Hometown Heroes
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HOMETOWN HEROES MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY 2021 presented by THEIR FAMILIES and THE TOWN OF KILMARNOCK HELLO and WELCOME TO KILMARNOCK AND OUR HOMETOWN HEROES BANNER PROGRAM On behalf of the Kilmarnock Town Council and myself, we hope you will enjoy these tributes to the men and women who contributed so much with their service to our country. They are from our immediate area but also from across this great country of ours and now we proudly showcase them in Kilmarnock. While many have passed away, others are living here in our community. This idea came to us from Laura and Daniel Stoddard who saw this concept in Canada and thought we could and should do something similar. Laura and Daniel, we thank you. To all the families who generously brought in their pictures and stories, please accept our gratitude and that of everyone who views these banners. With warmest regards, Mayor Mae P. Umphlett MAYOR MAE P. UmpHLETT • VICE MAYOR DR. CURTIS H. SMITH COUNCIL MEMBERS: KYLIE ABBOT, MICHAEL BEDELL, EMERSON GRAVATT, DONALD LEE AND LES SPIVEY TOWN MANAGER SUSAN T. COCKRELL WALTER H. ABBOTT H. J.“CHINK” BARNES & Sergeant Walter Abbott served with the LOUISE WALKER BARNES 805th Tank Destroyers from August 1942 This team marries prior to the war; “Chink” to December 1944. He was among the fought at Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theatre. first American soldiers to Kasserine Pass, Louise was in the Army Nurse Corps fought in the fierce combat to take Rome stationed at Hammond General Hospital in and landed at Anzio. As a unit attached to the famed 751st Modesto, CA. She followed news of Chink’s Tank Destroyers, he saw fierce action throughout Europe. units through her patients at the hospital. As a forward reconnaissance sergeant, Sgt. Abbott was Both returned to Kilmarnock; Chink frequently within yards of enemy positions. He was a worked at Cardinal Drug. Presented by soldiers’ soldier. Given by Ruby Abbott. Jan Hovland, their daughter. Location: Visiting Angels window Location: Noblett’s, Inc window WARREN LORENZO ALLEN RAYMOND P. BARNES Served in the USMC (MAG-29) from 1980 A native of Chepatchet, Rhode Island, -1984 and the USAFR (459th ARW) from Ray Barnes was a career U.S. Air Force 1984-2013. While assigned to 459th ARW officer serving over 20 years. He was a he was activated in 2003 for Operation procurement officer serving our country Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and in 2011 for during WWII, the Korean War and the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in which he was Vietnam War. He was stationed on Air Force bases from deployed to France, Turkey and Afghanistan. He received Alaska, Ohio, New Jersey, Alabama, the Philippines, and the following medals after his deployment, Global War on Washington D.C. He retired from the military in Fairfax, Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism VA as a Lt. Colonel, and he is buried in Arlington National Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Cemetery with his wife. Presented by his daughter, Barbara Gold Border, Air Force Commendation Medal. In 2013, after (Barnes) Olin. 23 years of service he retired at rank of Master Sergeant. Location: Irvington Corner/Street pole He is the son of the late Arthur “Boots” and Grace Allen, graduated from Lancaster High School in 1980 and R. EVERETT BARRETT currently resides in Alexandria, VA. Presented by Danny Born and raised in Warsaw/Tappahannock Dilver, Glendora Smith, Cynthia Allen, Deirdre Allen, VA. Everett is survived by 8 brothers and Karen Elmore and Kadeem Allen. sisters, his mother Mary and his father Location: The Highlander Studio Arthur. He was always known to be a jokester along with his lifetime friend, Robie JAMES EARL ASHBURN Hite. He graduated from the Job Corps and then joined the James Earl Ashburn was a Petty Officer USMC in 1980. While stationed in Beirut, Lebanon, he was of the Navy during WWII (1942-1945). among 240 others killed in the Beirut barracks bombing on He drove the boat to deliver sailors to October 23rd, 1983. Always remembered; Never Forgotten. the mainland. He was wounded by scrap Semper Fi. Presented by the Barrett Family. metal and was admitted to the hospital Location: Burkes Fine Jewelers window in Guam. Presented by James William Ashburn and Linda B. Ashburn. SALVATORE K. BAVUSO Location: S. Main St./AWL pole A Yorktown native, this doc served for 12 years in the Navy Medical Corps assigned JACK T. BAILEY to the Army at Ft. Bragg then to Camp Jack served in the Navy for 23 years. His Lejeune followed by Pensacola and China first ship was the USS Trenton and his Lake. Now he serves this community at second