Vol. 2 No. 3

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Don Marler

EDITORIAL

Fort Polk is a valuable source of information both historically and presently. Perhaps the information from there will inspire others to broaden their interest and thus generate a greater variety of information.

The leadership of Charles Stagg at Ft. Polk in creating the Heritage Reunion is invaluable. He has secured the services of Sara Thames, Ecologist/Cultural Resources Manager, to fulfill the myriad tasks associated with that project. Sara provided the information included in this issue regarding the cemeteries in the Ft. Polk range.

The next meeting of the Heritage Reunion will be on October 27-28, 2012.  Registration for the events on Saturday 27^th will begin at 8:00AM at the Main Post Chapel. Self guided tours of downrange cemeteries and home sites may be made on Saturday; Sunday the 28^th will be for Guided tours of downrange cemeteries and home sites. Don’t miss it. More agenda details will be available later. For an update call Sara at  337 531 6011 or send email to: sara.thames @us.army.mil. Check also the website at: www.polkhistory.org

If anyone is interested in setting up a family booth call Cheryl Perkins at 337 239 0537 or 337 353 7363. She can be reached at; clpblp@bellsouth.net . The booths have been a great hit at previous reunions.

Mr. Bill Bridges, who now lives in Oklahoma, has promised to provided the information on Fullerton. He comes to Fullerton for its reunion every year. We look forward to more information from him regarding that famous sawmill town.

It is my hope that we can announce the passing of anyone who has ever lived in the general Hineston area. It is difficult however to get that kind of information because of the varied sources. Many people have moved away and we do not have contact information. Please send me the report of the passing of any such residents or past residents.

I have moved again, hopefully for the last time. The contact information is: 4209 Aspen Ct., Pineville, La. 71360. Home number is: 318 640 0110, Cell: 409 594 8221, Email is: doncmarler@gmail.com.

Don C. Marler

Bulletin Board

Minter Lou Marler (Gray) passed away on June 9, 2012. She lived at Tioga, La. she was 80 years of age.

Lorraine Coody (Moore) passed away on August 12, 2012. She lived at Ball, La. she was 76 years of age.

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Ft. Polk Heritage Reunion will be held on October 27-28, 2012. See details in the editorial above.

KILROY WAS HERE!

Phil Carrico

Postscript: The amazing thing about this story is how a simple GI graffiti scratched on a wall someplace in Europe in the 1940’s could become a worldwide icon in such a short time. But where-ever our GI’s have gone since the early 40’s they have taken our Kilroy with them – he has had one heck of a ride.

In the early 1940’s, someone first scribbled the funny face peeking over a fence and added these unforgettable words; “Kilroy was here”. We don’t know how many thousands of times this simple graffiti appeared during WW 2 and Korea, but we do know it appeared in surprising places all over Europe, Japan and Korea – but what is more surprising the graffiti was prevalent in Vietnam and now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After WW 2 with the American GI’s coming home, many went into heavy industry and the building trades. They made sure this GI graffiti did not die by reproducing it in secret places in some of our most prestigious buildings and monuments. As an example, did you know a reproduction of Kilroy is engraved on each of the granite headers over the steps leading to the service area of the World War 2 Memorial in Washington DC? It is seen in buildings, churches, cathouses and especially public toilets everywhere from Alaska to Brownsville – most of the time saying, “Kilroy is watching”.

Hundreds of people from all over the world have claimed to be the originator of this phenomenon. Brits claimed to have started it and even Nazi Germans, but we are convinced that Kilroy is American as apple pie.

Near the end of WW 2 Hitler was completely paranoid over the Kilroy phenomenon. This character seemed to be able to get into everything and anything that was supposed to be secret in Nazi Germany. Hitler ordered his best men to begin actively searching for this super-spy and all troops were ordered to shoot on sight.

From the dark days of Bastogne on a bombed out barn was written, “Kilroy was stuck here”. On the side of a glider taking the 101 Airborne into battle was written, “Kilroy was here – Look, no motor”. People were constantly amazed at some of the places this graffiti was found and it seemed the more secret the hiding place the better. As an example, it has been found in a bombed out castle drawn on the floor under a throw rug – or in a closet on the ceiling where “Kilroy” could see everything (he was a “peeper” ya know).

