Hartselle Living Sept. 2016

HARTSELLE

Honoring James Buaford Lawrence Inside this edition: Hartselle Boy Scout Troop 336 Award motivates Pressley to be even better example 1 • Hartselle Living Vol. 6, Issue 9

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HARTSELLE

table of contents

Honoring rd James Buafo Lawrence

September 2016

Inside this edition: Troop 336

Scout Hartselle Boy Pressley to be Award motivates ple even better exam Vol. 6, Issue 9

Hartselle Living

•1

Honoring James Buaford Lawrence

ON THE COVER More than 70 years has passed since the Hartselle boy became a man after WWII.

20. His story begins in Falkville, Ala.

STAFF President and Publisher Randy Garrison

One of the most amazing and detailed stories Lawrence tells is the time they were attacked by Japanese suicide bombers while they were in Japan.

Contributors Clif Knight Caleb Suggs Charley Gaines Bob Jaques Lauren Thornton Tobin Advertising Pam Gray Jennifer Weddington Office Staff Ann Kirby April Thompson

CONTACT US

Departments 10

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Hartselle Newspapers, LLC 407 Chestnut St. NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 256-773-6566 Fax: 256-773-1953 info@hartselleliving.com Hartselle Living is published monthly by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC. A one-year subscription to the Hartselle Enquirer and Hartselle Living is $39 in county or $78 out of county.

Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Hartselle area.

To advertise or to get more FREE copies, call 773-6566. www.hartselleliving.com Copyright 2016 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

FEATURE: What David Letterman and I have in common...

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FEATURE: Gold Star Therapies: Honoring her late husband

FEATURE: Hartselle Boy Scout Troop 336

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FOOD: Fall in Love with these New Fall Favorites

IN EACH ISSUE: Calendar • 6 Letters • 8 Out & About • 26 Classifieds • 29 Parting Shot • 30

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CALENDAR Oct. 1 Reunion The annual Massey School/Community Reunion will be Sat., Oct. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Massey Volunteer Fire Department at 212 Evergreen Rd, Falkville. Anyone who has ever lived or presently lives in Massey, attended school there, worked or taught at the school, is invited to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Frances Vest Rowe at 256-4623875, or franvrowe@aol.com or go to https://www.facebook. com/pages/Massey-School-Reunion-Massey-Community-Reunion/ 162266670467541.

Oct. 1 Class Reunion Morgan County Class of ‘71 will hold a class reunion Oct. 1. If you are a class member, or know of a

class member whereabouts please HHS Class of ‘96 is having their call Jean (Montgomery) Rausch at 20 year Reunion Fri., Oct. 7, with 256-773-5668. a Family tailgate party at the Football stadium at 5 p.m. Also, Oct. 7 on Sat., Oct. 8, the Class Reunion members meet at The Magnolia Class Reunion

HARTSELLE

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Tell us what you like. Suggest improvements.

Submit story ideas and your photos.

HOW TO REACH US

Email: editor@hartselleliving.com

Honoring James Buaford Lawrence Inside this edition: Hartselle Boy Scout Troop 336 Award motivates Pressley to be even better example Vol. 6, Issue 9

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Hartselle Living • 1

Mail: Hartselle Living c/o Hartselle Enquirer PO Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 In person: Hartselle Living c/o Hartselle Enquirer 407 Chestnut St. NW Hartselle, AL 35640 Where in the World is Hartselle Living?:

Travel with Hartselle Living!

Snap a photo of yourself anywhere in the world holding a copy of Hartselle Living and submit by email, by mail or in person. Don’t forget to let us know where in the world you were!

Room from 7 to 11 p.m. For more information contact Katie Braddack at reunion96@yahoo.com Oct. 22 Zombie Chase Hartselle Lions Zombie Chase to be held at Sparkman Park. Register now at active.com Oct. 27 Power of Pink Walk Power of Pink Walk – Decatur in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Nov. 7 Leaders take office Mayor & City Council Take Office In Hartselle Nov. 12 Parade Annual Veterans Day Program & Parade. Displays open at 9 am, Program 10 am and Parade at 11 am.

