COAST GUARDSMAN'S WORLD WAS UP &  DOWN

Royce Garrett admits to a widespread series of “break-ins” during his 31-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard.  These incidents ranged from New York’s Hudson River to the Aleutian Islands and both the Arctic and Antarctic.  Since ice-breaking is what Coast Guardsmen do . He wasn’t disciplined – he was decorated.

CAPTAIN ROYCE GARRETT USCG 1956-1987

“Growing up in Greensboro as an Eagle Scout and Quartermaster Sea Scout, I was a water guy and driven to sail.  After grades one through nine at Gillespie, I graduated from Greensboro High School.”  In addition to borrowing money from his father for college, Garrett worked a series of part-time jobs: lifeguard at Camp Herman; the Sears Catalog Order Plant; took school pictures; and taught sailing at Camp Seagull.

“After graduating from Guilford College in 1956, the draft board gave me an ultimatum – ‘Be in the service before August 1, or we will put you in the Army.’  When my application for Coast Guard officer candidate school bogged down, I joined as an enlisted man – July 24, 1956.”

Not too long after Boot Camp, officer candidacy opportunities opened up again and Garrett was commissioned as a Coast Guard Ensign.  His first assignment was aboard the CGC Clover, a Kodiak, Alaska-based buoy tender.

After a tour of shore duty in Norfolk, Garrett served aboard his second buoy tender, the CGC Mistletoe, servicing the Chesapeake Bay. 

Garrett doesn’t believe in coincidences any more than I do, but this is his story, “Although we never dated in Greensboro, Mary Jo Caudle and I grew up together in Calvary Methodist Church on Asheboro Street.  Our mothers were pregnant with us at the same time.  Parishioners joke that Mary Jo and I crawled up and down the Calvary aisles together.”

They came together again in Hampton Roads, VA – Garrett’s Coast Guard career was progressing nicely – Caudle, after graduating from Greensboro College, had become a school teacher.  Per Garrett, “After we started dating, my sea-going buddies advised me to be sure she enjoyed sailing before I proposed.  It rained buckets the day I invited her to sail with me in a regatta – but she went anyway.  We were married on January 16, 1960.”

After shore duty in Miami, Garrett earned a Master’s Degree from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA, after which he took command of the Buoy Tender, the CGC Firebush, servicing New York Harbor.

Next, he became the Special Assistant to the Commandant of the Coast Guard in Washington, DC.  After that, it was back to sea, via St. Petersburg, FL where he took command of the CGG Steadfast.  “We primarily dealt with Caribbean, law enforcement and drug issues.”

USCGC NORTHWIND

Garrett assumed command of the Wilmington, NC-based polar icebreaker, the USCGC Northwind in 1978.  “We were happy to be home-ported in North Carolina, but deployment came 10 days after we moved,” recalls Jo Garrett.

Proceeding to the Arctic, the Northwind established ice camps, cleared ice from channels, and resupplied Arctic outposts.  Simultaneously, she conducted a wide range of research and search and rescue operations.

Polar opposites more than adequately describe Garrett’s next deployment – and one of his break-ins.  “We broke a channel into the U.S. Antarctic Base to allow passage for re-supply ships with fuel and cargo.”  While there, Garrett hitched a ride to the South Pole Station.  “It was a weird feeling, standing on ice 9000 feet thick in minus 40 degrees temperature.  Regardless of which way I turned, every direction was north!”

Garrett and his Northwind crew were fascinated when a U.S. submarine broke through six feet of ice and surfaced near-by.  “Realizing they had been underway for quite a while, I took one of our helicopters and dropped them a box of fresh fruit.  Later, they presented me a ship’s flag in appreciation.”  

SUBMARINERS GAVE GARRETT FLAG IN APPRECIATION FOR FRUIT BASKET

After 31 years of service, Royce Garrett retired in 1987 – he served on five Coast Guard ships, commanding three of them.  “I feel very fortunate to have visited the South Pole, and going as close to the North Pole as icebreakers could go.”

