[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 66 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3078-S3079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO KENTUCKY WORLD WAR II VETERANS
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of a group of men
from the Commonwealth of Kentucky who all acted bravely and valiantly
during their time of service in the United States Armed Forces in World
War II. Glenn Combs, Toleman Combs, Mansell Stone, Benjamin Garrison,
Walter Garrison, Rufus Miller, Earl Hobbs, and Elvy Roberts, who are
all from different towns and hollers in Clay County, KY, each has a
fascinating story of his experiences while in the military. And it is
my hope to share a few of those with you today.
When the United States of America decided to enter the Second World
War, we did so with an insurmountable level of patriotism, dedication,
and determination to defeat the Axis Powers. Men were going to extreme
lengths to enlist and answer the call to serve their country, and
protect freedom and democracy in the foreign countries around the world
in which it was being tested.
Earl Hobbs, one of the men in this group of eight, had learned that
he was just 2 pounds shy of the minimum weight required by the U.S.
Army at the time of his enlistment. Upon hearing this news, he
hurriedly ran to the nearest convenience store and purchased 3 square
pounds of bananas. He gobbled them down right there outside the
grocery, every last one of them. Later that day he passed the physical,
including the weight requirement, and was an official member of the
U.S. Armed Forces. It was instances like Earl's that truly inspire me;
instances of men and women going to such great lengths to secure their
freedom and the freedom of the ones that they love.
Earl's action that day so long ago was just one of many from what we
call the ``Greatest Generation.'' Men and women alike across the Nation
assumed new and unfamiliar assignments and positions that they may not
have been comfortable with, all for the cause of defending liberty and
securing freedom. We must look to the veterans of not only the Second
World War, but the veterans of all the Nation's conflicts and
struggles, with the utmost respect. We must not take for granted the
inalienable rights we have so passionately fought to gain and maintain,
and we must never forget those who have made the greatest sacrifice
made by many on behalf of those rights.
I truly cherish the opportunity to stand on the floor of the U.S.
Senate today to speak on behalf of these eight men and relate a true
story of a local Kentucky ``Band of Brothers'' who decided to honor God
and country and selflessly serve all those who inhabit this great
Nation.
Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the
great contributions of Glenn Combs, Toleman Combs, Mansell Stone,
Benjamin Garrison, Walter Garrison, Rufus Miller, Earl Hobbs, and Elvy
Roberts to the cause of freedom.
In July of 2011 there was an article published in the Manchester
Enterprise, Clay County's local newspaper, which featured the truly
unique journey these eight World War II veterans have experienced in
their lifetimes. I ask unanimous consent the said article be printed in
the Record.
There being no objection, the article was ordered to appear in the
Record as follows:
[From the Manchester Enterprise, July 28, 2011]
A Chapter in WWII History
Note: This week's feature story covers eight individuals
who aided their country to take part in World War II. This
story was graciously sent in by Ted Garrison.
After a thorough debate on the world situation, expressing
their personal opinions and obligations for a month, they
made a decision. They would honor God and country, and defend
the Republic of the United States in WWII.
Glenn and Toleman Combs, Mansell ``Dude'' Stone, and
Benjamin and Walter Garrison enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Another of the Garrison brothers, Theo, wanted to join, but
he was informed that it would be more important to the war
effort for him to remain at home and continue to mine coal.
When I first began my research on this small group, I
thought Rufus ``Jamup'' Miller and Earl Hobbs were with them.
I found that they entered the military at a different date,
but these men (as did so many others) endured enormous
hardships during their service, so I decided it necessary to
include them in this brief history of patriotism and uncommon
valor.
The small group of recruits departed Manchester on October
16, 1940, to be inducted into the military at Ft. Thomas, KY.
Walt Garrison was 18 years old at that time. Walt and a
friend from Kentucky earned the top scores for expert
riflemen in their company. Later, Uncle Walt laughed and
blamed snow for causing him to lose to his friend by one
point the day they were at the rifle range.
Toleman Combs, Ben Garrison, and Walt Garrison were
assigned to Anti-Tank Company of the 10th Infantry Regiment
attached to Lt. General George S. Patton's 1st Armored
Division of the 3rd Army. Glenn Combs was assigned to
Headquarters training and was a Glider Wing of the 82nd
Airborne Division.
I believe we should mention that Capt. Elvy Roberts, born
on Beech Creek in Clay County, commanded a Glider Wing in the
101st Airborne at Normandy. He also participated in two
parachute jumps there. Elvy Roberts made a career of the U.S.
military and led the 6th Army as a Lt. General in Vietnam.
The 10th Infantry, with other Army units, including
segments of the 101st and 82nd Airborne, were stationed in
Iceland. The troops weren't informed that this location was
actually a staging area in preparation for the Normandy
invasion. Normandy was one of the most important events of
WWII. They shipped out of Iceland bound for an unknown
destination. After arriving offshore, the 10th Infantry
Regiment stayed aboard ships during the first three days of
the battle. Their orders were to wait until inclement weather
cleared enough to move the tanks and anti-tank guns onto the
beaches.
The day before the landing, in the pre-attack briefing,
they learned the location was Normandy, and details of the
mission were revealed. At that time, they were unaware that
their friend, ``Dude'' Stone, was in the initial attack on
the German-held beaches. Soldiers of the 82nd and 101st
Airborne had already fought a fierce battle, starting June 3,
1944. ``Dude'' had gone in with a glider wing. There were 200
men in his wing, and only nine survived.
10th Infantry Regiment and other units prepared to attack.