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Where in the World is Hartselle Living?

While visiting her daughter in Anchorage, Alaska, in September, Mozelle Williams brought along the issue of Hartselle Living, which featured the garden in her home, in Hartselle. Her daughter, Andra Barna, lives in Anchorage where her husband is stationed in the army at JBER.

LETTERS

Living in Hartselle, truly a blessing wrote my first column for this magazine way back in 2010. I have written many columns over the past six years for Hartselle Living and I have truly enjoyed working on this magazine each month.

I have had the privilege to interview many great folks and share their stories inside the pages of this publication.

I have met some really wonderful and fine folks who let me tell their story. I have a few stories that I have not been able to share, but maybe sometime in the future perhaps I can finish those as well.

One never knows where life may lead, just that we have to follow along and live it to the fullest.

You might wonder where I am going with this column and looking back to the beginning. This will be my last column in Hartselle Living as its publisher. By the time you are reading this I will have worked my last day with the Hartselle Enquirer. As many of you may know I ran for and was elected mayor of our fine city. My last day with the paper is September 30. After 14 years of working at the newspaper I am moving onto a new

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chapter of my life.

This new chapter will bring new adventures, new folks and new challenges, but none that I do not look forward to.

I have enjoyed my years here and making the decision to leave has not been an easy one.

I feel that I have been able to make a difference in our city during my time as publisher at the paper, and I will continue working hard for all you and for our hometown.

The newspaper has opened many doors for me, enabled me to meet many new folks, allowed me to make so many new friends and give back to the city that has given so much to me and my family. I love our city and all she is made of, I cannot think of anywhere I would rather have lived, raised our family and made a home and life.

God has truly blessed my family and myself and I am so thankful for all I have experienced living here. These blessings include family, health, a church that I love and the love of my family.

While there could be more glamorous places to live, and I will admit sometimes living at the beach or in the mountains

Randy Garrison • Letter from the Publisher might seem like a great dream, I think being in Hartselle is hard to beat. Going back a few years and thinking about the theme song from “Cheers” I kind of enjoy walking down the street and folks wave at you from their cars and call you by name. While everyone may not know your name, very few places can you visit, shop or dine where you do not run into someone you know.

So, in closing, thanks for allowing me to come into your

homes by way of this magazine. I truly have been blessed to be a part of it and pray each of you receive God’s richest blessings in your life. I am ready to start working for you as your mayor and I will be asking you to help me carry out my campaign slogan believing that “together we can” make Hartselle the best she can be.

Randy

What David Letterman and I have in common...

STORY BY BOB JAQUES

L

ast month while I was watching the NBC Evening News, they had a segment about David Letterman visiting his hometown in Indianapolis, Indiana. I hardly recognized him wearing a full beard and mustache as he was being filmed touring some of his old hangouts in Indianapolis.

Let me say from the outset…I have never met or even seen David Letterman. But we have one thing in common... we both went to the same high school. It is called Broad Ripple High School. Broad Ripple is a small community on the North side of Indianapolis, but within the City limits.

I am seven years older that David, but he is over $200 million dollars richer. He was in my younger brother’s graduation class of 1965. When I was visiting my brother several years ago

in Austin, Texas, I asked him if he had his high school annual. After searching through his closet, he located it, and we found Letterman’s senior picture.

If you look carefully at the last entry by his picture it reads “hall monitor – 4”. Whoever heard of anyone having that designation?

Maybe I should have been one also! The NBC Evening News filmed David visiting our old High School, which hardly resembles the way it looked back in the 1950’s and 1960’s. I had visited

FEB student holds school supply drive 9 • Hartselle Living

Broad Ripple High School three months ago when I was in Indianapolis, it was neat to see the old school shown on NBC News.

David started his career as a radio announcer on station WNTSAM in Indianapolis as an anchor and weatherman. He soon was known for his unpredictable onair behavior.

