[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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