Retired, but not inactive – relief efforts they started in Northern Virginia for Belarus children suffering from Chernobyl radiation continue today – over 800 children have been impacted.

GARRETTS HAVE TRAVELED FAR AND WIDE IN THEIR AIRSTREAM

The Airstream motorhome parked behind their home is another activity monitor, “We’ve enjoyed over 80,000 miles in it – several trips across country and lots of snow-birding in Florida.”

The Garretts moved back to Greensboro in 2004.  They are active members of Market Street United Methodist Church, and have done Meals on Wheels and worked at Potter’s House.  Health issues precipitated his recent retirement as church treasurer, but he continues to serve as an usher.

They have one son and two grandchildren.

   

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POW WIFE KEPT PACKAGES IN THE MAIL

Virginia Causey was a senior at Greensboro High School in 1940 when her mother died.  Her father moved to Raleigh, but she lived with an aunt and uncle until she graduated.  She worked with Blue Bell/Globe Manufacturing Company, and later transferred with the company to New York City.

Then came December 7, 1941. 

Virginia Causey’s brother would eventually join the Navy.  Her sister, Mary, would marry a soldier.  Virginia Cudworth was already in love with a Greensboro City employee, Jim Cudworth.

 

“Marriage came up early in our three-year courtship.  We knew we were meant for each other, but also knew he would be leaving for the service.  Both his brothers joined the Marine Corps.  Jim and I thought we should wait until after the war to marry,” she recalls.

Jim Cudworth enlisted in the Army Air Forces as an Aviation Cadet in 1942 and was commissioned as a B-17 bombardier in January, 1943.  On March 9, 1943 the waiting to marry ended.  Virginia Causey left Greensboro for Ephrata, Washington – it was her first train ride.  Six days later, she became Mrs. Jim Cudworth.

1943 NEWLY-WEDS VIRGINIA & LT JIM CUDWORTH

A honeymoon furlough was scheduled for June, 1943.  On May 20, the new couple received a wire – all furloughs were canceled.

Jim Cudworth and his B-17 crew were off to England for duty with the 8^th Air Force.  He promised his new bride he would be home for Christmas.  Virginia Cudworth added, “I should have asked him WHICH Christmas he was talking about!”

BOMBARDIER JIM CUDWORTH UPPER LEFT 

Cudworth’s B-17 was one of 30 U.S. aircraft shot down over Bremen, Germany on October 8, 1943.  He was on his 10^th mission.  Wounded in the eye by enemy anti-aircraft fire and captured, Cudworth spent the rest of the war as a POW.  After the war, he elected not to have the flak removed for fear his vision would be lost.

CUDWORTH CREW SHORT SNORTER SIGNED BY CREW MEMBERS

After a week in a German interrogation center, Cudworth was imprisoned in Stalag Luft III, made infamous by the Great Escape.  He wrote his wife, “I am allowed a ten pound package and $50 in cash each 60 days – please send dried fruit and oatmeal.  Give the $50 to the Red Cross, they are doing a great job for us.”

POW CUDWORTH WROTE WIFE TO SUPPORT THE RED CROSS

Virginia Cudworth recalls, “I sent him packages every two months, although I knew he wasn’t getting all of them.”  She kept a record of each package.  One list reads: “Shorts, socks, tooth powder and paste, candies, playing cards, Gillette blades, saccharin, gums, coffee and soap.”

“It didn’t bother me that he wasn’t receiving all of them.  I just hoped and prayed that some of them would reach him, especially the package he requested with dried dates, peaches, apples, books, and Lucky Strikes.  I caught streetcars, but nearly walked my legs off, finding everything he needed – there were no stores that carried everything like we have now.”

Notwithstanding that Cudworth was a prisoner of war, the Army Air Forces saw to it that he was awarded his first Air Medal.  Accepting the award at Basic Training Command #10 in Greensboro, NC was Mrs. Virginia Cudworth.