Letterman was the host of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC for a total of 33 years. His popular show ran from February 1, 1982 until he retired on May 20,

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2015 for a total of 6,028 shows.

He was a very successful television and film producer in addition to being a late night host.

For example, his company called Worldwide Pants, owns the popular show Everybody Loves Raymond, which continues to be syndicated on television.

Perhaps on one of Letterman’s trips to Indianapolis, when I am there also, our paths might cross.

But until that event happens, our only thing we have in common is our high school.

ana Shariett wanted to do something to help her fellow students at F.E. Burleson who did not have school supplies to begin the new year in August.

She spoke with her mother, Melissa Roberson who works at Diatherix in Huntsville. Roberson was able to get everyone at her office to help Kana with her school supply drive. Notebooks, tissue, markers, tape, scissors, crayons and wipes were donated for Kana’s cause.

When asked why she felt lead to do this Kana remarked, “ Because we are Christians. This was a good thing to do for my school.” She and her family attend Epic Church.

Principal Debbie Queen said she was very proud of her students and how they take care of others.

Hartselle Boy Scout Troop 336 Emphasis on character and leadership development SUBMITTED

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artselle’s Boy Scout Troop 336, affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, was originally charted in 1969 by the Farm Bureau of Hartselle and has been chartered by the Kiwanis Club of Hartselle since 1971. With over 90 Eagle Scouts our Troop places an emphasis on character and leadership development through fun outdoor activities; a troop lead by the Scouts; community service; rank advancement; and physical, mental and emotional fitness. Of course many of our Eagle Scouts could not have completed their project without the generosity of many of our local merchants who supplied building and landscaping materials. It sure is amazing how much mulch, gravel and sand our Scouts can tote – 13 tons of pea gravel via shovel and wheel barrow during one project.

Beside the weekly meetings Troop 336 is an active troop with monthly outings, yearly summer camps, challenging high adventure camping, and various service projects. Our Scouts enjoy monthly outings that are age and seasonally appropriate where they have spent many nights in the Sipsey Wilderness, Cheaha State Park or exploring Blowing Wind cave in Hollywood, AL. On hot summer days the Scouts enjoy floating down any one of the nearby rivers – Buffalo, Hiwassee and even the Flint. The outdoors provides

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a great classroom where our scouts reinforce scouting skills such as fire building, knot tying, outdoor cooking, working as a team and generally being self-sufficient and learning to be comfortable outdoors despite the conditions.

We’ve had expeditions to BSA’s backpacking reservation, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2014 and upcoming in 2017.

During these adventures the Scouts spend 12 days hiking 80 to 110 miles in the back country, shoot black powder rifles, climb spar poles, race burros, throw tomahawks, milk cows, participate in team building activities and hike to the top of a 12,00012 • Hartselle Living

foot peak for a spectacular view of 5 states. Scouts learn to backpack safely, respect the outdoors using ‘Leave No Trace’ principles and peacefully coexist with nature – from chipmunks and hummingbirds to bears and mountain lions.

Other High adventure trips have included 1999 and 2015 trips to the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota at BSA’s Northern Tier base where the scouts spent about 10 days canoeing about 100 miles, camping and fishing as much as they want. In 2005 the Troop visited BSA’s Sea Base on Longboat Key in the Florida Keys camping on a remote, barrier island for 5 days. While there they snorkeled several reefs, went

deep sea fishing and just had a great time enjoying ‘island time’. Then in 2006 the troop made a trip out to Idaho rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon river for 100 miles over 5 days.

Our Scouts develop a spirit of service through various projects: participating in the Clean Mile program, Taste of the Valley, Feeding the Homeless during Thanksgiving and numerous school improvement projects benefiting all the Hartselle schools and some of the surrounding schools. Other facilities that have been beneficiaries of our enduring dedication to the community have been Fire Station 1, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, Hartselle Tabernacle, Earth and Spark-

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man parks, Walker soccer field, Speake Volunteer Fire Department and the Volunteers of America Center. Our Scouts also enjoy conducting Flag raising and Flag retirement ceremonies and participating in the annual Christmas parade where we see which of the Scouts can decorate their backpack the best.

