Franklin Family
Photo Album
Group of men at Boatland, Tennessee
Franklin Family History from Jill Franklin Hicks and Opal Franklin Manis
Mavis Opal Franklin was born and raised in Fentress County, Tennessee. Jill was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana. All of her ancestors were born and lived most of their lives in Fentress and Overton County, Tennessee before moving to Indiana. We are both descendents of Isaac Franklin b. 1787 in North Carolina. Opal descends from Isaac’s son Nathan. Jill descends from Isaac’s son James M. Franklin.
Our related Family Lines are: Smith, Means, Stephens, Beaty, Winningham, Sells, Cravens, Davis, Cooper, Linder and Bowden.
Our family history begins in North Carolina. Isaac Franklin was born in 1787. This is where it gets a little interesting, we have been told over and over by descendants of Isaac that his father was a Cherokee Indian. As the story goes, Isaac’s father took a white woman, married her and took her maiden name. Isaac and his brother Jacob Franklin were said to of been born in an Indian Camp somewhere in North Carolina. Isaac and Jacob were the sons of Jacob and Caroline Franklin. They lived in Indian Territory in North Carolina, Jacob and Caroline had six children:
1. Isaac b. 1787 Indian Territory, N. C.
2. John b. Cherokee Co., NC
3. Abraham b. 1786 Cherokee Co.N. C-d. 1867 Cherokee Co. NC.
4. Tom b. 1798 NC
5. Jacob b. 1792 NC-d.abt. 1851 Cherokee Co. NC, he married Margaret Swinney, d/o James & Rebecca Swinney
6. William b. bet. 1780-1790, married Elizabeth b. 1790
7. Lucy b. 1797 Cherokee Co. NC, she married Richard Sisson on Oct. 3,1814 in Rutherford Co., NC.
Isaac headed for Tennessee in early 1800, as rumor has it with his brother’s wife, Nancy. Supposedly Jacob, his brother, was right behind them in hot pursuit. Whatever the ending was to that story has never been handed down, but Isaac ended up in Overton County Tennessee with wife Nancy Turner and Jacob ended up back in North Carolina in a town called Franklin. Jacob married Margaret Swinney in North Carolina and they raised their family in Cherokee Co. Isaac and his family lived in Overton, Fentress and Morgan County, Tennessee which is where they all died. According to an affidavit which was given on behalf of O. Early Franklin, son of Jacob and Margaret Swinney Franklin, O. Early Franklin’s Father, Jacob was a brother to Lucy Franklin. This affidavit was given by a Indian by the name of Chuuuklusa, or something like that, the writing was very hard to read.
Isaac Franklin 1787-unknown
Isaac Franklin was born in North Carolina in 1787. He married Nancy Turner who was born 1797 in South Carolina. Isaac and Nancy show up in the 1820 Census of Overton County, in 1824 he had a land entry in Fentress County located on the east fork of the Obey River. Isaac lived in Fentress, Overton and Morgan County Tennessee all of his life. Isaac and Nancy last appear in the 1860 Fentress County Census, he is age 72 and she is age 69. They are living next door to their sons, Nathan and James. Isaac and Nancy would be our Great, Great, Great, Great Grandparents. Isaac and Nancy had the following children:
1. Mary b. 1817
2. John b. Sept. 2, 1820. He married Mary Choate.
3. Nathan b. October 20, 1821. He married Kizzie Smith
4. David b. 1823, he married Sarah Owens.
5. Nancy b. 1826
6. Thomas b. 1828, he married Melvina Adkins Walker, d/o Jesse Adkins.
7. James M. b. 1830. He married Mahala Cooper
8. Abraham b. Feb. 15, 1831-d.May 17, 1891. He married Abagail Delk.
9. Andrew Jackson b. February 23, 1832-d. April 14, 1881. He married Matilda Choate.
10. Jane Franklin b. 1836
11. Hedley b. October 4, 1839. He married Margaret Tipton.
Second Generation — James M. Franklin
James M. Franklin was born 1830 in Tennessee, he married Mahala Jane Cooper in 1848 in Glenobey, Fentress County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of John Cooper. James and Mahala would be my Great Great Great Grandparents, they had the following children:
1. Thomas “Tom” Franklin b. July 19, 1848-d. May 14, 1925.
2. Margaret Jane “Peggy” b. 1850-d. 1888. She married Thomas Jefferson Beaty.
He was the son of George & Hannah Graham Beaty. He was raised by his half sister Charlotte Jane Beaty Stephens. .