MRS. JIM CUDWORTH RECEIVING POW HUSBAND'S AIR MEDAL AWARD

At a later date, she was picked up at her home by Army personnel and taken to Drill Field #5, BTC #10, where she reviewed the troops and accepted her husband’s cluster device, representing a subsequent Air Medal.

Cudworth was eventually moved by railcar and force-marches – under frigid and inhumane conditions -- to severely overcrowded Stalag VII-A, near Moosburg.  “When liberated by General George S. Patton, our troops brought in the largest American flag I had ever seen.  I stood so close to Patton that our arms brushed each other,” Cudworth told his wife.

Post-war, the Cudworth family resumed a more normal life.  He returned to his job with the City of Greensboro.  She worked with A. M. Pullen & Co.  They were members of Muir’s Chapel Methodist Church and among the early volunteers to serve at Potter’s House.  They raised two sons, James Richard “Dick” Cudworth and Garry Wayne Cudworth.

The Cudworths’ interest in assisting other former prisoners of war led them to form the Greensboro Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War Association (AXPOW).  Jim served several terms as Greensboro Commander, and three years as State Commander.

Jim Cudworth retired from the City of Greensboro after 35 years of service.  He died September 16, 2008 at 87 – he and Virginia, now 94, were married 65 years. 

Virginia Cudworth remains active in the Greensboro Chapter, American Ex-Prisoner of War Association.  She deflects all credit for supporting her POW husband, “My mother-in-law did more, she wrote each of her three sons a letter every Thursday they were away in the war.”

   

   

THE ERRORS STOP HERE

I didn’t think for one moment that Bill O’Reilly would answer my email message.  After all, it contained a litany of errors found in his recent best seller, KILLING THE RISING SUN.

 

Conversely, I hope he doesn’t think for one moment that I will let those errors go unscathed for readers of this column.  Nor that I come to these pages to condemn his book.

Granted, the message carried a negative tone.  I didn’t care for my first call-out, and recently, when called out for the 300^th time, it wasn’t any more palatable. 

But it’s doubtful he would have responded, even if I had glowingly posted him that I thought this was his best “Killing” book yet – which I do.  Just a guess, but he and his ghost writer buddies are probably already busy, scouring the planet for something else to kill.

Some of his errors are excusable, such as the statement that the distance from San Francisco to Tokyo is 8000 miles.  When I made that trip via troopship in the 1950s, it took 21 days and seemed like 88,000 miles.  However, Google distance says it’s only 5136 miles.

There was no suspense that the plot a book of this genre would lead to the deck of the USS Missouri, in Tokyo Bay, for surrender ceremonies, photo ops, and mass flyovers.  O’Reilly had good words to say about the “Mighty Mo.”  In fact, they were too good!  His mention of the ship’s 25-inch guns would have caused consternation with international treaty folks – 16-inch is the legal maximum – the Missouri has nine of them, but zero 25-inchers.

His glowing accolades went down with the ship when he quantified her length as almost as long as a football field.  At 887 feet, she is much closer to the length of three football fields.

These all too obvious errors were on page 257 of the 300-page jewel of a World War II broad brush – definitely not his best page.

Looking past the errors, allow another disclaimer – this is one great book.  I recommend it wholeheartedly.  Buy, it borrow it, check it out, or Kindle it, you will be glad you did.  Best you buy it, because it is one you will want to read more than once.

O’Reilly struggled with the Marine Corps table of organization during the Battle of Peleliu, primarily on page 40.  He conflicted himself by reporting that the 1^st Marine Division, no longer a fighting force, was relieved by the 5^th Marines. 

Three regiments made up the 1^st Marine Division: 1^st Marines, 5^th Marines, and 7^th Marines.  O’Reilly should have reported, “the 1^st Marines were no longer a fighting force.”

