Hero Highlight – James Herley Fleenor

Seaman Second Class James Herley Fleenor

           On the night of December 7, 1941, two energetic boys sat comfortably on their living room floor playing with toy soldiers and listening to music reverberating in the background from the family radio.  Suddenly, an intense voice came through the worn speakers announcingJapan’s heinous attack onPearl Harbor.  The date that would live in infamy would ultimately change this family forever.

            One of the two boys was James Herley Fleenor, who was not unlike many teenage boys at the outbreak of World War II.  Residing in Bristol,Virginia, James and many of his friends were jumping at the chance to join the armed forces and destroy the Axis powers.  James would come home every day during his senior year of high school with Navy consent papers for his parents to sign and every day his mother would tear them up and throw them in the trash.  Finally, his persistence paid off and on October 11, 1943, at 17 years of age, James was sworn into the United States Navy and rose to the rank of Seaman Second Class.

            After graduating from basic training in November 1943, James began his training for large ships, became a gunner, and was set aboard an Essexclass aircraft carrier, the USS Franklin.  In July 1944, the Franklin was fully manned and set off to the Pacific. The trip was not uneventful for long. Throughout the summer and into the fall of 1944, the Franklin was attacked by Japanese suicide planes.  One such plane hit the deck and dropped down the elevator shaft which inflicted incredible damage. Sixty-nine men were lost as well as countless wounded.  Fortunately, James was unharmed and was given furlough that December while the ship was being repaired.  His younger brother, Bud Fleenor, remembers James’ final trip home. “He was an entirely different person….he aged so much in one year,” Bud said.  One can only imagine the horrors he witnessed at such a young age.

            Returning back to the Franklin after days at home would have been hard for anyone, but there was a war to win. James and the rest of the crew set off to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa. On March 19, 1945, all plans changed indefinitely.  Around 6:55AM, the Franklin started launching over 30 planes to start bombing the Japanese islands. Only six planes made their way off the flight deck when they received word from a neighboring ship, the USS Hancock, that Japanese planes were sighted heading straight towards the Franklin. At 7:03AM, a Japanese plane came within 50 feet above the ship and released two 500 pound bombs.  The first landed on the deck of the ship, and the second went straight down to the third deck. Both bombs exploded, engulfing the ship in flames and vaporizing those close to the explosion.  Over 800 were killed and countless others were wounded.  Of the 2,544 men aboard the initial sailing of the vessel, only 704 returned home.  Regrettably, James was not one of the 704 who would return.  Bud reminisces about the day his family was told the horrible news.  His father was out of town on business, he and his sister were at school, and his mother was alone in the house when a yellow cab pulled up in front and the driver presented her with the telegram.  His family never fully recovered from James’ death, but knows that he gave his life to preserve our freedoms.  Along with the Purple Heart, James was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

USS Franklin

           The Virginia War Memorial would like to give a special thanks to Bud Fleenor, a dedicated volunteer at the Memorial, for sharing his brother’s story.  James is a true hero and will always be remembered within the glass and stone walls of the Shrine of Memory.

Hero Highlight – Troy Lorenzo Gregory

 

L CPL Troy Lorenzo Gregory

For many 18 year old men, their mind is focused on senior year beach week, fast cars, and girls. One young man had quite different aspirations.

Hailing from Richmond,Virginia, Troy Lorenzo Gregory was a graduate of Henrico High School where his athleticism and academics shown through. His participation in basketball and bodybuilding made him a prime candidate for the United States Marine Corps Reserves, which he joined in 1986 and became a Lance Corporal. By exerting himself both scholastically and athletically, Troy obtained a full academic scholarship toVirginia Union University.  For the next four years of his life, he painstakingly juggled college classes and his position with Battery H as a Fire Direction Controlman. The higher education definitely paid off in the long run. High marks in conduct and proficiency filled his file as well as a selection to attend the Platoon Leaders Course program. Unfortunately, completion of the course was put on hold.

Virginia Union University

In December 1990, Troy answered the call of duty and was deployed to Saudi Arabia. In February of 1991, the 1^st Battalion, 11^th Marines, the unit that Troy was attached to, occupied a new position to help support Task Force Papa Bear. The night of the 25^th, L CPL Gregory and others on a security patrol were assigned to investigate an enemy bunker. In just a split second the situation turned critical. Gregory had stepped on an Iraqi land mine and was mortally wounded. He was quickly rushed to a Naval Hospital but died shortly thereafter from his horrific wounds. One member of the Battalion stated that while being transported to the hospital, Gregory’s only concern was if his actions had caused harm to others in his unit. This sentiment shows immense character and the unbreakable bond that is formed among Marines and all soldiers. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

L CPL Gregory’s name is one of thousands inscribed on the glass and stone walls in the Shrine of Memory. He is placed among other heroes who left the comforts and solidarity of home to protect all that we have today. Their names and memories will live on and will be passed forward to all Americans.