One of the most humorous Kilroy stories I have heard happened in Korea – reported by an old Frogman some thirty years after the hostilities.   “Our Team was directed to insert a squad into a sector of North Korea to search for a downed UN flyer who

had bailed out of his damaged aircraft close to the coast. There were eight of us and we had a couple of Korean interpreters in case one was needed. After dividing our force into two units of 4 men each (one interpreter with each group) we split up to search different sectors. After my unit had wondered around not seeing much for a couple of hours, we finally came upon a cluster of hooches. They were all dark except one where we could see a light, So we figured we should check it out.  When we rushed in, I figured we’d get the usual screaming and shouting, but instead, the only person we found was an attractive female who stood with her hands on her hips and was angrily spouting something in Korean. Our interpreter said, “She wants to know why we came back”? “She said the GI promised we’d leave her alone”. Of course none of us had the slightest idea what she was talking about. In short order the interpreter explained, “She said she was visited an hour ago by a GI – when he left he promised her we would not bother her because she had “helped” him. Of course we didn’t believe a word of it – but she had proof. She angrily gestured with one hand for us to get out – but with the other she lifted her skirt and there across her bare bottom for the entire world to see – some old Frog had written, “Kilroy was here”….Of course the authenticity of this story cannot be substantiated – but for old Frogs, it sounds about right.

[Editor’s Note: For a more comprehensive account of the history of Kilroy Google Wikipedia on the internet. Your editor was a U.S.  Navy Frogman in the Korean War and so was Mr. Carrico. We both like to tell stories so it is natural that he should appear in the Hineston Chronicles.]

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MEMORIAL DAY 2012, FORT POLK

[Editor’s note: Mr. Charles Stagg and his staff have worked tirelessly over the past several years to ease the difficult memories of the many families who were displaced during WWII. We commend them for their work. There are nineteen cemeteries located in the territory comprising the Ft. Polk reservation. Ft. Polk maintains those cemeteries, and part of the agenda of the annual meeting (Heritage Reunion) held there each year,  is a visit to these cemeteries.]

Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union Soldiers of the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. As a marker it typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.

Traditionally, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Also, on Memorial Day the flag is traditionally raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed in 2000 which asks that on Memorial Day at 3pm local time, for all American

We must never forget the meaning of Memorial Day and always remember those proud patriots who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

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FORT POLK REMEMBERS

[Editor’s note: Mr. Charles Stagg and his staff have worked tirelessly over the past several years to ease the difficult memories of the many families who were displaced during WWII. We commend them for their work. There are nineteen cemeteries located in the territory comprising the Ft. Polk reservation. Ft. Polk maintains those cemeteries, and part of the agenda of the annual meeting (Heritage Reunion) held there each year,  is a visit to these cemeteries.]

The Cultural Resources Program staff remembers those veterans buried in Fort Polk cemeteries each Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, and for our annual Heritage Reunion events by placing a flag on each veteran gravesite at Fort Polk.

Thirty-two known veterans are buried within the nineteen Fort Polk cemeteries. Below are each of their names and known information:

