Arthur C. Gillespie Jr.
2157th Air Rescue Squadron
3rd Air Rescue Group

Arthur Gillespie, born in Draper North Carolina joined the US Air Force in 1951. He was trained as an Aero Medical Specialist. After training he was assigned to the 2157^th Air Rescue Squadron flying as part of an H-19 rescue helicopter crew. He flew many missions, one where his crew rescued downed Jet Ace Capt. Joseph McConnell Jr. and another where Arthur’s crew themselves had to be rescued after crashing into the Yellow Sea.

For his missions, Arthur received the Air Medal. The citation reads:

“A/1C Arthur C Gillespie distinguished himself, while assigned to 2157^th Air Rescue Squadron, APO 970, by meritorious achievement as a Aero Medical Specialist while participating in aerial flight in the Korean Conflict from 7 April 1953 to 28 April 1953. Airman Gillespie flew eighteen separate and sustained rescue missions evacuating critically wounded soldiers from front line positions to rear area hospitals. He further stood cover in and unarmed and highly vulnerable aircraft to fly to the rescue of those pilots of the United Nations who may have suffered damage and were downed behind enemy lines. His effort greatly increased the chance for survival of wounded United Nations troops and thereby contributed immeasurably to the morale of the forces engaged in action against the Communist aggressor. In addition Airman Gillespie flew one supply and transportation mission requiring drop penetration over waters immediately adjacent to enemy held territory. By his courage, fortitude and desire to aid the United Nations cause, Airman Gillespie brought great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. “

Arthur also served as an Aero Medical Assistant with the 1600th USAF Hospital and later as a Flight Surgeon Assistant with the 4050th USAF Hospital both at Westover AFB, MA.

Shortly after discharge, he began working as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative in NC.  He continued as a sales representative in GA, TN and VA and retired as a National Sales Manager for Pfizer in 1995.

Arthur Gillespie’s awards include:

Aircrew Badge

Air Medal
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal w/2 bronze service stars
United Nations Service Medal-Korea
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

Greensboro, N. Carolina (2017)

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Homer Tannery
81st Infantry Division
324th Infantry Regiment

Homer Tannery was born in 1893 in Westminster, South Carolina, entered the military in May 1918.  He was assigned to the 81^st Infantry Division, 324th Infantry, Company H serving in France with the American Expeditionary Forces.  He participated in the Meuse-Argonne operation, November 2-11, 1918.

“Having received orders to relieve the 35th Divisions east of the Neuse River, the 81st Division took over the front line from Fresnes-en-Woëvre to Bois d’Hardaumont, assuming command at 8 a.m., November 7. Early on November 8 orders were received from French II Colonial Corps to attack the next morning. Before the attack the left boundary of the division zone was moved to the Abaucourt-Etain road.

   The division attacked as ordered on the morning of the 9th, advancing beyond the town of Manheulles on the right and into Bois de Moranville on the left. On the following day further advance was made on the left to the line Grimaucourt-en-Woëvre—le Grand Cognonwood—Abaucourt.

   On the morning of November 11th the 323rd Infantry attacked Ville-en-Woëvre, but word of the Armistice halted the advance about 1 kilometer northeast of Manheulles.  One battalion of the 324th Infantry reached a position about 200 meters north of the southern edge of the Massenoue wood.  On the Left, the 321st Infantry started its advance at 6 a.m. and by 11 a.m. had reached the enemy wire southwest of the line Hermëville-Hautecourt.”    (Excerpt from the 81st Division, Summary of Operations in the World War)

After the war, Homer worked as a ticket agent for the Seaboard Air Line Railway until his untimely death in 1945.

Raleigh, N Carolina (2016)

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Robert W. Goad
171st Quartermaster Laundry Detachment

Robert Goad was inducted into the Army in July of 1944 in Huntington West Virginia. Less than 6 months later he was on his way to the Pacific Theater and assigned to the 171^st QM Laundry Det.

After the war, Robert worked for a short time at Cooks Cleaning Convenience Laundry in Radford VA moving on to the Radford Army Ammunition Plant and remained there for 32 ½ years.

