Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (21) View all

Jackson County Heroes of World War II

items 5 of 28 items
  • wcu_highlights-1430.jp2
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Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • TH THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY PVT. RUFUS DEFOREST NATIONS, Whittier, N. C, son of Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Nations and husband of Ruth Bumgarner Nations. Inducted in Army (1st Army, 9th Div. Co. D 47th Infantry), Apr. 7, 1944. Trained at Camp Wheeler, Ga. Served in the European Theatre of War. Killed in action Mar. 12, 1945. Was killed in Western Germany after crossing the Rhine. PVT. ALFRED SMITH, Sylva, N. C, son of lohn W. Smith and husband of Mrs. Gracie Smith. Inducted in Infantry Jan. 1, 1943. Trained at Fort McClelland, Ala., and Fort Meade, Md. Served in the European Theatre of War. Received the Purple Heart. Killed in action in France Oct. 15, 1944. SGT. GILBERT R. STILES, Dillsboro, N. C, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Stiles. Inducted Mar. 4, 1940. Trained at Fort Randolph, Canal Zone, Orlando, Fla., Camp Davis, N. C, Camp Stewart, Ga., and Camp Gordon, Ga. Served in the European Theatre of Operations. Received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, European Theatre of Operations Campaign Ribbon, American Theatre of Operations Campaign Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal. Killed in action Feb. 28, 1945, in Germany. S 1/c WILLIAM HENRY TAYLOR, Cherokee, N. C, son of Willie and Cecilia Taylor. Inducted Sept. 13, 1943. Trained at San Diego, Cal., Roosevelt Base, San Pedro and Treasure Island, Cal. Served in the Asiatic Theatre of War. Received the Gold Star Citation, and Purple Heart. Killed in action Ian. 24, 1945. According to a statement made by a comrade on the ship "The Extractor", after the ship was torpedoed, Bill, along with four other shipmates lost his life while trying to lower a life boat in order that they might all have means of surviving. SEAMAN 1/c WILLIAM ROBERT TOY, Sylva, N. C, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Ralph Toy. Inducted May 17, 1943. Trained at Camp Perry, Va. Served in the Pacific Theatre of War. Received the Purple Heart. Killed in action May 5, 1945. S/SGT. THOMAS O. VARNER, Whittier, N. C, son of Mrs. Faye Varner. Inducted June, 1942. Trained at Sioux Falls, S. D., Gunnery School, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Received the Citation of Honor and Purple Heart. Missing in action Aug. 21, 1943. Declared dead August, 1944. Served at radioman and gunner on B-24. Went down on first mission over Naples. S/SGT. ROY GLENN WATSON, Sylva, N. C, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Watson. Inducted in the Third Army, 94th Div. Co. K, 302nd Infantry, Dec. 12, 1942. Trained at Camp Phillips, Kas., Nashville, Tenn., and Camp McCain, Miss. Served in Germany. Received the Bronze Star, Silver Star, and Purple Heart. Killed in action Mar. 7, 1945. He received citations and medals for gallantry in action and meritorious achievement during fierce assault on enemy bombers Feb. 19, 1945, and for action against enemy from Jan. 21 to Jan. 25, 1945. SGT. THAD J. WATSON, SR., Norton, N. C, son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodfin Watson and husband of Stella Martin Watson. Inducted in Army Air Force Sept. 1, 1943. Trained at Keesler Field, Miss., Gunner School, Tyndall Field, Fla., and Radio Training, C. A. A. B., Charleston, S. C. Served in the African Campaign. Citations or medals: Presidential Citation, Purple Heart, Air Medal and 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. Killed in action Aug. 24, 1944, over Czechoslovakia after making a successful mission to bomb oil refineries. Was based in Italy and served as nose turret gunner on B-24 Liberator Bomber. His plane was attacked by enemy fighters and one member of the crew was saved, the others buried in a Czechoslovakia town where people have set aside a fund to care for the graves. PVT. GUY M. ZACHARY, Cashiers, N. C, son of Neal and Bessie Zachary. Inducted Jan. 23, 1944. Trained at Camp McClellan, Ala. Served in the European Theatre of War. Killed in action Sept. 17, 1944. PFC. JAMES R. PETTIT, Dillsboro, N. C, son of Abraham and Nina Pettit and husband of Marie Pettit. Inducted in Army Engineers, Oct. 20, 1943. Served in the European Theatre of War. Killed in action Nov. 20, 1944. Served with the 1313th U. S. Army Engineers and died while performing his duties.
Object
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).