3. Nancy E. b. 1852
4. David b. Nov. 12, 1855-d.Sept. 20, 1937. He married Clementine Smith, after
her death he married Francis Elmira Madewell.
5. James B. b. 1859
6. John b. 1860
7. Drucilla b. 1863
8. Mary b. 1865
9. William A. b. 1868-1878Tn.
10. M. E. b. 1871 (Female)
James and Mahala lived all their lives in Fentress County, Tennessee. Their children lived and raised their families in the Boatland, Fentress County, Tennessee Area.
Third Generation – Thomas Franklin (July 19, 1848-May 14, 1925)
Tom was the first son of James and Mahala Cooper Franklin. They lived in Overton County, Tennessee according to the 1850 Census of Overton County. They were living with Mahala’s father John Cooper. Thomas was only two years old. Thomas married Sarah Jane Davis, she was the daughter of Walter A. and Elizabeth Hicks Davis. Thomas and Sarah Jane lived in Boatland, Fentress County, Tennessee. They were farmers, Thomas and Sarah would be our Great-Great-Grandparents. They had the following children:
1. Elizabeth b. 1868
2. John b. August 15, 1869-d. October 18, 1878.
3. Luverna b. 1870
4. David b. Sept. 1872
5. James Walter “Big Jim” b. July 31, 1874. He married Charlotte Jane Beaty.
6. Armilda b. Jan. 27, 1876-d. Feb. 9, 1958. She married John A. Smith. He was
the son of Richard and Nancy Linder Smith.
7. Abraham Lincoln b. Aug. 3, 1879-d. Oct. 15, 1960. He married Dicey Stephens
Thomas and Sarah are buried in the Dempsey Bowden Cemetery in Fentress County, Tennesse on Boatland Road.
Fourth Generation – James Walter Franklin (July 31, 1876-July 14, 1941)
James Walter was born in Boatland, Tennessee, Fentress County. Big Jim as he was called (probably because he was really a tall slim man), married Charlotte Jane Beaty, “Lottie”. She was the daughter of Richard and Lydia Stephens Beaty. Lottie Jane was born September 4, 1878 in Boatland. James and Lottie were my Great Grandparents. They had the following children:
1. Elwood b. Jan. 4, 1895-d.June 1968. He married Elsie Smith.
2. Albert Franklin b. Nov. 20, 1897-d.March 15, 1953. He married Roxie Ann
Sells.
3. Alfred L. b. Oct. 18, 1900-d.May 1967. He married Velva Jackson. –
4. Allie b. March 10, 1902-d. Dec. 9, 1985. She married Albert Bowden.
5. Alice b. Nov. 21, 1905-d.Nov. 15, 1969. She married Leonard Gracy.
6. Allard b. August 15, 1908-d. April 5, 1988. He never married.
7. Alma b. Jan. 5, 1911-d. Aug. 30, 1980. She married Porter Penticuff.
8. Milton Charlie b. Aug. 8, 1914-d. Feb. 20, 1995. He married Evelyn Beaty.
9. Ruby Ressie b. Aug. 12, 1917-December 15, 2000
10. Benton Ruble b. Oct. 13, 1922-d. July 1987. He married Lucille Smith.
Fifth Generation – Albert Franklin (November 20, 1897-March 15, 1953)
Albert was born in Boatland, Fentress County, Tennessee. He worked on his fathers farm while growing up. At the age of 16 he went to work at the coal mine in Wilder, Tennessee to help support his family. On May 13, 1918 he married Roxie Ann Sells in Overton County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Solomon Beverly and Patty Winningham Sells. She was born August 12, 1901. Albert and Roxie are my Grandparents. They had the following children:
1. Phyllis C. b. November 5, 1920. She married Ernest Stanley Norris.He was the son of Granville and Olive “Ollie” Winningham Norris, grandson of Richard and Lannie Cravens Norris.
