generals will be on hand.  At least one command sergeant major will attend.  Probably, more than one private will show up.  While rank will have no privileges at this gathering – peace and decorum will not be a problem -- the group’s DNA is built around military courtesy.

One command sergeant major will be noticeable by his absence – CSM Basil L. Plumley.  The veteran of three wars and iconic senior enlisted leader during the Battle of la Drang died in 2012 at the age of 92.  Galloway will see to it that Plumley’s legacy is not forgotten.

It should also be noted that a huge number who did not serve militarily will be on hand to share the moment, including spouses, parents, children, grandchildren, friends, and some who just want to give Vietnam veterans the “Welcome Home,” they deserve.

“Grandchildren” was not a typo – “Thanks for opening this up to the public, this allows my husband and me to share my grandfather’s heritage – he served in Vietnam as an Air Force electronics warfare officer, wrote a respondent.” 

Given the Air Cavalry’s war-fighting technique, a litany of interesting military occupational specialties have surfaced among the registrants, including helicopter pilot, door gunner, flight engineer, mechanic and crew chief.

A Navy SEAL veteran of Vietnam and his wife, whose son is currently serving as a SEAL, a Riverine Boat Captain, a Naval Advisor, and an engineman will be among those representing the Navy.

Air Force-wise, there will be the Greensboro reservist whose crew flew to Hanoi in 1994 to repatriate the remains of two servicemen back to the U.S.

Among the Marines on hand will be three brothers – two served in Vietnam, the third is a MGySgt USMC (Ret.).  Also noticeable are over a dozen registrants from the Greensboro Marine Corps League – including veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and the Gulf Wars.

A Gold Star Wife has registered, as has a 94-year old purple heart, bronze star recipient from World War II.  Several highly decorated Special Forces and Army Ranger veterans will be on hand.

The Human Resources Director of one of the largest Triad manufacturers, and possibly the largest employer of veterans wrote, “My Battalion Commander considered We Were Soldiers Once required reading.  I’ve read it more than once, seen the movie, and followed Mr. Galloway and General Moore throughout their careers – I will be at the luncheon, as will a large number of my employees.”

Not that they would want it mentioned, but the West Point Society will be the majority block at the luncheon – as it should be.  They’ve done the heavy lifting to make this a signature event, both for the Triad and for 50^th Anniversary observances.

The West Point Society Piedmont consists of West Point graduates, their spouses, families, and a broad cross section of the community -- meetings are open to the public.  The organization supports the U.S. Military Academy and members of the Armed Forces. 

Three West Pointers are shown in the photograph above.  Among numerous personal decorations, Dr. Mike Brennan, Colonel USA (Ret.), and Ted Crichton, Brigadier General USAF (Ret.) hold distinguished service medals.  Bill Trivette, Lieutenant Colonel, USA (Ret.) is President of the West Point Society of the Piedmont. 

Registration will close on Friday, May 27, 2016, or sooner if all seats are sold.  Current information is available at https://secure.west-point.org/wps-piedmont/luncheon/.

MORE ON BATTLE THAT CHANGED THE WAR IN VIETNAM

Have you heard about the Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient from Western Pennsylvania who was captured while working in the Pentagon and held captive for decades in a rural hamlet in Eastern North Carolina?

That would be Colonel Joe Marm, U.S. Army (Ret.).  He shared his story with me recently, “My date for a 1986 military ball in Washington was a farmer’s daughter from Fremont, NC.  By day, she was a caseworker for Senator Jesse Helms.”

Basically, that’s how the capture began.  In 1987, Marm and Deborah Yelverton were married.  In 1995, he retired with 30 years military service.  The family moved to Fremont, NC where they became involved with Deborah’s family hog farm business, Yelverton Farms.

Now, for the Medal of Honor part – not as Pollyannaish as the capture.

His 1964 diploma and degree in finance from Duquesne University was just five days old when Joe Marm realized he might be drafted into the Army versus starting his march towards Wall Street.  “I went to Army Officer Candidate School via the college option program, graduating in April, 1965.  After completing Ranger School, I was ordered to Fort Benning – rumors were, that was a sure ticket to Vietnam.”