Boy Scouts is for young men from age 11 up to age 18.

The Troop meets on Monday nights, 6:00 to 7:30pm at the First Baptist Church. For further inquiries about Troop 336 and our upcoming activities you can visit our web site at www. hartselletroop336. org or email our Scoutmaster, John Mayfield, at scoutmaster@hartselletroop336.org.

Gold Star Therapies Honoring her late husband STORY BY AMANDA GORDON

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believe that the body is fully capable of miracles and healing itself… I aim to facilitate that healing process.” Tiffany Little is the owner and operator of Gold Star Therapies in Hartselle. In 2007, Little’s husband, Kyle, was K.I.A. in Iraq, making her a Gold Star Spouse. For those who do not know, a Gold Star Spouse is someone whose spouse was killed while fighting in the Armed Forces.

Six months after his death, she gave birth to their daughter whom she named after her late husband. While their daughter was late in preschool, Little discovered that she could use some of her late husband’s GI Bill to follow her dream. Her dream was to attend the Madison School of Massage Therapy. She graduated from MSMT in 2013 and that was the beginning of Gold Star Therapies.

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“The name Gold Star Therapies is named thus because of my status. It’s kind of my way of honoring Kyle and thanking him because of his sacrifice. It’s what drove me to make my dreams come true and not just flow through life half-way happy,” says Little. Gold Star Therapies offers several sessions including deep tissue massages, Swedish massages, hot stone massages, reflexology, sports massages or Myofascial, prenatal massages, raindrop therapy, scar tissues massages/ MET and KT Tape sessions.

“I have gone on to learn lots about essential oils and KT tape as well as other modalities such as Thai massage and Thai yoga massage and some sports massage. I hope to add lymphatic drainage massage and cranial sacral therapy to my tools soon too and maybe eventually be a certified Rolfer and somatics,”

she said. There is also the opportunity to receive some of these options in the comfort of your home.

“In my spare time, which never exists, I am the PTO officer this year at my daughter’s school, which I am super excited about. I do my best to be part of Hartselle Chamber as well as the ambassadors. I also do events with my local SOS (Survivor Outreach Services) and spend time with families like ours who have lost a loved one all too soon in the military,” she says, “I love to watch movies and read with my daughter and we like to play games. I am recently remarried to a Veteran named Arron Wilcox. We are very close to our family because they live close by. I also couldn’t live without my church family and my daily dose of Yoga by my instructor Sherri Smith.”

Little states, “My busi-

ness is so important to me. I never thought I would own and operate my own business and the driving force for that was I did not want to be constrained by anyone else’s schedule so I could be at any event or field trip my daughter has. Yet here I am on my own not even a year and God and the amazing clients I see have me booked out nearly a month in advance. It’s incredible. I honestly want to help Hartselle live better. Whether it is just lots of stress from daily life or recovering from an injury or even working towards getting a more normal range of motion on a frozen shoulder. It’s amazing what I have seen massage do and how I have been able to assist people to living a better life.”

For more information on Gold Star Therapies, call 256-773-2840 or go to http:// goldstartherapieshartselle. massagetherapy.com/

Award motivates Pressley to be even better example STORY AND PHOTO BY RANDY GARRISON

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hit Pressley has been playing in a softball tournament in Virginia since he was 16 years old. This year was the 21st year he has attended the tournament. His church, Fairview The Grace Place has been participating in the tournament for 28 years.

The tournament is held to raise money for missions in Paraguay, South America. The tournament is in its 38 year and has enabled a school, church and radio station to be built in Paraguay. There is an entry fee for the tournament, but a separate offering is taken during a service held on Saturday night.

This year $24,000 was raised.

The tournament originated with the Church of God but is now open to anyone. The teams play on Saturday and Sunday.