The Anti-Tank company departed the USS Republican by landing
crafts and stormed the beach on June 6 at 6:30 AM. Uncle Walt
said, ``The scene was terrible, but we had a job to do. We
could see fortifications blown apart, tank wreckage, and the
bodies of American airborne troops lying on the beach.''
I asked him if he was afraid when they hit the beach, and
he answered, ``No, but I was very angry when I saw how the
Germans had treated our soldiers.'' American troops had
sustained approximately 6,036 casualties during the first
hour of the invasion and over 2,400 at Omaha Beach alone, but
they had gained a toehold.
American troops were able to fight their way over the
beaches and hundred-foot high cliffs to move ahead a few
miles and dig in for approximately 24 hours, thus securing
the area. This was a process they repeated, moving the line
forward. During these advances, Uncle Walt and a soldier of
German ancestry performed sniper and reconnaissance duty for
their company. On one occasion near the Modelle River in
France, A-T Company came under mortar and rifle fire from a
small town. Walt and Wolfgang split up and worked their way
toward each end of the village, firing on the enemy positions
as they moved in. When they were close, Wolfgang yelled to
the enemy troops using the German language, telling them they
were surrounded and ordered them to surrender.
Approximately 150 German soldiers surrendered. There was at
least one SS Trooper with them. Walt and Wolfgang referred to
that episode as their Sgt. York Trick!
[[Page S3079]]
Earl Hobbs was discovered to be two pounds under the
required body weight at the induction center. He ran to a
nearby grocery store, bought three bounds of bananas,
hurriedly ate the fruit and passed the physical. Was this an
example of youthful patriotism or what?
After basic training, Earl was schooled in armor at Ft.
Knox, KY. He was assigned to a tank crew in the 1st Armored
Division. During a battle near Algeria, Africa, his tank was
disabled and the crew was forced to evacuate. They were
captured by German soldiers and taken to a POW camp, Stalag
3B in Berlin, Germany, where he was a prisoner for 27 months.
While he was in this camp, fellow Clay Countian Squire
Baker was incarcerated there for three or four months, then
moved out to a different location. Squire and surviving
members of their bomber crew had been shot down and captured.
Stalag 3B was liberated by Russian allies. Earl said, ``The
Russians were much more cruel than our former German
captors.''
Rufus ``Jamup'' Miller, Jr. was inducted into the military
at Cincinnati, Ohio, August 13, 1943. After basic training at
Camp Blanding, Florida, he was assigned to K Company of the
339th Infantry, Third Battalion. They were heavily involved
in the assault on the Gustav line.
This location was in Italy. K Company's losses were very
heavy, nearly 55 percent. Most of the casualties in K Company
were from the minefields. However, they also encountered
mortar, rifle, and machine-gun fire. ``Jamup'' was among the
wounded. The 339th Infantry was one of the three regiments of
the 85th Infantry Division. In WWI, they were nicknamed the
``Polar Bears.''
The 85th had a proud and famous history. The second time
``Jamup'' was wounded was in the North Apennines Campaign in
bitter fighting east of Mount Verruca. He was also involved
in the PO Valley campaign as well as the Rome-Arno Campaign.
After being wounded twice, Miller was transferred to the
military police. June 5th, 1944, the 339th did their victory
march through Rome.
Glenn Combs was at the induction center when doctors
decided his feet were a little flat for the infantry. He went
through basic training and into Headquarters Company of the
1st Armored Division. In December of 1942, they traveled to
North Africa by ships. Glenn was involved in battles at
Anzio, Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, and Algeria. After avoiding a
near disaster at Kasserine Pass, the commanding general was
relieved and Col. Robinett was placed in charge of
operations. Because of his excellent strategy and leadership
in attaining victory in a very negative situation, Col. Paul
``Little Man'' Robinette was promoted to Brig. General.
Kasserine Pass was considered to be the first major battle
won by American forces in North Africa. Glenn Combs was
promoted from staff sergeant to junior warrant officer, and
in a few months to chief warrant officer. Glenn said, ``One
of the reasons I was promoted through the enlisted ranks to
officer was due to so many men getting killed in my
company.''
These men served approximately five years. Walt Garrison
was one of the fortunate. He didn't receive a scratch. Uncle
Ben wasn't so lucky. He was wounded in the shoulder by
shrapnel from an exploding artillery shell on a hill near the
Moselle River in France.
Walt Garrison was one of those veterans who could talk
about his war experience. Ben, ``Dude,'' ``Jamup,'' and many
others were too scarred emotionally, mentally, and physically
to recall their combat duty.
I apologize that I'm unable to provide more complete
information concerning the sacrifices these men made for our
country. They and many more of those veterans are heroes and
should never be forgotten. The American people who lived
during the WWII era earned a reputation as ``The Greatest
Generation.'' I truly believe they deserve that compliment.
Not only in military service, but also in different walks of
life, many of them had exemplary attitudes and
accomplishments.
At this time, Glen Combs is the only one of these men still
living. He is 92 and in poor health.
Toleman Combs passed away November 29, 1995, and is buried
at Nancy, KY. Rufus ``Jamup'' Miller died February 3, 1997,
and is buried in Manchester. Benjamin Franklin Garrison died
at Wilmore Veteran's Hospital December 27, 1997, and is
buried at Memorial Gardens in Manchester. Walter Garrison
passed away on May 22, 2002.
Years ago, Uncle Walt decided to be buried with some of the
soldiers he served with at Normandy. He was laid to rest in
Butler County Memorial Park ``Field of Honor'' near Hamilton,
Ohio.
Earl Hobbs died November 25, 2003, and is buried at
Memorial Gardens in Manchester. Mansell ``Dude'' Stone passed
on July 2, 2004, and is buried in Harts Branch Cemetery
outside Manchester.
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