The rumors were correct – by November 14, 1965, 2^nd Lieutenant Joe Marm and his Alpha Company, 1^st Battalion, 7^th Cavalry Regiment, 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) were engaged in the first major battle of the Vietnam War – the Battle of la Drang Valley.

As a note, this battle was well chronicled in WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE…AND YOUNG, the best-selling book written by COL Hal Moore and war correspondent, Joe Galloway – more on this later.

Marm picks up the story, “It was pretty quiet when we were inserted, but it heated up very quickly.  One of our platoons was facing annihilation as they were cut off and surrounded by enemy troops.  My platoon’s rescue attempt of the trapped men stalled in the face of heavy resistance from a bunker filled with North Vietnam regulars – we started taking heavy casualties.”

Excerpts from after-action reports tell more of that story than would Marm, “Showing indomitable courage and facing enemy forces estimated at regimental size, 2^nd LT Joe Marm ordered the bunker hand-grenaded.  When that failed to destroy the bunker, he personally fired an anti-tank missile at the bunker.  When that failed, he made a 30-meter dash through open enemy fire and dropped a hand grenade into the bunker.  That worked well, and Marm eliminated survivors of the bunker with his M-16.”

Congress was even more succinct when wording Marm’s Medal of Honor citation, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in la Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam on November 14, 1965.”

COLONEL JOE MARM, US ARMY (RET.)
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT

Marm fills in a missing point, “During the assault, I was hit in my left jaw.  The bullet exited through my right jaw, it certainly ruined my day!  By the grace of God, it missed my juggler vein by an inch or two.  I was airlifted out and hospitalized for 90 days in the States.”

His Medal of Honor was presented by Secretary of the Army, Stanley R. Resor, on December 19, 1966.  “I don’t know if President Lyndon Johnson was in town that day or not -- if so, he was keeping a low profile in regards to Vietnam.” 

At his request, and after signing multiple waivers, then Captain Marm returned for a one-year combat tour in Vietnam in 1969, during which he commanded an infantry company in the field.

During his Army career, Marm completed the Infantry Officers Advanced Course, Armed Forces Staff College, and earned a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Georgia.  He also served as a Ranger School instructor and taught at West Point.  He retired as a colonel.

    

As of 2016, the Marms have four children and eight grands.  Two of their sons are in the Army.  Deborah Marm serves on the staff of both U.S. Congressmen Walter Jones and George Holding.

Per Joe Marm, now 74, “Deborah is a good Methodist and I am a good Catholic – we also enjoy going to each other’s churches.”

From his travel schedule, it is obvious there are many demands on a Medal of Honor recipient – such as the several hours he generously shared with Bill Trivette, of the West Point Society, and me. “It could take all my hours, but I am honored to wear the medal – I am just a caretaker of the medal for thousands of others who served, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.”

JOE MARM PATIENT, KIND AND ENDURING TO WOULD-BE WRITERS

Don’t miss this part – Joe Galloway will be speaking at a luncheon engagement sponsored by the West Point Society on June 1, 2016 at Grandover Resort – Medal of Honor recipient Joe Marm will be in attendance as well. 

 BEAUTIFUL HOME OF DEBORAH & JOE MARM
IN TREMONT, NORTH CAROLINA

Until seating capacity is breached, reservations may be made at https://secure.west-point.org/wps-piedmont/luncheon/.

Contact Harry Thetford at htthetford@aol.com

THE GERMANS JUST THOUGHT THE WAR WAS OVER FOR PAUL DALLAS

Fayetteville's Paul Dallas was sharply dressed in his American Ex-Prisoner of War blazer when we first met in a Greensboro restaurant.  Hesitant to stare at his impressive array of medals, I suggested he must have held every AXPOW position, “Yes, I have – local, state and national,” came his straightforward reply.

