The Telegram
ANNIVERSARY
Saturday, April 14, 2012 • C11
Medal of Honor winners focus of Veterans Memorial Park By Pete Wilson Executive Editor John Wollam. James M. Compston. Donald Long. Are those names familiar to you? Do you know who those men were and what they did for their claim to local fame? For most Jackson Countians, the answers are probably not. The tie that binds these men, who are all now deceased, is they are true American heroes, based on the valor they displayed during their military service to the nation. They were seemingly ordinary men who did extraordinary and courageous things for America. • During the Civil War, as a member of the famed Andrew’s Raiders, John Wollam participated in a dangerous undercover mission deep in Confederate territory in an attempt to disrupt the enemy’s transportation system. • As a young private in the Union Army during the Civil War, James M. Compston exhibited outstanding bravery while participating in the Shenanoah Valley Campaign of 1864. • In the Vietnam War in June ABOVE: This monument in front of 1966, Sergeant Donald R. the Oak Hill Post Office memorialLong sacrificed his own life to ized Sergeant Donald R. Long of save the lives of other soldiers Blackfork, who lost his life in the by jumping on a grenade durVietnam War when he threw himing an attack by the Viet Cong. self on a live grenade to protect his These three men’s great acts comrades. For his heroism, he was of courage in service to America posthumously conferred the Conearned them the nation’s highest gressional Medal of Honor. military award -- the CongresAT LEFT: Donald Russell Long of sional Medal of Honor. To Blackfork became a hero in the receive it, the recipient must Vietnam War and earned the Conhave exhibited “conspicuous gressional Medal of Honor when gallantry and intrepidity at the he made the “ultimate sacrifice” to risk of his life above and beyond save the lives of his fellow soldiers. the call of duty...” In the long history of the United States, there have been only 3,475 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and three of them were from Jackson County and are buried here. To honor Wollam, Compston, and Long and to insure they receive their proper recognition and respect from present and future generations, their standing as Congressional Medal of Honor winners will be “the focal point” of a new Veterans Memorial Park to be established in downtown Jackson. A coalition of every veterans’ organization in Jackson County has founded a non-profit corporation known as the Jackson County Veterans Organization to plan and develop Veterans Memorial Park on vacant property owned by the City of Jackson at the southwest corner of Main and Portsmouth Streets, which is the former site of the Gibson Hotel. Ron Speakman credits longtime Jackson resident and former Jackson Mayor Tom Evans with coming up with the original idea for such a Veterans Memorial Park. Jackson City Council approved an ordinance October ABOVE: This monument in Coalton Cemetery marks the grave of 24, 2011, granting the Jackson James M. Compston, who earned the Congressional Medal of HonCounty Veterans Organization or for his bravery in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. use of the land for at least a year Jackson VFW Post and the April meeting is to while organizers attempt to launch the project. If be held Tuesday, April 15, at KFC of Oak Hill. the project continues to move forward, the vetOfficers of the Jackson County Veterans erans’ coalition is expected to seek some type of Organization, are: President Ron Speakman, long-term or continuing lease from the city. Vice President Randy Sizemore, Secretary JenVeterans’ groups which are represented in the nifer Long, Treasurer Hayden Oiler, Trustees new corporation are: American Legion Post Philip Howe (1 year), Mike Jeffries (2 year) 261 of Oak Hill, American Legion Post 81 of and Marvin Payne (3 years). Jackson, AMVETS of Wellston, AMVETS In forming its non-profit corporation, the Post 84 of Jackson, DAV Chapter 45 of Jack- Jackson County Veterans Organization has also son, VFW Post 8402 of Jackson, VFW Post gained 501c3 status, which means it can accept 9092 of Wellston, Vietnam Veterans of Ameri- non-taxable donations. ca of Jackson, American Legion Post 371 of Project Update Wellston, AMVETS Post 279 of Oak Hill, and The project is still in its infancy with two of American Legion Post 277 of Coalton. the next major steps to be the determination of Regular meetings are held the third Tuesday a concept and design and a fundraising plan to evening of each month at rotating sites through- finance it. out the county. The March meeting was held at Speakman says the main element in Veterans Memorial Park will be the tribute to the three local Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Other possible features of the memorial park would likely be some type of tribute to
Photos By Pete Wilson ABOVE: Leaders of the recently formed Jackson County Veterans Organization confer during their most recent monthly meeting. Pictured (from the left) are: President Ron Speakman, Wendell Brunton, Treasurer Hayden Oiler and Trustee Philip Howe. AT RIGHT: This is the sign marking the future location of the Jackson County Veterans Memorial Park at the corner of East Main and Portsmouth streets in Jackson. AT LEFT: John Wollam, a Jackson Countian who served in the Union Army in the Civil War, earned the Congressional Medal of Honor as a member of the famed Andrews’ Raiders.