L CPL Gregory's name on the wall in the Shrine of Memory

Hero Highlight – Reginald H. Stokes

“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic….”  These words hold the same meaning to each man and woman who promises to keep them, no matter the color or creed.  Each soldier vows to serve their country in order to protect everything they hold dear.

 For black Americans during the Second World War, equality in the armed forces was not present.  General Matthew Ridgeway stated that the segregation of the military seemed “un-American and un-Christian for free citizens to be taught to downgrade themselves…as if they were unfit to associate with their fellows or to accept leadership themselves.”  It was not until 1947 that the Presidential Order Number 9981 abolished all segregation in all branches of service.  With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, this order came at a prime time. One such soldier experienced the desegregation of the armed forces during the war in Korea first-hand.

 Reginald H. Stokes was born in 1934 in Henrico County, Virginia.  Growing up, he attended Maggie L. Walker High School in the city of Richmond, Virginia, where he was editor of his school’s art class.  Reginald took pride in his school work, but that was by no means the only thing that occupied his time. His involvement in the community was prevalent through the Boy Scouts and Bethlehem Baptist Church.  Reginald showed exceptional leadership skills which became acknowledged during his time in the United States Army.

 In 1951, he earned the rank of Corporal and was stationed in South Korea with the 9^th Infantry Regiment of the 2^nd Division.  On May 24, Reginald and his unit were caught in heavy enemy fire.  Reginald received a fatal wound while attempting to protect himself and his fellow infantrymen. From this story, we see that the color of one’s skin does not create the soldier, but courage, strength and dedication does.  Corporal Stokes and over 11,600 valiant service members’ names are engraved on the glass and marble walls in the Shrine of Memory.  We forever need to thank and remember their sacrifices in order to remind ourselves that freedom does not come free.

 

CPL Reginald H. Stokes

 

Hero Highlight – Horatio C. Woodhouse, Jr.

       

The Silver Star

  What ultimately defines a patriot?  How does one find the strength to leave his family and travel thousands of miles away to fight a foreign enemy?  I can not imagine the inner anguish these brave young men must have felt during the outbreak of  World War II.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many felt it was their duty to protect their country and loved ones from the oppression and violence abroad.  Still, their lives were uprooted, and some paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect the things they treasured most.

          Horatio Cornick Woodhouse, Jr. was one of these soldiers hailing from Norfolk, Virginia.  After graduating from Virginia Military Institute in 1936, Horatio enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and earned his way to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Physically, Horatio was a small-framed, slender man.  He did not fit the stereotypical picture of a Marine but was extremely intelligent, sharp, and tactful.  His bravery and tenacity must have been genetic for the simple fact that his great-great-great uncle was one of the original American patriots, James Madison.    

          In May of 1945, Horatio and his men of the 2^nd Battalion of the 22^nd Marine Regiment of “the Striking 6^th” Division were deployed to Okinawa, Japan.  On the 30^th of that month, the weather had gone from bad to worse.  Heavy rains and deep mud made for a difficult trek southward towards the Kokuba Estuary.  Just as the regiment was making its way to their destination, LTC Woodhouse was fatally struck by a Japanese sniper’s bullet.  Unfortunately, his journey ended too quickly but his tenacious spirit lived on through the soldiers in his battalion.

          Today, LTC Woodhouse is interred in the “Punch Bowl” Cemetery at Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii.  He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his gallantry in action and skills as a competent leader. We honor those men and women who have paid the ultimate price by inscribing their names on the glass and stone walls in the Shrine of Memory.  We treasure and remember their stories as a tribute to the next generation of patriots.

Hero Highlight – George W. Jinkins, III

Navy Hospital Corpsman

Quite a few people remember the 1960’s as tumultuous, filled with campus demonstrations, sit-ins, and the rise of the Counter Culture. For those who took the opposite route and made the decision to protect our freedoms abroad in a far off country called Vietnam, they perceived the decade a bit differently. Unfortunately, coming back to the States did not present itself as an escape to the horrors of war.

When returning to the States, the soldiers were not always welcomed back with open arms as they once had been during the World Wars and Korea. Even though many received less than a warm welcome, some gave their all for a country that did not always appreciate the courage and bravery of these young heroes. One of these heroes from Richmond broke the stereotype of a Vietnam soldier. George W. Jinkins, III was the son of a Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates. Raised in a normal middle class household, George graduated from Douglas Freeman High School and attended Virginia Commonwealth University for one year before enlisting in the Navy in 1967 at the ripe old age of 19. George worked his way up the ranks to a Private 3^rd Class Hospital Corpsman and tended to numerous wounded soldiers. In Vietnam, these special medical personnel were, sometimes, the only medical caregivers for their units.