While the errors on page 257 were unforced, unnecessary, and fall in the low-hanging fruit category, the Marine Corps infrastructure mishap on Peleliu is more easily over-looked and forgiven – except for a best-selling author.

What cannot be over-looked and forgiven are errors on page 35.  O’Reilly mentioned a Marine officer named Pope who had first seen action on Guadalcanal in June, 1942.

Numerous Guadalcanal veterans have been written about in these pages, including PFC Speedy Spach of the 5^th Marines, Major General Lloyd Wilkerson USMC (Retired) of the 1^st Marines who was a PFC at the time, and my brother, Sergeant Jack Thetford, of the 1^st Marine Air Wing – even so, Marines did not land on Guadalcanal until August 7, 1942.

O’Reilly’s Grand Poobah comes in dealing with that Marine officer named Pope.  Not only did he place Everett Pope on Guadalcanal when it was only occupied by natives, Korean laborers and Japanese troops – he mistakenly reported Pope was the father of two sons. 

This would have been a shock to his bride of just a few months, Mrs. Eleanor Hawkins Pope.

The Popes did eventually have two sons, Lawrence E. and Ralph H. Pope, but only after Captain Everett Pope returned home from combat campaigns on Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu – during which he earned a bronze star, purple heart, and Congressional Medal of Honor.

The Pope son, Lawrence E., should sound familiar to readers of these pages.  As a retired U.S. Ambassador to Chad, Ambassador Pope was called back into service in 2012 when John Christopher Stevens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya, was murdered by terrorists at Benghazi.

Ambassador Pope has been called upon again more recently.  He will speak at the inauguration of the Bowdoin College Marine Corps Association.  It will be named in memory of his father, a magna cum laude graduate from Bowdoin. 

Hopefully, the Greensboro News & Record will send Bill O’Reilly a gift subscription.  He might enjoy reading about our veterans as much as we enjoyed reading his KILLING THE RISING SUN.

THE MARINES LANDED AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA @ GREENSBORO

Call it an experience of a lifetime if you wish – some of us will not be around the next time the Marine Band comes to our town.  Not to fear, everyone over-flowing UNCG Auditorium on Saturday evening October 29, enjoyed patriotic music sufficient to last a lifetime.

STANDING IN LINE IS MARINE CORPS-COMPULSORY

These Marine musicians, made me wish I had worn gloves to protect my clapping hands.  That’s says a lot – I customarily clap three claps and move on.

Coined “The President’s Own,” by President Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band toured the Southeast for the entire month of October – Greensboro was their next to last performance of this year’s tour.

Their music should have been good – they’ve been performing since 1798, when they were established by an Act of Congress.  Not out of disrespect, but they have played more for Presidents than for Congress – every President except George Washington has heard the band play.

Some Presidents have been more closely involved with the Marine Band than others.  President Warren G. Harding played trombone with the band; then-Governor Bill Clinton played saxophone with the band during the 1991 Governor’s Dinner at the White House; President George W. Bush conducted the band in a performance of The Stars and Stripes Forever, in 2008.

President Lincoln took the band along for his speech at Gettysburg.

Even after his death, President Kennedy was closely connected to the Marine Band – the Marines led his funeral procession.  He once proclaimed, “The only force that cannot be transferred from Washington, D.C., without my permission, are members of the Marine Band.”

The question could be asked – did John Philip Sousa make the Marine Band famous, or did the band make Sousa famous?  The answers would be, “Yes.” 

HARRY THETFORD, MARION SMITH, NAT REED
MARINES ALL

Actually, Sousa was following in his father’s footprints.  Antonio Sousa played trombone with the Band 1854-1879.  His son, John Philip was schooled in the Marine Barracks and originally served in the band 1872-1875.  Another son, George joined the band at age 16 and performed for 30 years.

