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Anna Mosley, owner of Curtis Monuments, sandblasts the
name of Dusty Carroll to the Carroll County War Memorial
in downtown McKenzie.
A new heartbreak was engraved Monday, May 8, into the
old stone monument that sits in McKenzie's Downtown
Veterans Memorial Park. Anna Mosley, owner of Curtis
Monuments, added the name in preparation for Memorial
Day.
Etched in stone under the heading "Operation Iraqi
Freedom" was the memorial "Sergeant James Dustin 'Dusty'
Carroll; Co. A, 230th Eng Bn". Dusty's name joins those
of 128 other Carroll County soldiers who paid the
ultimate sacrifice for freedom, in simple tribute to the
tears of endless generations of thankful citizens.
Dusty, the son of Pat Carroll and Debra Carroll, was
killed near Baghdad on July 31, 2005, when an IED
exploded alongside the Hummer in which he was a
passenger. He was serving in Iraq in a year-long
deployment of McKenzie's Company A, 230th Engineer
Battalion National Guard unit. The unit returned home in
December the same year.
Dusty will be further memorialized in McKenzie's
Memorial Day service, "A Day of Remembrance", on Monday,
May 29, at 10:00 a.m. All citizens of Carroll County and
beyond are invited to the memorial service.
Guest speaker at the event will be U.S. Air Force
retired Col. James Harding, a resident of the Leach
community of Carroll County. Among his many decorations,
Harding was awarded the Air Force Cross for
extraordinary heroism while engaged in action against an
enemy of the United States. The distinction is second
only to the Medal of Honor.
U.S. Air Force retired, Col. James Harding, will be
guest speaker at McKenzie's "A Day of Remem-brance" on
Monday, May 29. |
A tactical fighter pilot in Southeast Asia, Harding was
the on-scene commander of an extremely hazardous and
complex search and rescue mission during a three-day
period in April, 1972, when his behavior qualified him
for the Air Force Cross, according to the narrative of
his award.
In an attempt to recover an American pilot who was
downed in Laos, then-Major Harding made repeated passes
at low altitude and airspeed, directly over a hostile
gun position, in order to draw anti-aircraft fire and
pinpoint its position.
"In spite of battle damage to his aircraft, Harding
repeatedly counterattacked the numerous heavy gun
positions, thereby allowing the vulnerable rescue
helicopters to effect a safe and successful recovery of
the downed pilot. Through his extraordinary heroism,
superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the
enemy, Major Harding reflected the highest credit upon
himself and the United States Air Force."
A month after the daring rescue, Harding was involved in
another search and rescue mission when he was shot down
by a Russian-made heat-seeking missile.
"I've experienced both ends; it's a far better feeling
to save someone," he said.
Col. Harding will speak briefly of his experiences and
encourages questions following his address.
"A Day of Remembrance" will honor Carroll County's
departed soldiers, as well, in a brief ceremony
featuring area Boy Scouts. Shaun Thompson and Bethany
Ellis will perform vocally. Company A soldiers will
perform a military tribute as color guard and the
performance of Taps. Beverages and refreshments will be
served after which entertainment will be provided by the
local band, Cruise Control.
A wreath will be laid at the monument in which Dusty's
name was so recently added. The imposing granite
memorial in July 1944 was sponsored by the Rotary Club
and paid for by contributions from citizens throughout
the county.
Aside from carrying the names of those who were killed
in World War I and World War II, the names of the boys
killed in a plane crash, near McKenzie, are inscribed.
WORLD WAR I
Pvt. Hugh Aden, Pvt. Elmer Albright, Pvt. Herman O.
Beasley, Pvt. Pritchard Clark, Pvt. Sherman Cook, 2nd
Lieut. Charles B. Costen, Cpl. James M. Dunavan, Cpl.
William B. Dunn, Pvt. Raymond E. Everett, Pvt. Bernard
Green, Pvt. Elbert Greener, Pvt. Wallace H. Grooms, Pvt.
James M. Hall, Pvt. Hobart Hollowell, Pvt. George
Johnson, Sgt. Waller F. Jones Jr., Cpl. Joseph W. Kyle,
Pvt. Elmer V. Lewelling, Pvt. Thomas E. Lifsey, Pvt.
Effie Lovell, Pvt. David R. Myers, Cpl. John W. McDade,
Pvt. John R. McLemore, Pvt. Alfred M. Pritchard, Pvt.
W.R. Robinson, Pvt. James N. Rosser, Cpl. James H.
Stanley, Pvt. John W. Wall, Andrew Ray Ward, A.S., Pvt.
Toby York, Pvt. Charles E. Younger, Cpl. Connie H.
Sherrill, Cpl. Clifford E. Smith, Sgt. Elry Sparks
WORLD WAR II
Henry H. Bolen G.M. 3C, Henry T. Chapman F. 1C, Capt.