2. Beulah died at age 18 mos. of spinal meningitis.
3. Philip Jesse b. November 11, 1925. He married Norma Jean Conn.
4. Charles Herbert b. Aug. 9, 1928. He married Delores A. Wiggerly.
5. William Boyd b. Feb. 24, 1933. He married Novella J. McAdams.
6. James Bevly [sic] b. March 20, 1936. He married Mary Jane Herron.
Sixth Generation – William Boyd Franklin (February 24, 1933- )
William Boyd was born in Twinton, Overton County, Tennessee. He lived in Overton and Fentress County until he was ten years old. Before he moved to Muncie, Indiana he lived in Boatland, Tennessee, on the side of a mountain on Boatland Road in Fentress County. He can remember the times that he had to walk down the mountain just to get to school. He also told me a story about the time that he and his little brother Jim, decided to make a wood cart, so they cut down their neighbors tree and made wooden wheels for the cart, they decided to try out the cart by going down the mountain in it, he said they just about killed theirselves, not to mention the trouble they got into when it was discovered they had cut down their neighbors tree. Times were hard back then, my grandmother plowed the field while my grandfather was working at the coal mine or anywhere he could get work. My Grandpa decided he would move to Muncie and look for work and once he got settled the family moved to Muncie. This was in 1943. My father, Boyd, attended Garfield Elementary, then Central High School, where he graduated in 1951. After High School he attended the Muncie Trade School of an evening while working at Warner Gear during the day. He began his own Construction Company in 1966. Attlin Construction has became one of the major Construction Companies throughout the area, with several projects out of State. He married my mother Novella Jean McAdams, she was the daughter of Gus and Grace Lanning McAdams. They were married for eighteen years, before they decided to end their marriage. My parents had the following children:
1. Debbie Kay b. {redacted by this Web site}. She married Wesley Cox.
….1. Melissa
2. William Boyd Jr. b. {redacted by this Web site}. He lives in Florida, not married.
3. Jill Ellen. b. {redacted by this Web site}. She married John D. Hicks
….1. Traci Anne
….2. Julie Ann
….3. Dave Allen
….4. James Andrew
….5. Thomas McDaniel
4. Tony Joe b. {redacted by this Web site}. He married Holly Cook.
….1. Kristina Marie
….2. Nicholas
5. Randall Todd b. {redacted by this Web site}. He married Sharon Conner.
….1. Aaron Todd
….2. Kati
….3. Kayla
[From a photo page on the same archived Web site] William Boyd Franklin married Novella Jean McAdams in 1951. She was the daughter of Gus and Grace Lanning McAdams. We lived on 13th Street in Muncie, Indiana. Dad was a very hard worker, he started working after graduating from Central High School. In 1966 he and Donald Hiatt started Attlin Construction, Inc., at that time it was operating out of Don Hiatt’s garage, about a year later they relocated their office to a small building on Madison Street in Muncie, in 1969 they were able to build their own office located in the Industrial Center. My father eventually bought out his partner, and became sole owner of the Company. He has since built this company into one of the largest construction companies in Central Indiana, with projects throughout the state, as well as surrounding states.
Phyllis C. Franklin Norris
Aunt Phyllis was born in Overton County, Tennessee. She married Ernest Stanley Norris “Jim”. He was the son of Granville and Ollie Winningham Norris. He was born September 9, 1918 in Overton County. Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Jim were married August 22, 1939 in Cravenstown, Tennessee. They lived in Alpine, where they rented and raised crops on a fifty-five acre farm. On June 10, 1944 he enlisted in the United States Army. On December 14, 1944 he was shipped out to the Asiatic Pacific Campaign of World War II. He arrived in the Philippines on January 18, 1945. He fought in various jungle battles in the Southern Philippines. He went on day and night patrols to determine size and location of the enemy. He was in the battle at the Leyte Gulf and also at Luzon, where he was wounded on two different occassions. His highest rank was Tech Sergeant. He received the Purple Heart, Asiatic Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Metal and Victory Medal World War II.
Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Jim were married for sixty years, they had two children:
1. Jerri Ann b. {redacted by this Web site}
2. Sammie Ray b. {redacted by this Web site}
Aunt Phyllis now resides in Ft. Myers, Florida. Uncle Jim passed away on December 17, 1999.
Philip Jesse Franklin
Uncle Phil was born in Pioneer, Scott County, Tennessee. Grandpa was working around that area when he was born. Uncle Phil is also a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army. He was inducted into the Army on March 14, 1944. He took his basic training in Texas, he took sixteen weeks of training in Chemical Warfare at Camp Swift, Texas. After completing his basic training he was shipped out to the Island of Leyte, they invaded the Island of Mandoa. After the war was over they were taken to Luzon to train a Battalion of Philippine Soldiers. He served in the Southern Philippines Liberation Campaign. His military Occupational Specialty and No. was Heavy Mortar Crewman 1607. His military qualification was Carbine MKM Rifle SS. He served overseas for one year, three months, ten days. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Star, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal WWII. He was Honorably Discharged from the 80th Chemical Mortar Battalion on May 12, 1946, his rank was Sergeant.