John Philip Sousa came back as the 17th Director of the Marine Band 1880-1892.  His tenure of leadership brought to the band an unprecedented level of excellence.  Famous Sousa hits, such as Semper Fidelis, Washington Post, and Stars and Stripes Forever established him regally as “The March King,” as compared to his contemporary, Johann Strauss, Jr., known as “The Waltz King.”

During my four-year Marine Corps career, I spent more time on mess duty than trying out for the band.  Consequently, seatmates had to clue me in on some of the musical numbers. 

MARINE BAND ON THE GROUND @ UNCG

I reciprocated by explaining the Marine Corps ranks listed in the program – they were not typos after all.  “GySgt” and “MGySgt” represent gunnery sergeant and master gunnery sergeant in Marine Corps-speak.  Those ranks weren’t around in my day.  They would have been respected at about the levels of today’s brigadier general and major general.  On the other hand, I could have gotten along with the beautiful and demure concert moderator/vocalist, GySgt Sara Sheffield. 

It must be mentioned, this was the first time in history that more Marines stood up during the service medley than any other branch of service.  The sixty Marines in the Band certainly helped our cause.

Kudos to Dr. John R. Locke, UNCG Director of Bands, for sponsoring the Marine Band’s appearance in Greensboro.  Host sites are required to jump through many hoops – of both logistics and political correctness – it was “mission completed” for Locke and his UNCG team.  Kudos to the Band for inviting Dr. Locke to guest conduct a number.

Accommodations for “16 wardrobe trunks,” was one of the hoops.  They must have been high tech wardrobe trunks -- some musicians warmed up in civilian clothes until 7:25, but had their spiffy uniforms on by show time, 7:30.    

Kudos to the band also for recognizing Lieutenant Colonel Jim Hayes, USMC (Retired), a Greensboro businessman.  Hayes reflected on his time with the Band, “Being assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, DC was a tremendous honor, but to be selected as executive officer for the Band made that tour very special to me.”  During his 22-year career with the Marines, Hayes also served as infantry officer with the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Marine Divisions.

The Marine Band is the nation’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization.  “Happy Birthday,” wasn’t on their program at UNCG, but the 241^st birthday of the Marine Corps comes up on November 10, 2016.

Happy birthday, Marines – we were honored to have you perform in our town.

AN UNLIKELY MORTAR-MAN

February, 1943 wasn’t an ideal time for Draft Board bargaining but it was something 19 year old Horace Alligood felt he had to do.  Two of his older brothers were already serving in the Army Air Forces overseas.  To keep the next oldest Alligood son, Heber, home to help with the family farm, Horace -- the youngest of the five sons -- asked the Draft Board to send him instead of Heber.

“We grew almost everything on our 100 acre farm in Creswell, NC and our father wasn’t in the best of health.  Heber ‘loved the dirt’ -- it was logical that I went and he stayed to help our parents,” says Horace Alligood. 

The Draft Board was very accommodating.  After basic training at Camp Davis, North Carolina, Alligood served with Coast Artillery at Norfolk, Virginia.  Later, he joined a 4.2 mortar battalion in Georgia.  A five-day troop train passage took him and hundreds more to Seattle, where they boarded a troopship.

HORACE ALLIGOOD -- WWII COAST ARTILLERMAN

Alligood remembers more about the ship than the train.  “Our commanding officer could not tell us where we were going, but we all suspected the Invasion of Japan was our mission.  He ordered us to look at the soldier on our right and on our left.  He said one of the three would not be coming back.”

The atomic bomb dropped while Alligood was at sea.  He was diverted to Okinawa for occupation duty for the remainder of his enlistment. 

While at Norfolk, Alligood had a chance meeting at Virginia Beach with a young lady from Rochester, New York.  After his 1946 Army discharge, he joined Eastman Kodak and married the young lady. 

Alligood’s second entry into the Army was not as negotiable as the first.  As an inactive reservist, his entire Rochester unit was activated.  “We were off to New Jersey, then to Ft. Hood, Texas, and in no time at all, flown to Korea.” 