Excerpt from THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS: OPERATIONS IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN, Center of Military History United States Army Washington, D. C., 1990

Laundry units, which carried and operated their essential equipment, such as washers, tumblers, and water heaters, on heavy trailers, supposedly furnished the services required by hospitals and by individuals in the field. In the Pacific they actually did this for hospitals, which had priority, but there were too few of them to do much work for individual soldiers. The number of pieces handled for troops, though greatly exceeding that handled for hospitals, nevertheless represented only a small percentage of the total number in need of cleaning. If the ordinary unit of two trailers worked sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, each trailer still served only 3,000 soldiers a week at the normal rate of about twenty-five pieces a man. In many places, moreover, no trailers were available. Even if they were, the difficulty of hauling them over rough terrain often prevented their location at sites that permitted maximum service. It is not strange therefore that in most parts of the Pacific laundries accepted individual wash only at the low weekly rate of six to eight pieces a man.

The New Guinea bases were much worse off. Here there were no laundry units at all until well into 1943. At the end of June 1944 the platoons of three recently arrived companies were divided between the bases and the Sixth Army, but their manpower and equipment were so inadequate that even at the bases, except for Milne Bay, they could do washing only for hospitals.

LAUNDRY FACILITIES IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC were a problem only partially solved by unit equipment (above) and Quartermaster laundry trailers (below).

Robert Goad’s awards include the:

Army Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/2 campaign stars
WWII Victory Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal w/1 campaign star

Cameron, N Carolina (2016)

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Neal Albert Denning
3rd Marine Division
9th Marine Regiment
Company B

Neal “Albert” Denning a Willow Springs, NC native was born on February 18, 1947. “Albert”, loved gardening and was a member of his high schools Future Farmers of America. Albert dreamed of going to college and joined the Marines with the intentions of attending college after Military service. Unfortunately those dreams never came to fruition. On May 12, 1966 at the young age of 19, that dream died when Albert made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Albert was part of a 14 man patrol that went out to secure our perimeter on the morning of May 12^th. The patrol was ambushed and overrun by an overwhelming number of Viet Cong. A second patrol attempted to locate and reinforce them. By the time the patrol was located it was determined that they had come across a Viet Cong stronghold. A battle ensued lasting well into the night but efforts to save the patrol were in vain. Two Marines survived the attack and were Medevaced to safety. The men bravely fought off the Viet Cong for as long as they could. Running out of ammunition, they fought hand to hand until all was lost. He served our country for less than a year.

PFC Denning is on panel 07E, line 052 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.

His awards and decorations in include:

Bronze Star Medal w/combat valor device
Purple Heart Medal
Marine Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/1 bronze campaign star
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnamese Military Merit Medal
Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Gallantry Cross Color w/palm
Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Civil Actions Colors
Rifle Marksman Badge

The Vietnamese Military Merit Medal (Vietnamese: Quân công bội tinh) was the highest military decoration bestowed to enlisted, by the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) during the years of the Vietnam War. The medal was established on August 15, 1950. The Military Merit Medal was modeled after the French Médaille Militaire and was awarded mostly to Enlisted Men for valor in combat. The Vietnamese National Order of Vietnam was considered the equivalent decoration for military officers.

The United States military authorized the Military Merit Medal as a foreign decoration and permitted the medal to be worn on U.S. uniforms by enlisted personnel. A high number Military Merit Medals were issued posthumously as the medal was most often awarded to United States servicemen who were killed in action. The Military Merit Medal was last issued to U.S. personnel in 1973 and was discontinued after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975.

Willow Springs, N Carolina (2016)

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Leonard Garth
(Leonard F. Garbaccio)
4th Marine Division
23rd Marine Regiment

Leonard enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 15, 1942. As a Radio/Radar Repairman, Leonard was assigned to the 23^rd Marine Regiment and was shipped out to the Pacific Theater of Operations. He participated against the enemy Japanese forces at the Marshal Islands as well as in Saipan and Tinian, Mariana Islands. He was honorably discharged in 1945, but re-enlisted in 1948 for an additional 2 years.

Garth was supposed to get out in 1948 but then President Truman sent him papers saying that he was recalled yet again. So he did not get out until 1952 … he was in Cherry Point NC at that time. After the Korean War he went back to NY and moved to Long Island where he was a furniture and cabinet maker, eventually owning his own business called Garth Interiors, Inc.  He lived in Hicksvillle, Long Island from 1953 until February 1983 when he decided to move to Oceanside, California near Camp Pendleton. He had fallen in love with the area when he first was there (in the Marines) in 1942!!! His wife passed away right as they were moving to California. He remarried. He often would take recruits to his home for Thanksgiving holidays. Now 93 years old, living in assisted living in Oceanside and once a month the facility has a “Dinner with the Marines” night which he enjoys very much.

