On Nov. 1, the Polk County Historical Association presented a “Salute to Veterans” program featuring a panel of five Polk County veterans who were asked to speak of their days in military service.   

The program was held at the county museum and moderated by local radio personality, James Metcalf, who invited Phil Goree, William Russell, Larry Andrews, Nathan Shields and Adam Palmer to share their stories. 

The audience seemed spellbound as each spoke of their role in World War II and other world conflicts that followed. Phil Goree spoke first and described how he, as a young man, had the awesome task of “stringing” telephone wire in combat zones in the islands of the far Pacific to Iowa Jima.

Nathan Shields told how he and his brother joined the Army just after high school.  Both had excelled in sports and passed up college and perhaps a professional sports career to enlist. Neither looked back, however, and even though separated in service, they went all over the world to both finally return home safely and retire.

Larry Andrews held the audience’s close attention as he described his duty as a “loadmaster” on a C-130 aircraft pushing out needed ammo and other supplies to embattled troops below, sometimes flying just 200 feet above the ground with enemy bullets chasing the giant cargo plane over Vietnam.

The youngest member of the panel was Adam Palmer who saw hand-to-hand combat during three duty tours of Iraq.  He was awarded the Medal of Valor for his efforts during his last tour as he was seriously injured by a roadside bomb while on an attack mission. Only after a long recovery period at the Army’s Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., was he able to return home. Tryon’s American Legion Post 250 has asked him to be the Grand Marshal of this year’s Veterans Day parade in Columbus.

And then there was William Russell who as a young 22-year-old sergeant witnessed first-hand the horrors of war as he led his men forward to take ground in Korea. However, the most memorable part of his military career he may choose to recall came about only a few weeks ago when he accompanied some 80 veterans on an “Honor Flight” to our nation’s capital.

After leaving Asheville, the group arrived at the airport in D.C. to a “humbling” welcome as a large crowd of citizens had stood in a long line to welcome them. As a Korean War veteran, he was singled out to receive a special commendation medal from the Republic of South Korea in appreciation for his service to their country aiding them in a fight for freedom from the Communist government. 

The special medal was made out of the barbed wire fences that often separated them from the enemy. He was brought to tears by the solemn ceremony as it came about almost exactly 60 years after a truce brought an end to the terrible conflict, and permitted him to finally return home to Polk County.

This special week we pause to say thanks to these five men and the 2,000 other veterans calling Polk County their home.

– article submitted by John L. Johnson