His 24^th Infantry Division was the first to respond to the communist invasion of South Korea.  “I don’t recall where we landed, but we took a boat first, then a four-hour ride in the back of a truck to get to our unit.  It was bitter cold and snowing hard, I nearly froze!”

According to Alligood, “We seldom stayed in the same location very long.  The front lines moved often.  I was a forward observer for our mortar unit.  The closest call I had was when artillery fire kept getting closer and closer to my position.  At the last minute, I discovered it was friendly fire – it took a while to get word back to the guns to cease fire!  By the time they finally stopped, we were being sprayed with rocks and gravel from the blasts.”

Asked if he believes in foxhole conversions, Alligood replied, “I believe in mine!”  He went to church as a youngster, but until Korea, admits he did not fully and completely trust Jesus as his Savior.

His World War II training and experience helped ease Alligood up the ranks from corporal to master sergeant in Korea.  In addition to meritorious promotions, he was awarded a bronze star, “his devotion to duty, expert leadership and initiative contributed immeasurably to his unit’s missions.”  He also earned the combat infantryman’s badge and Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars.

ALLIGOOD (SECOND FROM LEFT) & WW II BUDDIES

 While in Korea, he received a letter from Rochester announcing the arrival of his son, John.

Alligood was contacted by the Army shortly after his second discharge regarding additional awards and recognition.  “I thanked them but told them I was done with the Army – just let me get back to work and care for my family,” says Alligood.

After 37 years with Eastman Kodak, work he describes as the “best of times,” Alligood retired and moved his family to Winston-Salem in 1983.  His daughter, Susan, was there first, having graduated from Wake Forest University.  His wife of 40 years passed away in 1986. 

At Calvary Baptist Church, Alligood had another chance meeting with another young lady.  In 1989 they were married, and in 1992 Ellie and Horace Alligood built a new home in Greensboro.  They are active members of Lawndale Baptist Church and now reside in Friends Home West. 

The Alligood bothers from Creswell, NC (it’s near Plymouth) survived their wars unscathed, and another brother saved the family farm.  Horace Alligood is 93, Lewis is 98.  I.J. died at 96.  Their parents died at ages 88 and 96.  Horace Alligood insists, “I never looked at my brothers or me as doing anything exceptional.”

 

         

            

INFANTRYMAN, AVIATOR, PARISHIONER -- DAN CAMIA

My interview with Dan Camia had fewer unintended consequences than his orientation flight to become a helicopter pilot.  In his words, “It did not go well.”  This should have tipped me off he was given to understatements.  After striking an uncharted power line, the helicopter went down – the instructor pilot, the enlisted observer, and Camia escaped injuries.

DAN CAMIA FIRST SERVED AS INFANTRY OFFICER

Camia, an infantry officer serving a 13-month assignment in Korea, was not dismayed.  He completed helicopter pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama and was soon flying combat missions in Vietnam.

CAMIA STILL KEEPS A HUEY REMINDER IN HIS HOME

“It was a tough year for us in 1968,” recalls Camia.  “At one time during the Tet Offensive, we flew 36 straight hours under heavy fire in support of a U.S. Army base in danger of being overrun by the Vietcong.” 

After 13 months in Vietnam, Camia was back at Fort Rucker – as an instructor.  While in Vietnam, he had made the decision to propose to Nancy Balboni, a Boston College School of Nursing coed he had dated all their college years.  He did – she accepted – they were married in 1969.

“I went back to Vietnam again in 1971, and commanded an Assault Helicopter Company.  We flew combat missions on a daily basis, mostly at night, and predominantly in support of Special Forces operations.”

Surprisingly, Camia’s most memorable moment of his Vietnam tours did not involve combat, “Hundreds of Vietnam civilians were marooned on an island isolated by a ravaging flood.  Typhoon conditions prohibited normal helicopter operations, but a single volunteer helicopter crew would be accepted.