On July 10, 1969, George was sent to South Quang Nam province and would stay there until September of the same year. George’s father received a letter on September 3rd from him stating that he was OK and had been assigned to the 5^th Marine Regiment. Two days later on September 5th while aiding injured infantryman in the field, George’s company was ambushed and he received a fatal wound. His memory and spirit were not forgotten. Soon after, George’s alma mater, Freeman High School, dedicated a memorial plaque to his heroism in the line of duty. George, and so many others before him, sacrificed all in order to save the lives of others and will be forever enshrined on the glass and stone walls in the Shrine of Memory. We honor their stories and they will always remain true heroes and patriots.

George's name on the Shrine of Memory

Hero Highlight – William Randolph Watkins, III

William Randolph Watkins, III

I believe that people hear the call of service at an early age. Their interests become centralized in that specific area and as they grow, they realize that service is not always fun and filled with laughter. Service to country means giving up certain degrees, if not all, of one’s life in order to protect and defend our freedoms.

Growing up in the sleepy little city of South Boston, Virginia, William Randolph Watkins, III, felt the call of duty early on in his life. His brother, Barksdale Watkins, fondly remembers sharing a room with his older brother and recalls William’s obsession with airplanes and boats. Models filled the boy’s room and when it became a bit overcrowded, William would take a select few out to the paved driveway and stage an epic battle, which meant something was going to be set on fire. Of course, setting things ablaze was not the only thing William did in his spare time. During his high school years at Woodberry Forest, he participated in numerous plays and was very active in the Episcopal Church where he served as a camp counselor during the summer months.

As time went on, William was accepted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he spent much of his time participating with the Glee Club and earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and, later, graduated from Embry Riddle University with a Master’s degree. His next stop was a no brainer – flight school. He became a Naval Flight Officer and did six month deployments in the Mediterranean on the USS Kennedy and the USS Eisenhower, which also happened to be the first ship to have women in a combat zone.

Having an exceptional flying record was quite the accomplishment and did not go unnoticed. In February of 2003, he was asked by a Commanding Officer to deploy to Qatar with the 335th Chiefs in order to instruct and help other young pilots. By this point in his life, William was married with a young son and another baby on the way. His devotion to country had not been augmented but had evolved. In an e-mail to his sister in April of 2003 he had written, “Of all the opportunities that I have had or have missed to fly in combat, this time was the only time I was not planning to be the first in line to go. Not because I didn’t believe in the cause, but because I felt that I was needed more at home…. Ultimately though, my primary motivation in doing this is to make the world safer for my children.” Shortly after this e-mail was sent, William and his crew were flying a mission to drop bombs in a heated area between Baghdad and Tikrit. Unable to obtain proficient accuracy, they were forced to dive to approximately 5,000 feet. Their plane went down on the third or fourth pass. For sixteen gut-wrenching days, the family waited to hear the news they so desperately both wanted and feared. Regardless, they knew William did everything he could to save the lives of his fellow airmen. For his bravery in times of peril, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

We honor William not because he died in the line of duty, but because he was fighting to defend our freedoms and wanted a better world for his children. He knew that there might come a time for him to sacrifice all, and he was willing to do so.

I would like to thank Barksdale Watkins for sharing these wonderful memories of his brother with me. William was a true hero and his story deserves to be told to all who care for this great nation and the men and women who serve and defend it.

The Distinguished Flying Cross

Hero Highlight – Robert Reade Thruston III

           

The Purple Heart

  One of the most controversial topics in 20^thcentury American history belongs to the Vietnam War. Over the course of the conflict, around 58,000 American lives were lost and, sadly, many in America lost both their faith in the United States government and their military.

Vietnam Service Medal

            For Warrant Officer Robert Reade Thruston III, the feelings of animosity towards the troops did not deter him from joining the war effort and establishing himself in the 117^thArmy Aviation Company. Hailing from Fairfax,Virginia, Thruston began his tour of duty on August 11, 1964 at Fort Rucker, Alabama at the age of 24. A short period of time later, he and his company were deployed to the Central Highlands of Qui Nhon,Vietnam. On December 18, Thruston and his co-pilot, Warrant Officer Cary Shelton, made a routine flight up the coastline towards Nha Trang. Since the mission was considered low risk, the helicopter was only escorted by a single ship. Little did they know that a few short moments later, one of the crew members would never return home.

 

            The flight started out like any other, making their way through Khanh Hoa Province. Clear skies above and blue water below made for a semi-relaxing mission. That is when it happened…..the ground below opened up and bullets began whizzing through the air barely missing the chopper. Then, a lone bullet made its way into the chopper through the front windshield, instantly killing Thruston. Shelton grabbed the cyclic and diverted the helicopter to a safe landing place in Nha Trang.

            Warrant Officer Thruston’s life is a testament to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice even when public opinion was anything but favorable. Thruston’s story is forever remembered, and we should always give thanks to those who showed heroism in the face of uncertain danger in order to protect what we as Americans hold so dear.