After his discharge he returned to Muncie, Indiana. He married Norma Jean Conn and had the following children:
1. Connie Sue
2. Sharon Ann
3. Michael Duane b. {redacted by this Web site}
4. Mona Lee
Charles Herbert Franklin “Herb”
Uncle Herb was born in Twinton, Overton County, Tennessee. He enlisted in the United States Army on January 19, 1948. He was a Corporal in Company C 3rd Infantry. He was stationed at Ft. Myers, Virginia. After his discharge on Jan. 19, 1950 he returned to Muncie, Indiana where he married Delores A. Wiggerly. She was the daughter of William and Goldie Wiggerly. They were married on December 31, 1950. Aunt Delores and Uncle Herb had the following children:
1. Sandra Renee b. {redacted by this Web site}
2. Susan Michele b. {redacted by this Web site}
James Bevly Franklin “Jim”
Uncle Jim was born in Cookplace, Overton County, Tennessee. He was the youngest son of Albert and Roxie Sells Franklin. He attended the Boatland School, in Boatland, Tennessee until they moved to Muncie, where he attended Garfield Elementary, then Muncie Central, where he graduated High School. He then attended Ball State University and Indiana Technical College obtaining a degree in Electronics. In July of 1954 he enlisted in the United States Navy, he decided to join the Navy since his brothers joined the Army. His duties included Combat Intelligence Center Radar, Navigation and Electronics Countermeasures. His Rank was E6. Uncle Jim obtained his Private Pilots Liscense after returning from the service. Uncle Jim married Mary Jane Herron, “Aunt Janie”, she is the daughter of Richard W. and Dossie B. Davis Herron. They were married on November 25, 1961 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Muncie, Indiana. They had the following children:
1. James Brian b. {redacted by this Web site}
2. Michele Denise b. {redacted by this Web site}
3. Chad b. {redacted by this Web site}
Source: http://www.hometown.aol.com/mzkitey1/Franklinhistory.html (via Internet Archive)
Mavis Opal Franklin Cravens Manis
Opal was born in Fentress County, Tennessee.
Opal’s line descends from Isaac’s son Nathan b. October 20, 1820-21. This proof is found in a court order dated July 1, 1838 for Isaac and his sons John, David and Nathan to keep a certain section of road cleared. Nathan may have been born on the East Fork of the Obed River, which is where his father lived on October 8, 1824.
Nathan married Kizzy Smith, she was born on April 21, 1811 and died January 12, 1879. Nathan received a land grant for 200 acres which was on the Sweet Gum Mountain. Nathan and Kizzy had about ten children, they all died except one at an early age. Nathan began seeing other women and was arrested around 1869 for living with Roda Riddle York. Living together was not legal and Nathan was charged with Lewdness, taken to court and fined $25.00. These charges are recorded in the Fentress County Courthouse. In the latter part of the 1870’s Nathan was again in trouble, this time for selling liquor on Sunday and again for Lewdness. Andrew Jackson Franklin, his brother, signed a bond for $500.00 to get him out of jail and make sure he appeared in court. Neither one of them appeared in court and Nathan left the county and was never heard from again.
The child of Nathan and Kizzzy that survived was:
1. John “Petty” Franklin was born in 1849. He married Maryann Taylor “Polly” Whited or Whitehead. She was the daughter of James M. and Rana Smith Whited. John Petty bought one hundred and fifteen acres of land from Solomon and Carolyn Choate Hogue on the 18th day of Feb. 1880 for $400.00. This tract of land is apparently the same place now owned by Patty Franklin King, his great granddaughter. It is located on the mountain between Manson and Boatland. John Petty hanged himself on this same mountain in 1899. No one knows why he did it. John Petty and Polly had eight children:
George W. b. Sept. 29, 1869-d. May 15, 1949
Lurana C. b. Feb. 28, 1871-d. March 17, 1951
David A. b. May 18, 1873-d. Jan. 17, 1951
James N. b. Dec. 4, 1874-d. April 20, 1965
Allen A. b. Feb. 10, 1879-d. May 5, 1970
Zelpha Ann b. Jan. 30, 1881-d. May 14, 1882
Mary Belle b. Feb. 1, 1886-d. April 23, 1974
Sarah J. b. Nov. 28, 1889-d. March 2, 1982
George W. married Ava Catherine Linder. They had two children:
….1. Leonard Smith Franklin b. August 20, 1894-d. August 28, 1980.