That was my most gratifying mission – our crew saved over 400, mostly women and children, from certain death.  This may shock those who know 15 is the maximum capacity for a Huey, but we brought out as many as 40 at a time!”

Company commands stateside and a combat aviation battalion command in Germany followed.  Camia served in the Pentagon, as well as tours in Vicenza, Italy; Stuttgart, Germany; and two tours in Heidelberg, Germany over the remainder of his 24-year career.  He retired as a colonel.

DAN CAMIA RETIRED AS A COLONEL

Inasmuch as they were married during almost 20 years of his military career, I asked about household moves.  Nancy Camia fielded that question, “We moved 19 times in 20 years!”

Dan Camia was well decorated for his service – the Distinguished Flying Cross, “For repeatedly leading his flight of helicopters into enemy held territory including seventeen combat air assaults with five at night,” and the Soldier’s Medal, “For rescue mission under extremely dangerous conditions hazardous to his own life.” 

He also received the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars, 36 Air Medals and many other commendations.  He was authorized to wear the Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Aviator Wings (rotary & fixed wing) and Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.

COLONEL DAN CAMIA'S AWARDS REFLECT SUPERIOR
SERVICE FOR HIS ARMY/AIR FORCE CAREER

As for medals and decorations, “While I am honored to have received these awards, I feel being an Army wife is the toughest assignment of all – Nancy is the one who deserves the highest award.  She kept our family going all those years!”

CAMIAS STAY BUSY WITH CHURCH AND CIVIC CHORES

She wasn’t into awards any more than her husband, but finally agreed, “Being a good Army wife wasn’t the easiest road.  Due to our frequent moves and raising two children, it wasn’t practical to pursue my career in nursing.  As a commanding officer’s wife, there were always entertaining and support chores that needed to be done.”

She did find time to tutor soldiers in English and math towards their GED, and teach nursing at Fayetteville Community College.

Camia, now 73, retired at Fort Bragg in 1988, and moved again – a shorter move this time, to Greensboro.  He joined Southern Importers, Inc. as regional sales manager and became chief operating officer before retiring again in 2003.

The Camias haven’t really retired, “For 13 years, we have volunteered at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville.”  They are active members of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Greensboro.  They have two married daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law and two grandchildren.

Per Dan Camia, “I am a 4^th Degree Knight and Faithful Navigator in the Knights of Columbus and a member of their Color Corps.”  He overlooked the blank look of a Baptist layman, but I have since looked it up – it’s as special as he makes it sound. 

Nearing the end of our interview, he wanted to tell me about the medal he valued most of all.  I guessed it would be the Soldier’s Medal, since it is such a rare award.  I was way off, “Receiving the St. Francis Medal is the highest honor of my life!”  I looked that up too, and it is also as special as he makes it sound. 

       

  

      

13NOV1944 WASN'T A GOOD DAY FOR THESE SOLDIERS

On the other hand, in August, 2016, the two World War II veterans couldn’t stop toasting each other – with bottled Coca-Colas – spiked with salted peanuts.

WW II PURPLE HEART VETERANS SALUTE EACH OTHER

William Henry Long and Milton Percy Stanfield graduated in the early 1940s from Summerfield and Monticello High Schools, respectively.  Given their era, being drafted wasn’t “if,” but “when.”  They did odd jobs such as farming, driving trucks and building boats in the interim.  The interim was a bit longer in those days – high school graduation came after the 11^th grade.

Their paths did not cross before leaving to serve their country.

Long landed on Omaha Beach in mid-July, 1944.  Stanfield landed on Utah Beach a short time later.  Both joined the 315^th Infantry Regiment of the 79^th Infantry Division as replacements.

MILTON STANFIELD, BAR-MAN, 79TH ID

DOC LONG, BAZOOKA-MAN, 79TH ID

Even though they were in the same Division and Regiment -- Long as a bazooka-man in Company G, Stanfield as a BAR-man in Company E -- their paths did not cross.