Fairview sent two teams this year, one made up of men from Fairview and the second with men from Fairview and others from outside the church. The teams raise money during the year to give as their offering at 15 • Hartselle Living

the tournament. The teams held a corn hole tournament to raise money this year.

Each year at the tournament there are four awards given out.

They include: The Shepherd Award for pastors, The Sarah Award for couples, The Christian Witness Award for individuals and the Sportsmanship Award for teams.

To be eligible a player has to be nominated and have letters of recommendation written for them explaining why they should be considered for the award. A board will make the final decision.

Presley who serves on the deacon board at Fairview and plays in the worship band coaches the team and plays all summer in the local church league. There are 12 players on the team.

When the time to go to Virginia arrived Pressley was surprised his parents wanted to go, since it was the first time in 10 years they had gone. But when his name was called out as the winner of the Christian

Witness Award he did not feel he deserved the honor. Jeff Miller had nominated him and Pressley did not know about the nominations. Fairview pastor Milan Dekich, Fairview Associate Pastor Clay Tankersley, Pressley’s brother David and his father Garry had all written letters of recommendation.

As he listened to the letter his brother David wrote Pressley thought about how much it meant to be able to play with his brother, winning also motivated him to be a better person.

He strives to be a better example and to search people out that need Jesus. His goal is to get as many people as possible involved to show the love of Jesus and to hold him accountable.

Whitt explained why this tournament is so important to the church. A fellow player, Gus, on the other team at Fairview accepted Jesus on the

way home and they had to pull over on the side of the road.

First time player Adam Robinson said “It is about giving glory to God and doing what He has set out for us. This group of guys have all been an inspiration to me and not only by being the men they are but by letting me witness how your are supposed to walk with God.” Whitt commented “ softball is more about spending time with the guys instead of just playing softball. I want everyone to experience what I have by playing in the tournament for the past 21 years.”

Pressley thanks his parents for raising him in a Christian home and a brother that held him accountable, and for a Godly wife. His is married to Jennifer Pressley and they have two children.

Pressley also thanked his pastor and associate pastor for they have done for him.

FOOD

Fall in Love with these New Fall Favorites

Cha Cha’s White Chicken Chili Courtesy of Allrecipes.com

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 (4 ounce) can diced jalapeno peppers 1 (4 ounc e) can chopped gr een chile peppers 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth 3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast 3 (15 ounce) cans white beans 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese Heat the oil in a lar ge sauc epan o ver medium-low heat. Slo wly c ook and stir the onion until t ender. M ix in the garlic ,

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jalapeno, gr een chile peppers , cumin, oregano and ca yenne. C ontinue t o c ook and stir the mix ture until t ender, about 3 minutes. M ix in the chick en broth, chicken and whit e beans . Simmer 15 minut es, stirring occasionally.

3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed 4 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces 4 stalks celery, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 large onion, chopped 2 teaspoons cornstarch 2 teaspoons cold water

Remove the mix ture fr om heat. Slo wly stir in the cheese until melt ed. Serve warm.

In a lar ge pot or dut ch o ven, c ook beef in oil over medium heat until brown. Dissolve bouillon in wat er and pour int o pot. Stir in rosemary, parsley and pepper.

Beef Stew VI

Courtesy of Allrecipes.com 2 pounds cubed beef stew meat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 4 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled 4 cups water 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 hour.

Stir potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion into the pot. Dissolve cornstarch in 2 teaspoons cold wat er and stir int o st ew. C over and simmer 1 hour more.

Roasted Fall Vegetables Courtesy of Allrecipes.com

3 medium beets, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 1 large turnip, peeled and cubed 1 cup pearl onions, peeled 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary salt to taste Preheat o ven t o 425 degr ees F (220 degrees C).

Place the beets and turnip in a 9x9 inch baking dish. Cut an X in the root end of the onions and plac e them in the dish. Drizzle the oliv e oil o ver the v egetables and add the rosemary and salt. Stir to coat the vegetables with oil.