….2. Ethel Franklin
Leonard Smith Franklin married Mintie Atha Conatser. She was born September 22, 1900. She died one week after Leonard.
Leonard was a very good provider. He knew how to farm and raise his food. He usually carried a baked sweet potato with him for a snack when he went to the field or barn. Leonard and his father, George, bought a 245 acre farm together in 1923. They purchased it from Oscar Turner for $1800.00. Leonard never owned a car, he would take off walking and someone would pick him up and give him a ride to Jamestown. Mintie had a reputation for being a good cook and usually always had something to offer people when they stopped by.
Leonard and Mintie had two children:
….1. Clayton Franklin b. May 22, 1921-d. Dec. 12, 1982. He married Barbara Clayborn.
….2. Mavis Opal Franklin b. July 31, 1929. She married Hoyle H. Cravens. Opal and Hoyle had two children:
……..1. Mavis Rebecca Cravens married Donnie Sampson Hyder.
……..2. Spyke Thomas Cravens married Wanda Ann Jewell.
Opal’s first husband died shortly after the birth of their youngest child. She retired from Volunteer Electric Co-op in Jamestown, Tennessee. Before going to work for Volunteer Electric she was employed by J. C. Bradford Stock Exchange in Nashville, she quit the job in Nashville to return to Jamestown. Times were really rough for Opal after the death of her first husband, but she managed to overcome the hardships and raise her children. She is currently married to Jay Manis, Jay retired from Warner Gear in Muncie, In., and moved back to Jamestown around 1977. Jay and Opal married shortly after he moved back to Jamestown. They reside in Jamestown, Tennessee.
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20050902231153/http://hometown.aol.com/mzkitey3/Opalsline.html
Sergeant Philip Jesse Franklin, World War II Veteran
Philip Jesse Franklin was born on November 11, 1925, in a town called Pioneer, Scott County, Tennessee. He is the son of Albert and Roxie Sells Franklin, his father was working in a Lumber Mill in Scott County. Philip “Uncle Phil” attended school in Boatland and Alpine while growing up in Fentress & Overton County Tennessee. He would work for his Uncle Leonard Gracy at times in the summer when he was not in school.
On March 14, 1944 Uncle Phil was inducted into the United States Army. He took his basic training at Camp Hood in Texas, where he was trained in Tank Destroyers. After completing this training he was sent to Camp Swift, Texas for sixteen weeks of additional training in Chemical Warfare.
After completing Basic Training he was classified as a Heavy Mortar Crewman 1607. His military qualification was Carbine MKM Rifle SS. Uncle Phil was a Sergeant in the 80th Chemical Mortar Battalion. He was age 18. He was shipped out on January 26, 1945 to the Asiatic Pacific. They landed on the Island of Leyte at Tacloban where they invaded the Island of Mindanao. He was a gunner on a 4.2 Mortar it was his job to aim the gun, his squad leader injured his back due to heavy lifting at which time he took over as Squad Leader. His duties as Squad Leader was to make sure the gun was set properly and the ammo had the right amount of charge. They were positioned under tree branches, his squad consisted of eight men with two jeeps.
The 80th Chemical Mortar Battalion was activated on June 30, 1944 at Camp Swift, Texas, it was inactivated on Feb. 1, 1946 at Camp Stoneman, California. They served in the Leyte and Southern Philippines during World War II.
Uncle Phil received the following citations:
1. Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Star.
2. Philippine Liberation Ribbon.
3. Good Conduct Medal
4. Victory Medal WWII
After the war was over, they were taken to Luzon to train a Battalion of Philippine Soldiers. Uncle Phil received an Honorable Discharge on May 12, 1946 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, he was age 21. His discharge papers state:
“This certificate is awarded as a testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service to this
Country.”
Uncle Phil was age 18 when he was inducted into service and he was 20 when he was discharged, he gave up two years of his life for his country, as did many others, since he is my uncle, it makes him very special to me, the things that he had to endure are unimaginable to me, he made a great sacrifice and I am especially proud of him.
