Armed Forces Day observed on May 16

In mid March, Dickenson County Historical Society joined many other businesses and organizations and closed our doors to the public in response to the government’s “stay at home” guidelines. Many of our volunteers and members fall into the “vulnerable, at risk” category and their safety is of the utmost importance. However, some of our volunteers have joined so many others and are working from home to help slow the spread of the Covid19 virus.

Although today we feel like we may be fighting a war with an invisible enemy, seventy-five years ago, 2,700 men and women from our county were fighting a different kind of war - World War II. Instead of staying safe at home, many Dickenson County citizens were serving overseas to protect our freedoms.

May 8 is V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day. V-E Day commemorates the formal acceptance by the Allies of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender and marks the end of WWII in Europe.

Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May and was created to honor those men and women who served in the United States military. This year, Armed Forces Day will be observed on May 16.

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May and commemorates those who died while in service. This year Memorial Day will be observed on May 25.

May is definitely a month to honor those who have served or who are serving in the U. S. military. Even though the Historical Society’s office may be closed to the public at the present time, our military photograph archive project is still ongoing. All military photos are greatly appreciated.

Our volunteers have been searching through the 1945, copies of The Dickensonian newspaper. Those newspapers revealed many interesting details about some of those who were far from the safety of their homes seventy five years ago. The newspapers are faded and difficult to read. Therefore only “bits and pieces” of those articles can be presented.

The headline for the front page of the May 4, 1945, issue of the newspaper declared that “Germany Quits.” The newspaper listed the names of 19 men who had been inducted into the service during that week. The names of those who entered the army were: Otis Lee Fleming, Burl John Deel, Ed Douglas Moore, Millard Dutton, William H. Hatfield, U. Dwight Boyd, Alex Ray Saunders, Ralph Ferrel Childress, James Deel, Cecil B. Rose, Charles Thomas Dutton, Cecil Darrel Fletcher, Raymond H. Hensley, Bart Junior Mullins, Junior Anderson, and Lewis Clayton Silcox. Three were inducted into the Navy: Buford H. Stanley, David M. Crabtree, Jr., and Vilous Mullins.

The deaths of Howard Rasnick and C. V. Miller, Jr. were reported. Howard Rasnick, son of N. R. Rasnick of Clintwood, had been killed in action according to a telegram. Prior to his entry into the Army, he was employed by the Clinchfield Coal Corporation. He was a graduate of DMHS, and was one of the most popular young men of this community.

“C. V. Miller, Jr., better known as J. P., was killed in the fighting in Germany in April according to a message received by his parents... three days after his death. He had entered the Armed Forces soon after graduating from DMHS something like fifteen months ago.

“C. V. Miller, Jr., was the fifth service man to make the supreme sacrifice from his community just beyond the Glenn Gap on the Fremont Highway, just a mile out of Clintwood. These lads were Luther Justice, John Propst, Cecil Neel, Howard Rasnick, and C. V. Miller, Jr.”

The same newspaper also revealed that three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Estes Dotson of Clintwood were in the service: Otis Dotson with the Navy, Clarence Dotson, also in the Navy, and Clyde Kenneth Dotson in the Army.

“Otis was a Second Class Petty Officer, serving in the Philippines. He entered the service in June, 1944, and took his boot training at Bainbridge, Md. He took a short furlough home, and then shipped out to New Guinea, where he saw service in the jungles for many months.

“Clarence entered the Navy in May, 1944, and took his boot training at Great Lakes. He was a member of the Armed Guard aboard a cargo ship and had made two trips across to England and two to France. In May, 1945, he was on duty somewhere in the Atlantic.

“Kenneth was in England with a Quartermaster Corp outfit. He entered the service in March, 1943, and within three months was in England where he had duty with the service of supplies.”

The Dickensonian also reported that Elvin French had been wounded. “Elvin French, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. P. French of Clintwood, was seriously wounded in Germany on April 15th, 1945, according to a telegram received by his parents. He was shot in the chest by a German sniper. French had written a letter to his mother after he was wounded, telling her about it, and informing her that he did not think his condition was serious.”

The May 4, 1945, newspaper reported that “First Lieutenant Kermit K. Rakes of Tarpon received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential citation and three bronze battle stars. He was first Pilot on a C-47 Transport Plane which had been dropping paratroopers in various hot spots of Europe. He was with the 50th Troop Carrier Command, and had seen service in Normandy during the invasion, the Riviera in Southern France Holland Bastogne and the Rhine. “

“Private Lonnie Deel, son of N. M. Deel of Selton, entered the Armed Forces in February, 1944, and trained at Indiantown Gap, Pa. He sailed overseas in August and joined up with General Patton’s famous Third Army. He immediately saw action in the drive into Germany, and has won the Combat Infantry Badge.”

David French, James F. Powers, Buford Owens, and Lloyd Waddell had either been home on furlough or was expected to be furloughed soon. Odell Counts had been captured by the Germans on November 14, 1944. Jasper Anderson had been awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster.

Even though we are “stuck at home” today in order to defeat an invisible enemy, we should look to the past to get some understanding about what our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents had to endure in order to be victorious against their enemy during WWII.

Photos accompanying this article were taken from old newspapers which explains the poor quality of those photos.

The Historical Society’s annual 4th of July Military Tribute and Book Fair has been canceled for 2020. However, photos of any person who has served or who is serving in the United States military and who has ties to Dickenson County are still being accepted. Photos will be added to our archives and will be archived and displayed in 2021. Please contact the Historical Society for further instructions to submit a photo.

Because of the present Covid19 virus situation in our country, our office will be closed until further notice. However, for more information concerning any of our publications or books for sale or for assistance with research, please contact the Historical Society office at 276/926-6355, P. O. Box 52, Clintwood, Va., 24228, or dchs1880@gmail.com. If no answer, please leave a message (which includes your name and phone number) and one of our volunteers will return your call. Or contact Edith Faye Redden at 276/926-4117.