PAUL DALLAS HAS SERVED IN EVERY AXPOW LEADERSHIP POSITION

Due to time restraints, we parted with my encouragement that he write a book about his experiences.  He had a straightforward reply for that too, “Nobody would want to read about me!”

Several weeks later, he called from his home in Fayetteville, “You suggested I write a book.  Well, I’ve started it three times, only to lose everything in computer crashes – would you help me?”

It was my straightforward answer this time, “You bet!”

The Dallas farm in East Central Mississippi had 60 acres under cultivation when the 1943 draft notice came for Paul Dallas, the oldest son and primary farm hand.  “My father begged for a deferment until the crops were laid by.  One day I hauled the last wagon-load of corn to the barn, the next day I reported to Camp Shelby.”

Dallas had never ridden a train or been out of the state of Mississippi.  A troop train ride to the Port of Debarkation at Newport News, Virginia filled in both blanks.  “Traveling through the Carolinas, I told my buddies we couldn’t grow collards or turnips in Mississippi like we kept seeing along the way.  Quietly, someone explained to me we were seeing something new to me -- tobacco!” 

MISSISSIPPI FARM BOY ADDRESSED SENATORS &
CONGRESSMEN ABOUT VETERANS ISSUES

His first boat ride got Dallas to Italy just in time to leave for the Invasion of Southern France in August, 1944.  The day after Thanksgiving, his infantry company was over-run by German tanks, Dallas was captured.

Several POW camps later, bookending an inhumane six days and nights locked in a rail-car without food or water, Dallas was among 40 prisoners sent to the forced labor camp at Runddorf – in Eastern Germany, near the borders of Poland and Czechoslovakia.

“We worked seven days a week cutting ice blocks from frozen ponds, cleaning out sewage ditches, and digging tank traps for the rapidly approaching Russian Army.  The German guards knew they would be shot on sight when the Russians arrived, so the 32 surviving POWs and the seven German guards all left the camp, walking in the direction of Allied Forces.

Days later, we were intercepted by the Russians.  They machine-gunned the guards and marched us towards Russia – to Siberia, we surmised.”

After two weeks of walking eastward, the group reached Sagan, Poland and Luft III, where they were deloused, examined, and treated by Russian doctors.  Finally, the POWs were placed on trucks and sent back towards American lines – on the way, they learned they had missed V-E Day.

“It was a long hard struggle, but I never lost my faith – in God that His strength was sufficient, in the Army that they would eventually rescue me, and in my family that they were praying for me. 

For sure, I was one happy guy to reach Le Havre, France and see ships at the dock ready to carry us home!  POWs received priority passage, so all I needed was a quick OK by a doctor,” exclaimed Dallas.

The OK was not forthcoming.  He passed out when leaving the doctor’s tent.  Five weeks later he woke up from a coma, only to lapse a few hours later into a second coma, this time for two weeks.  “I peeked at my chart while being stretchered onto a hospital ship.  I had spinal meningitis, double pneumonia and hepatitis – conflicted by other medical issues and malnutrition.”  

Dallas was treated in Army hospitals in New York, Georgia and Florida before receiving a medical discharge in 1946.  Over the summers before graduating from Mississippi State University, Dallas sold Bibles in North Carolina, whereupon he made the decision to call North Carolina home.

Although Dallas kept his WW II and POW experiences private and unmentioned for 40 years, his advocacies and involvement for the past 30 years are legendary.  He has, indeed, held every AXPOW office.  He has addressed both Senate and Congressional Committee regarding veterans affairs.   He and his wife have served as National Services Officers and assisted veterans all over the country.

DORIS & PAUL DALLAS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR
VETERANS ACROSS AMERICA

He worked several years for the Public Works Commission of the City of Fayetteville and later retired as District Manager of the Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation in Red Springs, NC.

DALLAS TOOK VETERANS ISSUES TO THE TOP!

Dallas, now 91, married Doris Cole Temple in 1974, they are of the Methodist faith.  Their combined families include five children, six grands, and seven great-grands.

Harry Thetford is a retired Sears Store Manager who enjoys writing about veterans.  Contact him at htthetford@aol.com