Bake in pr eheated o ven f or 1 hour , or until the v egetables ar e golden br own and tender. Serve hot.

Roquefort Pear Salad

Courtesy of Allrecipes.com 1 head leaf lettuc e, t orn int o bit e-size pieces 3 pears - peeled, cored and chopped 5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions 1/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup pecans 1/3 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons prepared mustard 1 clove garlic, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt fresh ground black pepper to taste In a skillet over medium heat, stir 1/4 cup of sugar t ogether with the pecans . C ontinue stirring gently until sugar has melt ed and caramelized the pecans . C arefully tr ansfer nuts onto waxed paper. Allow to cool, and break into pieces.

For the dr essing, blend oil, vinegar , 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, mustar d, chopped garlic , salt, and pepper.

In a large serving bowl, layer lettuce, pears, blue cheese , a vocado, and gr een onions .

Pour dressing over salad, sprink le with pecans, and serve.

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Oatmeal Craisin Cookies Courtesy of Allrecipes.com 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups quick cooking oats 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup raisins 1 cup dried cranberries

Apple Crisp II

Courtesy of Allrecipes.com 10 cups all-purpose apples , peeled , c ored and sliced 1 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup water 1 cup quick-cooking oats 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup butter, melted

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).

Place the slic ed apples in a 9x13 inch pan.

Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon t ogether, and sprink le over apples. Pour water evenly over all.

Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking po wder, bak ing soda and melt ed butter t ogether. Crumble ev enly o ver the apple mixture.

Bake at 350 degr ees F (175 degr ees C) f or about 45 minutes

Beat butt er, sugars , eggs and v anilla f or 5 minutes. In another bo wl, c ombine oats , flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Add to butter mixture 1 cup at a time.

Mix in raisins and craisins.

Drop b y spoonfuls ont o gr eased c ookie sheets and bak e f or 12-14 minut es at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). These freeze very well. Enjoy!!

Double La yer P Cheesecake

umpkin

Courtesy of Allrecipes.com 2 (8 ounc e) pack ages cr eam cheese , sof tened 1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 pinch ground cloves 1 pinch ground nutmeg 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed Preheat o ven t o 325 degr ees F (165 degrees C).

In a lar ge bo wl, c ombine cr eam cheese , sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time . Remo ve 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.

Add pumpk in, cinnamon, clo ves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until w ell blended . C arefully spr ead o ver the batter in the crust.

Bake in pr eheated o ven f or 35 t o 40 minutes, or until c enter is almost set. Allow to cool, then r efrigerate f or 3 hours or o vernight. Cover with whipped t opping before serving.

GRILLED continued on page 20 19 • Hartselle Living

Honoring James Buaford Lawrence

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His story begins in Falkville, Ala. STORY CHARLEY GAINES AND RANDY GARRISON PHOTOS BY & PAUL MCCULLOUGH

A

19-year-old Hartselle man stepped on a bus to Birmingham and for the next year, 11 months and 12 days served in the United States Navy during the deadliest, most widespread war the world has ever known.

James Buaford Lawrence began his journey through World War II May 30, 1944. He was born in Falkville, but let his roots grow in Hartselle where he said he got on the bus at the old post office, that was headed to Birmingham. He became an active member of the United States Military on that day in May more than 70 years ago. From Birmingham, Lawrence caught a train New Orleans where he started experiencing things he’d never been exposed to in Morgan County. For one, the fancy restaurant in New Orleans was swankier than what Lawrence was used to at home.

“I was uncomfortable because I didn’t know what to do with them. I guarantee you, it was a trip!” The veteran laughed as he remembered the silverware and fancy napkins at the table where they ate their last decent meal before training camp.

Lawrence’s service took him from New Orleans to Houston and then a little ways up the road to Camp Wallace where he spent the next three months training.

“We came home for seven days and then reported back

21 • Hartselle Living

to Camp Wallace,” Lawrence said.