Jackson County veterans killed in all wars and appropriate murals painted on the walls of adjacent properties which form two sides of the perimeter of the property. “The (amount of) money will drive the design,” Speakman noted, adding though he feels the park will feature a brick walkway. “Right now, we have 10 or 12 people, all with different ideas, on how to bring all this into focus,” Speakman reported. The main fundraising project is expected to be in the form of a commemorative brick sale. Purchasers of bricks can have their names and/or a short message inscribed in the brick, which would then become part of the walkway. Vice President Randy Sizemore has been put in charge of this part of the project and he and others are currently working out the details. Speakman also says another possible project is a reverse raffle, which would be initiated later in the year and end with the drawing at the Veterans Appreciation Day that is to be held in October at Manpower Park in Jackson. Speakman also anticipates the project being boosted by in-kind donations of materials and labor. John Wollam 1840-1890 Wollam served as a Private in Company C of the 33rd Ohio Infantry of the Union Army in the Civil War. He was one of two men, including two civilians, who participated in a dangerous undercover mission behind Confederate lines. Under the command of a civilian, James Andrews, this group would become known as Andrews’Raiders. In April 1862, in an attempt to aid the Union objective of taking the important transportation hub of Chattanooga, Tennessee, it was the mission of the Raiders to penetrate nearly 200 miles behind Confederate lines. Their plan was to capture a a railroad train at Big Shanty, Georgia, then head north on the line, cutting telegraph lines and destroying rail line as they went. If they were successful, Confederate communication and supply lines would be cut and it would take a much longer time to reinforce Chattanooga with more soldiers. The scheme fell just short of success as pursuing Confederates finally overtook the stolen locomotive in Northern Georgia, just 18 miles from Chattanooga. The Raiders fled, but all were captured and Andrews and seven others were hanged as spies. Eight others, including Wollam, escaped before perhaps facing a similar demise. The bravery of the Raiders inspired the idea for a Congressional Medal of Honor and Wollam and 18 of 20 Raiders received the honor. Wollam received his medal July 20, 1864. Only four of the Raiders did not receive a Congressional Medal of Honor. Andrews and the other civilian participant were not eligible since they were not members of the military. The other two not receiving the medal were the two soldiers who did not arrive in time at Big Shanty to be part of the locomotive theft. One of these men was Jackson County resident Samuel Llewellyn. Wollam survived the war and returned to Jackson County where he died in 1890. He is buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Jackson.
James M. Compston 1837-1888 James M. Compston would become the second Private from Jackson County in the Civil War to win the nation’s highest military honor. At the age of 25, he was mustered into Company D of the 91st Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 14, 1862. Compston’s military glory would come about two years later as a result of exploits and heroism in action from August to November 1864 in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign in Virginia. That campaign was another key strategic breakthrough for the Union Army in its continuing military squeeze against a valiant but undermanned Confederate opponent. While Ulysses Grant was laying siege to Petersburg and Sherman was on his famous “March To The Sea” in Georgia, General Phil Sheridan was applying pressure in the Shenandoah Valley, where his goal was not only to defeat the Rebel Army, but also to carry out a “scorched earth” policy to deprive the Confederates of food and other supplies. The available record does not provide much detail about what Compston did to support the Union effort, but his medal was earned on the basis of “bravery in action.” His citation read “Capture of flag.” Compston served through the end of the war and was honorably mustered out June 24, 1865 at Cumberland, Maryland. His medal was issued under the name of “James Cumpston” and he is still officially listed that way on the roster. Compston died May 24, 1888, and is buried in Coalton Cemetery. Donald R. Long 1939-1966 Long served as a Sergeant, United States Army, Troop C, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. He was awarded his medal posthumously for service at the Republic of Vietnam, June 30, 1966. His citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Troops B and C, while conducting a reconnaissance mission along a road were suddenly attacked by a Viet Cong regiment, supported by mortars, recoilless rifles and machine guns, from concealed positions astride the road. “Sgt. Long abandoned the relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and braved a withering hail of enemy fire to carry wounded men to evacuation helicopters. As the platoon fought its way forward to resupply advanced elements, Sgt. Long repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire at point blank range to provide the needed supplies. “While assaulting the Viet Cong position, Sgt. Long inspired his comrades by fearlessly standing unprotected to repel the enemy with rifle fire and grenades as they attempted to mount his carrier. When the enemy threatened to overrun a disabled carrier nearby, Sgt. Long again disregarded his own safety to help the severely wounded crew to safety. “As he was handing arms to the less seriously wounded and reorganizing them to press the attack, an enemy grenade was hurled onto the carrier deck. Immediately recognizing the imminent danger, he instinctively shouted a warning to the crew and pushed to safety one man who had not heard his warning over the roar of battle. “Realizing that these actions would not fully protect the exposed crewmen from the deadly explosion, he threw himself over the grenade to absorb the blast and thereby saved the lives of 8 of his comrades at the expense of his life. Throughout the battle, Sgt. Long's extraordinary heroism, courage and supreme devotion to his men were in the finest tradition of the military service, and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.” Long was buried in Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Blackfork. His service and memory has also been memorialized by a monument placed in front of the Oak Hill Post Office.