Warrant Officer Robert Reade Thruston III's name on the Shrine of Memory

Hero Highlight – George Washington Jackson, Jr.

PFC George Washington Jackson, Jr.

 

          ‘The Forgotten War,’ ‘The Unknown War,’ whatever the name, the Korean War remains a significant part of American history that has sadly been overlooked for the past sixty years. For one young Virginia soldier, Private First Class George Washington Jackson, Jr. and his family, this forgotten cause came with a high price.

George Washington Jackson, Jr. was always known as a caring and unique individual. While growing up in the city of Richmond he showed a devout devotion to the needs of others especially his family. While attending Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, he also worked as a clerk in a local pharmacy taking on the financial responsibility for the household while his father was ill. The hard work ethic that was instilled in George transferred over into his service in the US Army.

After being drafted in October of 1950, George was sent to Korea the following August where he was assigned to the First Target Acquisition Battalion, 25^th Artillery, at Camp Nomad Charlie. During his time in Korea, George displayed selfless acts of kindness by teaching English to the children of the neighboring villages. His sister, Frances Curtis, described his thought process by stating, “He utilized his time while he was in the camp to do everything he could to uphold the American ideals.”

These ideals became a haunting reality on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1951. George and his unit, a sound ranging communications group, were positioned near Kojanhari-Saemal when heavy enemy fire broke out.  Disregarding his own safety, George left safe cover in order to obtain accurate measure from his observation post to the enemy fire. He succeeded in his brave task but was shortly thereafter killed by an enemy mortar round. As a result of his accomplishment a number of enemy artillery were silenced, saving the men in his unit. His heroism did not go unnoticed for his mother and father soon received the Silver Star posthumously for their son’s gallantry in action. Not only did they receive the Silver Star, but the same camp that had once been home to George during his short stay in Korea was renamed Camp Jackson in his honor in 1966.

These heroes will never be forgotten and George Jackson’s own mother was a testament to that idea. Two years after George’s death, Mrs. Jackson read of the Gold Star Mothers Convention in Atlantic City. She took it upon herself to start a Richmond Chapter in order to help heal the wounds of the mothers of Richmond who had lost their own children in war. After serving as chapter president twice, she became the National President in 1967. She thoughtfully stated of her service that, “I felt the sting of my son’s death very sharply and it was hard to bear, but when I found out the hardships of others, my own seemed very small.” Mrs. Jackson ultimately possessed the same strength and courage of her fallen son.

A few days ago I had the pleasure of meeting George’s nephew, Wilton Curtis, who shared this wonderful yet tragic story with me.Wilton is one of our most devoted docents at the Virginia War Memorial and is one of the reasons why we can preserve and pay tribute to these truly great stories of sacrifice.

George's name on the Shrine of Memory

Hero Highlight – SSgt James “Jimmy” Guthrie

Virginians have always been proud of their heritage. War is no exception. From the Revolutionary War to the current War on Terror,Virginia has given, and unfortunately, lost many of its most devoted citizens. James “Jimmy” Guthrie happened to be one of those devoted citizens who felt the call of duty early on in his life.

Hailing from Halifax County, Virginia, Jimmy was the son of a mail carrier who learned at an early age the lessons of hard work, perseverance, and obligation to country. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps at the young age of 19 after graduating from high school, Jimmy quickly rose through the ranks to Staff Sergeant in the 72^nd Pursuit Squadron where he was among the brave aerial engineers and mechanics who worked tirelessly on the maintenance of the planes.  At first glance, anyone would have been seething with jealousy after learning of Jimmy’s placement at Wheeler Field in Honolulu, Hawaii. That would soon change in the early morning hours of December 7, 1941.

Wheeler Field, December 7, 1941

The surprise aerial attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most horrific moments that has haunted the American memory of war. For Staff Sergeant Guthrie, the morning of that fateful Sunday was like any other. The sun shone brightly through the clouds on Wheeler Field. Just months before, Jimmy’s good friend, Bill Temple, shared that Jimmy had somehow managed to obtain a date with Judy Garland after she performed for the starry-eyed boys in uniform. “I love that girl,” he was once quoted saying. But on the morning of December 7, in just a matter of minutes, those good times would be blotted out by an untimely death. Japanese fighter pilots littered the air field with machine gun fire, obliterating everything, and everyone, in its path. Jimmy was soon killed at his post just before dawn. A day later, the United States declared war on the nation of Japan. Seventy years later, we still honor those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms we treasure so dear on the glass and stone walls of the Shrine of Memory. Jimmy Guthrie is a part of those many lives cut short but will always be remembered as a ‘great guy’ with a passion for singing who died a gentleman and, ultimately, a hero.

James Guthrie's name located on the Shrine of Memory