The list of buses, trains and airplanes that shipped he and other troops back and forth across the U.S. and then the world is extensive. So, the list of transports Lawrence took during his time in the Navy is somewhat confusing. From Camp Wallace he said he went back into Houston and then rode a train from Houston all the way out to San Diego, Calif.

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“We got all the way to San Diego, and that was the first time I saw black and white people mixed in a restaurant,” Lawrence said. He said he remembers that moment just as well as any of his other WWII experiences.

After month-long wait in San Diego, Lawrence faced the reality of war as he caught a ride from California to Hawaii on an aircraft carrier and then jumped from Hawaii to Guam.

His ship encountered what he said was a typhoon or a 20-foothigh “wall of water.” Lawrence volunteered to be in the 301st Naval Construction Batallion on Hawaii and was transported to Guam to work for what he estimates was eight on nine months.

The 301st United States Naval Construction Batallion, or the 301st USNCB was made up of men who were or would essential become experts in

dredging or deepening, clearing and constructing harbors at Naval bases. They were also the men who kept equipment in working order to make sure everyone was ready when they were attacked. Lawrence’s detachment stayed on Guam for about eight or nine months and then went to Okinawa where they did the real work required of their group. On the way to Okinawa, the group came up on yet another typhoon on the LST.

“That thing would rear up, come down and slap the water,” the veteran remembered. “You could hear it everywhere.”

The second class mechanic said he mainly worked with heavy machinery like bulldozers and cranes. He said his detachment was dredging out the harbors for Allied ships to come into.

“The night we landed in Okinawa on the LST, we had 27 air raids,” Lawrence said as he 23 • Hartselle Living

recounted his story. “They shot two planes down of the fantail.”

Just before August 6, 1945, Lawrence said the Navy issued the troops gas masks in preparation of the two atomic bomb drops in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

“We were a good way from it, but they said if the wind was in a certain direction, we might be affected,” he recalled. “I don’t remember if I ever put it on, but I had it.”

The Hartselle man’s detachment finished their work in Okinawa and then headed back to Guam after their camp was broken down. The men and the camp were both loaded onto a dry dock which a tug boat pulled “all the way from Okinawa back to Guam.” The veteran said it he thought it took them about 21 days to get back to Guam.

“All we had to do was pass the time away playing cards and

shoot-

ing dice,” he said.

After Guam, the detachment came back East to Hawaii, and just before they reached the islands, Lawrence said they encountered yet another ocean nightmare. The ship was met by a tidal wave that he said “liked to wash [Hawaii] away.”

“It was a wall of water that was rushing toward us,” he recounted. Just as the ship from Guam to Okinawa did, the boat to Hawaii reared up and came back down with force. After the boat came up on the wave, Lawrence said he could see the wall of water going away from their boat toward the islands.

The typhoons and tidal waves, he said, were the scariest parts of the war for him.

From Hawaii, Lawrence said he went back to California, this time he set foot in the U.S. in San Francisco. After serving almost two years in the Navy, Lawrence traveled from the West Coast back down to New Orleans where he was discharged.

There’s no way Lawrence can recount all of the tales that make up his journey from the small but growing City of Hartselle across the world and back, but what the 91-year-old WWII veteran remembers are almost unbelievable.

One of the most amazing and detailed stories Lawrence tells is the time they were attacked

by Japanese suicide bombers while they were in Japan.

“One morning, a bunch of us boys were going to a job site and a landing craft was going across the harbor,” Lawrence looked at the table as he remembered heading to work that day. “Two suicide bombers came over. They were dropping bombs and shooting. The battle ships and everything were out 24 • Hartselle Living

there and firing back at them.

Seven or eight of us just had one little old shelter, but all of us were piled in that shelter.”

He went on laughing and said, “It wouldn’t have amounted to anything if we’d been hit.”