Leonard has three children, 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren with another one due in September of 2016.

Leonard’s awards include the:

American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Rifle Marksman Badge

Oceanside CA (2015)

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Louis M. Ciccotti
36th Infantry Division
143rd Infantry Regiment
Company C

Louis Ciccotti, born in Rome, New York, was inducted into the Army on May 28, 1942. He served overseas in Europe from April 1943 to September 1945 seeing action in the Mediterranean, participating in the Invasion of Southern France and further action in Europe. His son, Russell, received his father’s overdue awards.

The Bronze Star citation reads:

“for meritorious achievement in active ground combat against the enemy, effective 9 September 1943, while serving with Company C, 1^st battalion, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36^th Infantry Division, in support of the Texas Division’s assault upon Salerno, Italy.  Private Ciccotti’s exemplary performance of duty in active ground combat was in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36^th Infantry Division and the Army of the United States.”

His Silver Star citation reads:

“for gallantry in action from 17 to 19 December 1944 in France.  Sergeant Ciccotti as assigned the mission of leading a patrol into a town to hold the right flank as his company prepared to attack.  When hostile infantry opened fire with machine guns and rifle grenades, killing one man, he set up his position in a house.  He held this position for two days without food or water and under repeated assaults.  During the second night, crawling the first 100 yards, he led his men to elude the encircling enemy and returned to his company with information regarding the disposition of the hostile troops.  By skillful leadership he was able to accomplish his mission and return with information of great value to his company in their attack.”

After the war, Louis returned to Rome, New York working for Revere Copper and Brass retiring after 42 years. Louis’s other awards and decorations include:

Combat Infantry Badge
Purple Heart Medal
Good Conduct Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead, one silver and 2 bronze campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp

Sanford, N Carolina (2016)

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Walter Gipson DeZearn
83rd Infantry Division
49th Infantry Regiment
Company C

Walter DeZearn was born on November 20, 1894 in Maynardville, TN.  Entered the military on May 28^th, 1918 and was assigned to the 83^rd Infantry Division serving in France. The 83^rd was primarily a depot (replacement) division supplying over 195,000 officers and enlisted men as replacements in France without seeing action as a complete formation. Certain division units saw action, but not the 49^th Infantry. Walter was discharged on April 15, 1919.

After the War, Walter returned to farming, as a tenant farmer.  He married Nellie Louise Miller on July 12, 1923.  They had 13 children, 5 girls and 8 boys.  He lived to be 82 years old. He is buried in Little Flat Creek Cemetery, Corryton, TN.

New Market, Tennessee (2016)

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Raymond C. Schrump
Military Assistance Command-Vietnam
POW- Vietnam, 69-73

Ray Schrump was born in 1932 in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 10, 1949 at the age of 17, where he spent nine years as an enlisted man during which time he served in combat during the Korean War. He was severely wounded and spent almost a year recovering from his wounds at a hospital in Japan. He received a commission as a 2d Lt of Infantry in the U.S. Army on April 18, 1958 after attending Officers Candidate School (OCS) at Ft, Benning.  Following OCS, he attended both Ranger and airborne courses. During the next five years he commanded training, rifle and school support companies in the US and overseas before becoming senior instructor of Ground Week of the Airborne School.

In 1962, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the US Special Forces, Fort Bragg, NC where he commanded both A and B Special Forces Detachments with the 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th Special Forces Groups. In 1967, after attending Officers Advance Course and Cambodian Language Course, he was promoted to Major and was reassigned to the Military Assistance Command –Vietnam (MACV) as a Senior District Advisor assigned to Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam. He arrived in Vietnam in January of 1968 and on 23 May 1968 was taken prisoner by the Viet Cong, and after spending 1,727 days in captivity, Maj Schrump was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was hospitalized for five months to recover from injuries suffered while he was in captivity.  Shortly after his release form the hospital, Ray was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and he retired from the Army on 31 December 1973. Ray’s international assignments include Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Ethiopia and Vietnam.

