The kid from Brownwood found himself in the roar of a plane overlooking the dismal, cloud- socked skies of merry old England. The anything-but-merry-mood of the 95th Bombardment Group had dwindled from 500 planes to 32. And Army Air Force Lieutenant Joe W. Blagg was in one of them — headed to the first daylight raid over Berlin.
The designation of Armorer bestowed upon Noah T. Byars the crucial responsibility of supplying the Texas army with munitions. “By cutting up horseshoes and bits of metal he also fashioned cartridges for the rifles that hours later mowed down the enemy on the field of San Jacinto. “
Thunderjet fighter pilot Joey Stalcup narrowly survived the Korean War after his ejection from the pilot seat during a Korea bombing mission. He retired from the Air Force at 90% disabled as a 2nd Lieutenant, thanks to then Texas Senator Lyndon Johnson.
1943 Love Poem by Navy WAVE Harriet Aronson to Army Air Corps Cadet Roland Graves. She was from Manhattan. He was from Brownwood. They met far from home while serving their country in WWII, then returned to Roland’s home where they lived out their lives.
Won’t you close your eyes and rest
And come along with me
To a home in the West
I wonder what we’ll see
Two slippers wait beside a chair
A girl is cooking too
Bluebonnets growing everywhere
All this belongs to you
All these lovely dreams you see,
My dear, will come true
The girl I’m sure you know is me
The man of course is you
Chief Gunnery Officer Homer Bryan Allen shot down 6 aerial attackers during the Battle of Okinawa. Homer later witnessed the signing of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from his ship. He then became Commander of the USS Moore until his separation from the Navy in 1946.
Lt. Joseph Harper flew 12.5 missions in WWII as a co-pilot in the B17 bomber, The High Life. His last mission, the half mission, was with the 8th Air Force’s Bloody 100th’s bombing of a critical manufacturing facility in Germany. After this raid Joe’s plane crashed landed in Switzerland.
These are “teasers” from a few Brown County veteran stories showcased in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas poster exhibit now displayed at the Brown County Museum of History. The 14 posters highlight military careers of 19 Brownwood veterans. The exhibition is an effort to Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.
“Our chapter is working with Wreaths Across America to honor our veterans buried at Greenleaf Cemetery,” explained Dr. Julie Welker, Welcome W. Chandler chapter president, “and this display is a perfect memorial to get a glimpse into just a few of these brave men and women from Brown County who have served and are buried at Greenleaf Cemetery.”
The WAA program sells wreath sponsorships for $17 each, and the chapter goal is to sell 2,000 of them so that every veteran buried at Greenleaf will be honored.
“We partner with Greenleaf Cemetery to work to increase wreath sales in hopes of reaching our goal of 2000. The Greenleaf Cemetery staff and board of directors are integral to all of us reaching this ambitious goal,” added Welker.
To help honor every veteran buried at Greenleaf rest in honor, you may sponsor wreaths by going to wreathsacrossamerica.org/TX1050P. Or you may scan the QR code on the flyer. Or you may mail a check to Nancy Lowry, Treasurer; Welcome W. Chandler Chapter, DRT, P.O. Box 272, Bangs, Texas, 76823. Deadline for contributions is Nov. 28.
DRT will present a dramatic wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m., at Greenleaf Cemetery, starring the Hardin Simmons University Six White Horses posting the United States and Texas flags. Local Boy Scout and Girls Scout troops will assist in the ceremony and help lay the wreaths on veterans’ graves. The ceremony will conclude with a three-cannon salute, honoring Brown County’s fallen heroes.
Following the ceremony those attending will be asked to help place wreaths on veterans’ headstones. As a wreath is placed, participants are asked to say the veterans’ name and thank him or her for their service.
Everyone is invited to the museum to learn about these remarkable heroes, who risked everything to preserve freedom. Museum hours are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 212 N. Broadway, across the street from the old jail.