ship was the USS Iowa. From there Bon Secours Medical Group in Lively. Presented by his wife, he was stationed in Washington DC. After Katherine, and their mothers. his stay in DC, he was on the USS Laboon, Location: Banner returned to his family where he was a plankowner. He was stationed for the last time in Jacksonville Florida at NAS Jax, where he would retire. Presented by Eddie Headley and Samantha Love. Location: S. Main St./AWL pole Hometown Heroes 1 HENRY A. BEDELL, JR. RICHARD BLAIN BOWSER A 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946, Richard “Dick” Bowser joins the Navy at he served during WWII in Europe. He was 20 years old from his home in Silver in the Sixth Armored Division and received Spring, MD. He goes to basic training in the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. Boston but doesn’t forget his sweetheart, Presented by his son, Michael Bedell Nellie. While on a weekend leave, they former Chief of Police . decide to get married and invited their friends to the wedding Location: Banner returned to his family via an advertisement in the local newspaper. He ships out to the Pacific Theatre shortly after Pearl Harbor. Presented by WILLIAM L. “BILLY” BELLOWS, JR. his daughter and her husband, Sue and Ben Burton. Billy was a long-time native of Lancaster Location: Banner returned to his family County as his great Grandfather and family moved to Ocran immediately following the MORTON THOMAS BRENT Civil War and founded Bellows & Squires, Morton joined the Marines November 10, Inc. (a menhaden fishing fleet and factory). 1972, and trained at Camp Lejeune, NC, He served in both WWII and the Korean War. He was an until July 16, 1973. He served in Newport Aircraft Mechanic and served aboard the Aircraft Carrier News, VA, becoming a Lance Corporal in “USS Rendova”. Presented by his son, Tim Bellows, who July 1974, followed by Sergeant for grew up in Kilmarnock where his dad had an appliance Marines in September 1974. He became a Reservist and business on Main Street for many years. spent time at Camp Pendleton until November 1978 and Location: 84 S. Main St. window honorably discharged the Marine Corps. Given by Pam Brent, Michael Brent, Matt Brent and Kelly Kellum. ROBERT B. BELLOWS Location: Burkes Fine Jewelers window Robert “Bob” Bellows enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 completing Basic Training SAMUEL R. BRENT and Advanced Infantry training in Fort Samuel was assigned to HQ Co. 1st Jackson, SC. He married his high school Cavalry Division, SFC. He was awarded a sweetheart, Mary Rose, two weeks before good conduct medal, Bronze Star medal, he reported for duty in Vietnam. He was in Light Weapons United Nations service medal, Occupational Infantry in the Vietnam War from 1968-1969. He completed medal (Japan), and the Korean service his tour in March, 1969 and finished his service in Fort medal with five bronze stars. Samuel loved America and Monroe, VA and Richmond Kentucky University in 1970 the freedom it stands for. He took great pride in saluting the when he returned home to the Northern Neck. Given by flag. Presented by George B. Williams (Topper). Ashley Bellows, Renee McGee and Jason Bellows. Location: Irvington St. Corner/Street pole Location: Audiology Offices window CAREY “DOC” BROADWAY LEONARD BIRNEY In 1955, Cary “Doc” Broadway was Leonard Birney served as a SSGT in the commissioned into the USAF as a Second U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Lieutenant after completing four years of Korean War from 1950-1951 in Puson, ROTC at Chapel Hill, NC. As a fighter pilot, Inchon and Chosin with VMO-6 and then he had two tours in Vietnam, a command at Quantico with HMX-1. Leonard had a in Korea, and various assignments in many parts of the cottage in Gonyon where he brought family and friends world and the U.S.A. “Doc” retired after twenty-four years down to the river to enjoy boating, crabbing and fishing. of service as a full Colonel. He and his wife Sue, who live Presented by Robert and Colleen Wheeler. in Merry Point, have two children and seven grandchildren. Location: Masonic Hall Parking Presented by Sue Broadway. Location: When Ordinary Won’t Do window FLETCHER L. BROWN, JR. Born in Weems and life-long resident of Kilmarnock, Jr Brown served in the Army during WW II. He was wounded in France near the Belgian border and awarded the purple heart. After recovering in an England hospital, Jr returned home to work and served his commu- nity as a member and chief of the KVFD and member of the KVRS. Presented by his children. 2 Town of Kilmarnock Location: Waverly Ave. pole FLETCHER L. BROWN III C. PRESTON BUSSELLS Fletcher was in the Marines from June Col. Bussells, a 1941 graduate of 10, 1966, to January of 1968.