After retirement, Ray owned and operated a small service business in Fayetteville, NC. During the 1970’s, he became very involved in getting an account of personnel still listed as Missing in Action (MIA) from all the wars and spoke at the National Republican Convention on behalf of the POW/MIA’s in 1976. Ray became involved in politics and ran for the Congress in the NC 7^th congressional district, but was defeated.  Ray has worked internationally as a contractor for 28 years providing support services for US and coalition forces in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ray completely retired in February of 2011 after completing a 7 year assignment in Kuwait with the General Dynamics Stryker vehicle.

Ray has 2 sons, a daughter, 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Ray Schrump’s awards include:

Combat Infantry Badge (second award)
Parachutists Badge
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart – 1 OLC
Army Commendation Medal – 1 OLC
Prisoner of War Medal
Good Conduct Medal (second award)
National Defense Service Medal (second award)
Korean War Service Medal w/3 bronze campaign stars
Vietnam Service Medal w/2 bronze campaign stars
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
United Nations Medal – Korea
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Meritorious Unit Citation – 1OLC
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation w/Palm
Sharpshooter Badge w/rifle tab
Marksman Badge w/pistol tab
Ranger Tab

Fayetteville, N Carolina (2015)

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Oscar L. Davis, Jr
82nd Airborne Division
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Company A

Oscar Davis was born, Cramerton NC and at age 18  (March 1943) entered the Army. He was initially assigned to the Army Air Corps, but was later reassigned back to the infantry where he as assigned to the 97th Infantry Division in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and sent to San Luis Obispo, California for amphibious training. He volunteered for overseas duty and was sent to Ft Meade, MD, then shipped to Liverpool, England. Oscar signed up for 82nd Airborne Jump School at Chilton Folait, England and completed jump school in 3 weeks. Joined the 505th Parachute Regiment (PIR) in Holland (combat team of 82nd), serving under General James Gavin. Went to France and deployed to the Ardennes on Dec 15. He was wounded in Battle of the Bulge and was sent to 108th Hospital in Paris France. After therapy rejoined 505th, A CO on Rhine River. He met the Russians of Elbe River after which he returned to France, re-equipped and deployed in August to Berlin Germany for occupation duty.  In December of 1946, he deployed by way of France and England, boarded Queen Mary for return to USA. Landed in New York and paraded with 82nd on Jan 19 1946.  He was discharged at Ft Bragg NC.

After the war, Oscar returned to North Carolina and NC State where he finished his degree in textiles. He then began a long and distinguished career in the textile industry. He worked his way from loom fixer to plant manager working with Burlington Industries, Limestone Manufacturing and JP Stevens. He moved about the southeast as was typical in the textile industry.  He retired from textiles in Greenville, SC where he stayed to be near family. Oscar and his wife Rachel, of 61 years, moved to Fayetteville, NC in 2014 to be near his son.

Oscar received his overdue Bronze Star in a ceremony at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The citation read:

For meritorious achievement in active ground combat against the enemy on 18 December 1944, while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in support of the All–American Division’s defense of the Ardennes Forest. Technician Fifth Grade Davis’ exemplary performance of duty in active ground combat was in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division and the Army of the United States.

Oscar’s other awards include:

Combat Infantry Badge
Parachutists Badge
American Campaign Medal
European-African- Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/3 campaign stars
WWII Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Sharpshooter Badge w/rifle tab
Meritorious Unit Award
Belgian Fourragère
Netherlands Military Order of William

Fayetteville, N Carolina (2015)

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John F. Sargent
783rd Military Police Battalion
Headquarters Company

John Frederick Sargent, who went by Fred, was born in Milford, New York entered military service in December of 1942. He was assigned to the newly formed 783^rd MP Battalion at Fort Custer, MI. In February of the next year the Battalion shipped overseas. After landing at Normandy, he performed MP duties which included prisoner control and eventually moving into Germany. The unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for their involvement in the famous Red Ball Express, the massive movement of food and ammunition to the allied forces.

After the war, Fred returned to his home in upstate New York following his discharge from the Army and continues to live in Central New York today.

His awards and decorations include the:

Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/3 Campaign Stars
WWII Victory Medal
Meritorious Unit Citation
Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Tab

Liverpool, New York (2015)

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