• Hiram James Mathis, 22 Apr 1833 – 2 Aug 1970, Civil War – Confederate States Army 8TH MS INF (Brack Cemetery)
• James Knox Polk Burns, 4 Aug 1845 – 5 Jun 1888, Civil War – Confederate States Army (Burns Cemetery)
• Willie Gordon Davis, 1894 – 9 Nov 1946, WWI-PVT, US    ARMY (Davis Cemetery)
• John S. McKee, died-25 Mar 1925, WWI-PVT US ARMY  (Davis Cemetery)
• William Allen Davis, Civil War-Confederate States Army, 28TH LA INF (Davis Cemetery)
• John Washington Davis, born-1844, Civil War-Confederate States Army-28TH LA INFANTRY (Davis Cemetery)Memorial Day 2012
• James Pinkney Haymon, 6 Jan 1894 – 6 Oct 1918, WWI-Army, Camp Beauregard (Haymon Watson Cemetery)
• Hezekia Haymon, Sr, 1826 – 14 May 1906, Civil War – Confederate 27th Louisiana Infantry, Co. C, Union outfit, Co. B, 1st Battn. Louisiana Cavalry Scouts, captured as Confederate States Army and paroled in Vicksburg, MS on 18 Jul 1863, joined the Union upon  his return home (Haymon Watson Cemetery)
• John Mandy Watson, 8TH LA INF (Haymon Watson Cemetery)
• Reddick Watson, Civil War-Confederate States Army, PVT 27TH LA INF CO G (Haymon Watson Cemetery)
• Homer G. Brack, 12 Jul 1919 ␣ 15 Aug 1948, WWII-PFC 477 QM TRK REGT (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Oscar Calcote, 12 Aug 1906 ␣ 16 Nov 1975, WWII-CPL, US ARMY (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Charles C. Clear, Jr, 31 Aug 1931 ␣ 6 Oct 1999, Korean War and Vietnam War-SSG, US ARMY (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Clinton Driver, 18 Feb 1917 ␣ 3 Jun 1989, WWII-PVT, US ARMY (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Harmon C. Mathis, born-1832, Civil War-Confederate States Army, 7TH MS INF (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Michael W. Osmun, Sr, 19 Apr 1944 ␣ 5 Jul 1985, Vietnam War – SFC US ARMY RET, 522 ENG CO (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Russell J. Stebbins, 27 Apr 1964 ␣ 21 Nov 1998, US ARMY- PV2 (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Earl Swain, 22 Dec 1932 ␣ 12 Sep 1997, Korean War (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• John Alvin Swain, 29 Mar 1895 ␣ 7 Dec 1950, WWI (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Ivan Swain, 1 Sep 1926 ␣ 14 Oct 1954, WWII-SC3 US NAVY (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• Henry Clifford Swain, Sr, 4 Oct 1923 ␣ 13 Dec 1996, WWII- WT2 US NAVY (Holly Springs Cemetery)
• R.T. (Robert) Conner, 7 Sep 1841 ␣ 15 Apr 1925, Civil War- Confederate States Army, CO K 1ST TX INF (Merritt Cemetery)
• Edmon Merritt, 31 May 1818 ␣ 3 Aug 1897, Civil War Confederate States Army, 3RD BATTALION MS CAL RES (Merritt    Cemetery)
• Luther Lee Dedmon, 26 Mar 1923 ␣ 27 Oct 1996, Korean War-  PVT US AIR FORCE (Mill Creek Cemetery)
• Frank Rodney Sawyer, 24 Apr 1952 ␣ 17 Mar 2007, Vietnam War (Mill Creek Cemetery)
• Kenneth Virgil Thompson, 22 Jul 1925 ␣ 29 Apr 1992, WWII (Mill Creek Cemetery)
• Allison M. Phillips, 7 Dec 1837 ␣ 24 Nov 1917, Civil War-  Confederate States Army, 4TH Serg Co. K 19th LA Inf (Sarver       Cemetery)
• Patrick H. Cavanaugh, 11 Jun 1837 ␣ 17 Apr 1905, Civil War- Confederate States Army, PVT CO B 4 LA VOLS (Self Cemetery)
• Albert Self, 10 Jul 1827 ␣ 23 Jun 1905, Civil War-2nd Louisiana Heavy Artillery (Self Cemetery)
• Bill Craft, 27 Dec 1896 ␣ 27 Sep 1938, WWI-CO L 84TH INF  (Zion Hill Cemetery)
• John Tom Hall, 12 Jan 1840 ␣ 22 Sep 1925, Civil War Confederate States Army, 6TH Florida Infantry Regiment (Zion     Hill Cemetery)
• Alexander Shankle, 1826 ␣ 7 Apr 1901, Civil War (Zion Hill Cemetery)

THANK YOU to Josh Martin, Scott Faris, and Brad Laffitte, of the Fort Polk Cultural Resources Program, for placement of the flags!!!

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Below are a few pictures from the 2012 Fort Polk Cemetery Memorial Day efforts at Holly Springs Cemetery (23 May 2012).