Since the French language had not been taught at Summerfield or Monticello High Schools, a French dictionary would have served Long and Stanfield well.  In weeks, they had bridged, boated, waded or swam across rivers such as the Ay, Sarthe, Seine, Moselle, and Meurthe -- and liberated towns such as Flottenan, Cherbourg, La Haye de Puits, Laval, LeMans and Charmes. 

 

In a rush to reach the Franco-Belgian border, the entire 79^th Division moved 180 miles in 72 hours – they were among first American G.I.s to enter Belgium.  According to Major General Charles H. Corbett, “That was one of the fastest opposed advances by a division in the history of warfare.”

While street-fighting and house-to-house combat had been the order of the day, clearing the Foret de Parroy was quite different.  Both Long and Stanfield recall the dense woods, lack of roads, and a steady diet of mud, rain and fatigue.  They have even more unpleasant memories of the determined German defense of tanks, artillery and mortars.

Long recalls, “By that time, we had taken huge numbers of German prisoners of war.  We had to move them as we moved.  We just put a rope around them, they weren’t too interested in escaping.”

After 127 days of continuous combat -- on Tuesday, October 24, 1944 -- the 315^th Infantry Regiment paused for rest near Luneville, France.  Even during this offline period, the paths of Long and Stanfield did not cross. 

At 7 a.m., on Monday, November 13, after what must have felt like the shortest 20 days of their lives, troops of Companies G and E of the 315^th Infantry Regiment went back into the lines. 

On that fateful day, Stanfield went down first, struck in his arm, hand and leg by shrapnel, “I received a purple heart, but felt like I earned three of them – shrapnel burns skin, cuts arteries and breaks bones!”  After treatment in three Army hospitals, he returned to limited duty for the duration of the war.

Long, a bazooka-man himself, went down at 3 p.m. wounded by shrapnel from a German bazooka shell.  With severed nerves and a major artery cut in his right arm, he was wounded a second time in his other shoulder and arm when a mortar shell exploded nearby.  He was rescued after lying on the frozen battlefield for 18 hours. 

Long recalls, “The below freezing temperature and the fact I had on seven layers of clothing, turned out to be a blessing -- otherwise I would have probably bled to death before they got to me.”

With his right arm paralyzed since the war, Long asked a general if he could salute with his left hand, “He told me to stand tall and proudly salute with what I had left!”

Stanfield, now 93, returned to his Triad roots, raised his family, worked at the Sears Catalog Plant for 37 years, and retired to Madison.

William Henry Long, now 92 -- and much better known as “Doc” Long -- returned to his Summerfield roots, raised his family, and co-founded Long Brothers of Summerfield, Asphalt Paving of Greensboro and Hilco Transport Company. 

Long’s philanthropy is significant and far-reaching.  Beyond community and church, he funded a war memorial in the small French village of Ancerviller, where he was wounded in 1944. 

According to Carolina Field of Honor founder, Bill Moss, “Doc Long jump-started our capital fund-raising – we couldn’t have made it without him.”

TWO 79TH ID WW II WARRIORS MEET FOR FIRST TIME, 72 YEARS AFTER THEY
BOTH WON PURPLE HEARTS ON THE SAME DAY, ON THE SAME BATTLEFIELD
PATTY LONG HILL ARRANGED THE MEETING

Decades after landing at Normandy, the paths of Doc Long and Milton Stanfield finally crossed.  Their daughters, Patty Long-Hill and Emily Oakley, made it happen.  Two World War II foot soldiers, two men of strong faith, too long for their paths to cross, but the crossing left notes and memories -- far beyond toasting with Cokes, spiked with salted peanuts.

WW II BAR-MAN, WWII BAZOOKA-MAN, & PEACE-TIME MARINE
MILTON STANFIELD, DOC LONG, HARRY THETFORD
16AUGUST2016