Uncle Phil returned to Muncie, Indiana where he married Norma Jean Conn. He was employed at Ball Corporation, Warner Machine and Warner Gear in Muncie, Indiana. He became a member of the Carpenters Union as a Journeyman Carpenter. He has since retired and now enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren on a farm that he owns in Selma, Indiana. During the winter months, he goes to Florida where he has another home.
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20050115160447/http://hometown.aol.com/mzkitey4/Worldwarveterans.html
Ernest Stanley “Uncle Jim” Norris, World War II Veteran, Husband of Phyllis Clella Franklin
Ernest Stanley Norris was born on September 9, 1918, in Overton County, Tennessee. He was always called Jim, he was the son of Granville and Ollie Winningham Norris. He grew up in the area known as Alpine, Tennessee. He made his way by helping his parents the best he could. My Uncle Phil told me that Uncle Jim met my Aunt in Overton County while cutting down some trees near the place where they were living. He married my Aunt, Phyllis Clella Franklin on August 22, 1939 in Cravenstown, Tennessee. She is the daughter of Albert and Roxie Sells Franklin.
Uncle Jim joined the United States Army on June 10, 1944. He recived four months of Basic Infantry Training at Camp Fanin, Texas. He complted his basic training on November 11, 1944. His Military Occupational Specialty and Number was: Rifleman 745. He was a Marksman.
On December 14, 1944, he was shipped out to the Asiatic Pacific Campaign of World War II. He arrived in the Philippines on January 18th, 1945. He was a member of the 126th Infantry, CO E, 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division, “The Red Arrows”.
He fought in various jungle battles in the Southern Philippines. He was a combat infantryman and marksman, he fired a M1 Rifle and a Browning Automatic Rifle against enemy personnel in combat. He went on day and night patrols to determine size and location of the enemy. He was in the battle at Leyte Gulf and at Luzon, where he was wounded on two different occasions, on April 23, 1945 he received a bullet wound to his leg, on May 31, 1945 a Japanese grenade hit him in the left arm pit and exploded on impact. His rank was Tech Sergeant.
Uncle Jim received the following Citations:
1. Asiatic Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars.
2. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars.
3. The Purple Heart.
4. Good Conduct Medal.
5. Victory Medal WWII.
On December 20, 1945, he arrived back in the United States. He received an Honorable Discharge on December 30, 1945 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. His discharge papers state:
“This certificate is awarded as a testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service
to this Country.”
The following is a transcription of a letter received by Uncle Jim, it is dated June 4, 1945 it is from Headquarters 32nd Infantry Division:
The 32d Division has accomplished its mission. The enemy has been destroyed and the Villa Verde Trail secured. A passage hs been forced through the Caraballo Mountains from the Central Plain to the entrance of the Cagaya Valley, thus hastening the completion of the Luzon Campaign.
After one hundred and twenty days of fierce hand to hand combat over terrain more difficult than any yet encountered in this war, the “RED ARROW” again pierced the enemy’s line. You have crushed completely another of the enemy’s so-called impregnable defenses, brilliantly concluding the Division’s 5th campaign in the Pacific Theater.
I desire to express to every officer and enlisted man in the Division, as well as those attached, my heartfelt appreciation of the courage and determination each has shown while playing his vitally important part in this long and arduous campaign. You have outfought and destroyed a cunning and determined enemy, an enemy occupying elaborately prepared defenses on ground of his own choosing. Your Victory was impressive and decisive and one of which you may well be proud.
It is with justifiable pride and complete confidence that I look forward to your continued success into the heart of Tokyo.
W. H. Gill
Major General, U. S. Army
Commanding
Uncle Jim, as did my Uncle Phil, made a great sacrifice, I am very proud of both of my Uncles, as well as all of the other World War II Veterans who gave up so much in the defense of our country.
After his discharge, he returned to Muncie, Indiana, where his family was now living. He was employed by Warner Gear where he worked for over twenty years. He became a memeber of the Southside Church of God. He retired from Warner Gear in 1984. Uncle Jim and Aunt Phyllis bought a house in Ft. Myers, Florida, where they resided until his death December 17, 1999. Aunt Phyllis still resides in Florida and is planning a trip to Muncie this year to visit with everyone. This was an annual trip they made every year, only this year, she will be making it alone.
Dedicated to the Memory of Uncle Jim so that he will never be forgotten. He gave so much and asked so little. Loved by everyone he knew.
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20050914074636/http://hometown.aol.com/mzkitey4/Veteran.html