From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum
The McLemore Family Story by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum
When I decided to write about the McLemore family and their patriotism, I did not realize that Jerry Barksdale had already started with Col Mel McLemore. I learned about it when I spoke to Col McLemore concerning the possibility of doing a story on him and his family. He said that Jerry had related to him that if something happened to him before he finished the story that "Sandy can finish it." So here is the first part of the story written entirely by Jerry Barksdale. In my next article, I will pick up with Col McLemore where Jerry left off and hopefully do the first part justice. Part 1 Jerry Barksdale’s Interview Colonel Melvin “Mel” McLemore was destined to be a soldier. He was the only child of Grady and Ruby Pugh McLemore, but had many close cousins and friends to play with. The Great Depression was ravaging our nation and Hitler was overrunning Europe and Japan had invaded China. The world teetered on a cataclysm. Mel was three years old when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor touching off the bloodiest and most distinctive war in history. At the McLemore home on the edge of Athens, the family gathered around the radio after supper and listened to Gabriel Heatter for the latest war news. “Good evening, everyone; there is great news tonight!” The spell-binding Heatter always gave a positive spin on the news. His broadcast was Mel’s introduction to what was happening in the world. Mel was proud of America and proud of his uncles who were away
Page 10
fighting. When many young boys wanted a cowboy outfit, Mel wanted a youth soldier uniform, which his parents found and gave him. Later, he honed his marksmanship skills, first with a BB rifle, then a .22, and at age 14 with a 20-gauge shotgun. He didn’t shoot animals but he did become a crack shot.
planned. While waiting to be called to active duty, Mel got a job teaching math and science at Piney Chapel School; later that year, he was hired to work as a caseworker at DHR, all a great experience. In April 1961, Mel went on active duty at the Basic Signal School in Ft. Monmouth, NJ. He and Wanda were married in June as planned. Following their honeymoon they moved to Ft. Gordon, GA, where Mel
Mel played defensive safety and half-back at Athens Junior and High School; and during the summer and on Saturdays, he worked on a road crew for his father who was a Limestone County commissioner. Following graduation in 1956, he went to Florence State College (now UNA) in his red and white 1958 Chevy Imsian missiles pointed pala, where ROTC was at the U.S. had been required for the first two discovered in Cuba, years. Mel was a natuonly 90 miles away ral. Being an excellent from Florida, and shooter, he made the more coming by rifle team and competships. Our nation was ed with other colleges inching toward nuin the Southeast and 1st Lieutenant Melvin J. McLemore clear war. He would Vietnam 1963-1964 earned four-year lettergive a sign of relief Captain: Vietnam 1967-1968 man. He was accepted when President Kenfor advance ROTC and went was platoon leader in a Signal nedy and Russian President for 6 weeks of basic train- unit. A fresh lieutenant lead- Khrushchev ended the crisis. ing in July and August at Ft. ing men required wisdom. The missiles were removed. Benning, GA, where the heat He remembered the sage adThe next assignment was Holand humidity created a sauna. vice given him in ROTC that loman Air Force Base in South He graduated from Florence would guide him in the Army: New Mexico in Dec. 1962. State in 1960 and the same “If you want to be successful, Mel and Wanda packed again; day was commissioned a 2nd you’d better get acquainted and with a new baby, Sandi, in Lieutenant in the Army. It was with the NCOs -- senior and wraps, drove west. They surea proud moment and exciting junior.” I took this to heart ly looked down at the child, time in his life. During this says Mel. later nicknamed Stormy, and period, while riding his Har- In 1962, Mel was accepted wondered what the future held ley-Davidson 165 with Wayne to Flight School and he and for her. They wouldn’t have Crow and other buddies, Mel Wanda moved to Ft Rucker, guessed in a hundred years. met Wayne’s younger sister, AL, where he flew fixed-wing At Holloman, Mel flew singleWanda, a pretty dark-eyed aircraft and learned instrubrunette. His interest in her ment flying. Three weeks be- engine aircraft, used primargrew. He proposed during fore graduation, the specter ily for aerial surveillance and Christmas 1960; she accept- of war appeared suddenly and test support for White Sands Missile range. While flying ed. Wanda graduated from unexpectedly. Mel’s class was on a project, Mel received a Athens Bible School in May alerted for deployment and call from flight operations to 1961, and a June wedding was assigned tactical gear. Rusreturn to base for a special
www.athensnowal.com
message. He was curious about what could it be. He was given orders to return to Ft Rucker for special training and further deployment (classified). An Ops guy said probably Vietnam. “Where is that?” Mel asked. They got out an atlas and the guy showed him. A few thousand were there already on special missions, including the Green Berets. Mel and Wanda packed again, and with baby Sandi, drove to Athens and found a house for Wanda. Mel reported to Ft Rucker and was assigned to the newly formed 73rd Aviation Company. The mission was to fly a singleengine aerial-surveillance aircraft in support of South Vietnam combat troops and to support the Green Berets as required. On May 28, 1963, he departed for Vietnam as part of the advanced party and two days later landed at Tan Son Nhut Airbase, just outside Saigon. A new and dangerous mission had begun.
February 19 - March 04, 2021