Harris F. Collier, Capt. Don Gwin Jr., Sgt George E.
Hopper, 2nd Lt. Theatus W. Johnson, Pvt. James Willie
Waugh, P.F.C. Warren Pruitt, P.F.C. Richard E. Ary,
P.F.C. James M. Barker, T.E.C. 4 Forrest A. Boswell, S.
Sgt. John T. Clay, Pvt. James C. Davis, P.F.C. T.T.
Eskew, P.F.C. Clifford Gately, P.F.C. J.R. Harris, Pvt.
George L. Hawkins, S. Sgt. William F. Hobbs, Sgt. Elmer
R. Martin, Pvt. John C. Merritt, P.F.C. James Mizell,
Tec. 5 E.S. Newell, Sgt. John F. Palmer, Pvt. James R.
Pitman, S. Sgt. Millard A. Presson Jr., P.F.C. Wayne C.
Reynolds, P.F.C. James E. Sherwood, 1st Lt. Joe R.
Smith, T. Sgt. John W. Summers, T. Sgt. Leon W. Travis,
2nd Lt. William B. Williams, S. Sgt. Cleatus H.
Yarbrough, James E. Ezell S. 1 C, Cpl. Paul R. Arnold,
U.S.M.C.., Alton E. Flippin BM IC, Pfc. Ernest S.
Dinkins, Burnis Winfred Lowe, F. IC, Tec. 5 Raymon Lewis
Tubbs, Sgt. Charles R. Owens, 2nd Lt. Harry E. Haney,
Pvt. G.J. Wilson, Pvt. Elvis W. Butler, Merle Joe Spence
S. 1C, P.F.C., Ishmael W. Wesson, Pvt. Loyd L. Carey,
Clyde V. Barnes S. 2C, Maj. Walter S. Butler Jr., 2nd
Lt. Robert T. McCollum, P.F.C. William P. Morris, P.F.C.
Lowell E. Brockman, P.F.C. Warren P. Morris, Jack W.
Cantrell CC Std, Edward Ray Winston F. 1C, P.F.C. Fred
C. Cannon, Pvt. William B. Clark, Tec. 5 Curtis F.
Coffman, Pvt. Jamie M. Essary, P.F.C. Robert B. Dinkins,
P.F.C. Joe C. Grooms, P.F.C. Ellzy Haskins, P.F.C. Ray
Haywood, P.F.C. Vernon H. Ingle, Pvt. William H. Massey,
Sgt. Neal Milam, T. Sgt. James Moore, P.F.C. Adrian P.
Palmer, Pvt. Clyde E. Pillow, P.F.C. Thomas A. Pratt,
P.F.C. James O. Renfroe, 2nd Lt. Theron B. Rust, P.F.C.
Joe H. Scates, Tec. 5 Sam L. Smothers, S. Sgt. Albert M.
Thomas, Sgt. Algie L. Vinson, Cpl. Avgle L. Williamson,
P.F.C. Richard Ary, P.F.C. James Barker, Tec 4 Forest A.
Boswell
Men killed in airplane crash just outside of McKenzie
were Pilot 2nd Lt. George Lindwood Noles, Adrian,
Missouri; Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Thorniel Otto Haugen,
Madison, WI; 2nd St. George Thomas DeCesare, Brooklyn,
NY; Bombardier Navigator 2nd Lt. Ivan Wilson Oaks, St.
Louis, MO; Radio Operator Cpl. Walter George Sancomb,
Schenectady, NY; Tail Gunner Sgt. Frank Rye, Detroit,
MI; Aerial Engineer Sgt. James Donald Kennedy,
Cumberland, MD; Armorer - Gunner St. Roy Ellsworth
Snydor, Wellsville, Ohio.
KOREAN WAR
Lester Kee, Jackie Jenkins, Fred McClure, Bruce
Chandler, Bruce Bowlin Bennett
VIETNAM WAR
SSGT John M. Brown III, SP4 Samuel Alexander Dumas;
P.F.C. Clifford Ray Herrin; P.F.C. Douglas Arthur House;
P.F.C. Ray Ramsey Jowers; P.F.C. Ray Willard, Jr.
Phelps; SP4 Jearl-Edwards Rimmer; C.P.T. James Pricthard
Williams; Cpl. Michael Lynn Morgan; Sgt. Terry Eugene
Williams; P.G.C. William Lee Ray
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
Sgt. James Dustin "Dusty" Carroll |
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Brentwood (May 3)- Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner
Dr. Jon A. Stienbrecher announced the hiring of Dale
Kelley as the OVC Coordinator of Men's Basketball
Officials. Kelley will coordinate the recruitment,
training and assignment of men's basketball officials
within the conference.