He still remembers men coming back without fingernails because they’d been ripped out after the Japanese found the Americans stealing stuff from their burial tombs. He still remembers a Japanese man getting caught after he disguised himself in a U.S. uniform, and he still remembers one Saturday after the war ended and the good times he and his Hartselle war buddy had when all was said and done. He said the other seaman’s name was John Lockhart and the two decided to go to Japan and back in one day. They hitchhiked to the airport, and the last leg of their journey to get on a plane was from a pilot. The man told them just how many of the planes that took the oneday trip came back.

“We got scared, turned around and hitchhiked all the way back,” he said laughing.

After 91 years, clear memories still show on his face when he tells his tales from the biggest war in history. Lawrence remembers the timeline, laid it out like he was reading a story from a book and then filled in the holes with other memories that were tied to the war and significant to the person he became. More than 70 years has passed since the Hartselle boy became a man after WWII. To hear first-account stories from someone who saw the events of WWII is becoming more rare with each passing year, but seeing the memories pass on Lawrence face was part of his timeline. The words came from his mouth, but the events are etched

on his face and deep in his eyes when he tells about his service in the Navy as “Seabee.”

On September 21, Lawrence was once again honored for his service. He was able to fly to Washington D.C to visit the WWII Memorial. In what is known as Honor Flight veterans are able to visit their war memorial. Lawrence was given this privilege through Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee.

Their mission is to fly veterans from WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam War Veterans on a one-day free trip to Washington, D.C. The Honor Flight recognizes American veterans for their sacrifice and service. A guardian flies with the veteran to provide flight assistance and ensure the veteran has a safe, memorable and rewarding experience.

Paul McCullough a Hartselle native served as sponsor to

25 • Hartselle Living

Lawrence. McCullough, who now lives in Manchester Tennessee, was a 1965 Morgan County High School graduate and teaches at Belmont University. McCullough wanted to honor Lawrence and be a part

of honoring other veterans.

The pair had a great time and this trip meant a great deal to both Lawrence and McCullough. Lawrence shared more stories on the trip about his military days. Both enjoyed

the reception they received that was very honoring to the veterans and the guardians traveling with them.

Stay tuned for additional information about the trip in an upcoming edition.

OUT AND ABOUT

Depot Days 2016

26 • Hartselle Living

27 • Hartselle Living

Hartselle Living • 27

OUT AND ABOUT

28 • Hartselle Living

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Hartselle Living • 29

PARTING THOUGHTS

F. E. Burleson 100 Year Anniversary Lyrics and Music by: Stephanie Porter Music by: Shane Porter This song was written to celebrate the 100th year of the building that housed F.E. Burleson for many years.

Lyrics and Music were composed by Stephanie Porter, music teacher at Burleson and music by here husband Shane. Music classes from FEB learned this song and sang it at the Depot Days Celebration.

30 • Hartselle Living

We started from humble beginnings A committee with a dream To give our town a school that would grow with our community We are F. E. Burleson A school that leads us toward a bright future.

F. E. Burleson Our noteworthy school F. E. Burleson A school that leads us toward a bright future.

F. E. Burleson Our outstanding school We’ve grown now for 100 years Though the building and people have changed We remain a source of excellence and quality We are F. E. Burleson A school that leads us toward a bright future.

F. E. Burleson Our noteworthy school F. E. Burleson A school that leads us toward a bright future.

F. E. Burleson Our outstanding school We’ve grown now for 100 years As many students pass in and out our doors We teach integrity academics and the arts.

We believe in guiding young minds Enriching and preparing for the world beyond We are F. E. Burleson A school that leads us toward a bright future.

F. E. Burleson Our noteworthy school F. E. Burleson A school that leads us toward a bright future.

F. E. Burleson Our outstanding school We’ve grown now for 100 years

WHO AM I? #ImADecaturMorganBaby

Father was a physician at Decatur Morgan Hospital (Decatur General)

VP of a Local Bank

Current Volunteer at Decatur Morgan Hospital

PARKWAY CAMPUS

31 • Hartselle Living

Tom Guyton

32 • Hartselle Living