The Chattooga County Historical Society honored the memory and the life of several Chattooga County veterans on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at the historic Summerville Depot. The guest speakers for the program were: Mrs. Michael Ann Bailey, Mrs. Jan Pullen, Mrs. Odell Anderson, and Judge Sam Finster.

     CCHS President Eugene McGinnis was out of town, and CCHS Vice President of Programs, Reba Phillips Welch, conducted the program. Mr. Bill Barker opened the meeting with prayer, and Reba Welch introduced the guest speakers.

     Mrs. Michael Ann Bailey, former Regent of the William Marsh Chapter of the National Society of DAR, provided information about the four American Revolutionary soldiers buried in Chattooga County. Elias Baker (1760-1843) was born in Maryland and married Sarah Ann Holbrook. Elias Baker was buried at Garrett Cemetery in the Broomtown Valley community. Joseph Couey (1764-1844) was born in South Carolina and married Ann (maiden name unknown).  Joseph Couey was buried at Farmersville Cemetery in the Dirttown community but was buried in an unmarked grave. Edward Jackson (1755-1845) was born in South Carolina and married Charity Hill and later married Mary Hall. Edward Jackson was buried at Poe Cemetery just north of Trion along Old Highway 27. He also has a monument erected at Suwanee Memorial Cemetery in Gwinnett County. Daniel O’Rear (1759-1858) was born in Virginia and married Susan Gooch and later married Margaret Brown McCollum. Daniel O’Rear was buried at Macedonia Cemetery in the Teloga community along Broomtown Road/Highway 337.

     The next speaker was Mrs. Jan Pullen, historian for the John Story Cleghorn Chapter No. 1273 Daughters of the Confederacy, discussing the many contributions of Chattooga County residents during the War Between the States. According to Gregory Dale Mitchell, Chattooga County Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 507, there were approximately 692 Chattooga County soldiers that fought in the Civil War. Chattooga County was represented by seven company units that served in the Civil War. Approximately 310 Civil War soldiers were buried in Chattooga County. The soldiers are listed on Camp 507’s website by cemetery. Please visit the website at www.scv.weebly.com and visit their Facebook page. Jan Pullen read letters written during the Civil War between Confederate soldier, W.T. “Doc” Phillip,s and his wife, Mattie Phillips. Phillips was not able to return home to his wife. He was captured and died while at Point Lookout in Maryland in the closing months of the Civil War. She later passed away in 1913.

     Mrs. Odell Anderson, veteran’s liaison for U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson and Veterans Program Director for Subligna Baptist Church, honored Chattooga County veterans that served in World War I through the present conflicts/wars. Many county residents believe that former Chattooga County Commissioner John S. Jones, who served as the county’s first sole commissioner from 1957-1964, was the last surviving World War I veteran from Chattooga County. Mrs. Odell Anderson read the following names as she honored the service of World War II veterans: Dort Brown (1922-2011), from Subligna fought in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 through January 1945. Neal McKnight fought at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The Battle of Normandy in June 1944 was known as D-Day. Charles “Charlie” B. Wilson (1924-2012) and Emmett Dooley were survivors from D-Day. Hillman Hix, Trion resident fought in General George S. Patton’s Army and received a Bronze Star for his service in WWII. Tom Johnston, Subligna resident, received a Purple Heart and other medals during his service from 1944 to 1946. Tom Johnston is a surviving WWII veteran that also served on the Nuremberg Trials between November 1945 and October 1946. Billy Locklear, Trion resident received the Purple Heart and many other medals for his service in WWII. He served between 1943 and 1945, which included fighting at the Battle of Saipan in June 1944. The two surviving WWII Prisoners of War veterans from Chattooga County are Hill Bohannon and Leo Lanier. Leo Lanier was shot down by the enemy on April 10, 1945, flying over Berlin, Germany. He was released as a prisoner of war after the Russian Army liberated the prison camp.

     Mrs. Odell Anderson honored several veterans that fought during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Harry Treadaway and Bill Barker both were in attendance at the program and were recognized. The late J.C. Hatcher (1932-2010) was a Prisoner of War (POW) during the Korean War. He served his country from 1949 to 1954 with 33 months behind enemy walls in a prison. He received two Purple Hearts and many other deserving medals. Dave Welch, the husband of CCHS Vice President of Programs Reba Phillips Welch, was recognized for his service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. My father, Bobby E. Hayes, also served in the United States Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.

     The final guest speaker was the Honorable Judge Sam Finster, a decorated Vietnam veteran. Judge Finster provided a Powerpoint on the creation and purpose of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), as well as the purpose of the Chattooga County Memorial Home. Judge Finster was drafted in 1965 and served in the Vietnam War until 1968. He encouraged all residents of Chattooga County to visit the Veterans Memorial at J.R. “Dick” Dowdy Park in Summerville. With help from the City of Summerville, two phases of the memorial have been completed. A possible phase three will include a memorial to all veterans and soldiers that served in wars prior to World War I.

     While teaching History classes at Armuchee High School in 1999-2000, I had the honor and privilege to meet and teach the late Spc. Justin W. Johnson. He was born in 1981, and graduated from Armuchee High School in June 2000. He was killed on April 10, 2004, in Baghdad, Iraq. He was buried in Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Floyd County, Georgia.

     We honor, remember, and thank all of those who have served our country, our state, and our county as veterans in the United States. God Bless!