Jesse G. Hunt (1895-1918)

Corporal Jesse G. Hunt was born May 1895 to Willis Nathaniel Hunt and Annie Blond Strange in the Gift area of Tipton County, Tenn., the third of their four children. Jesse lost his mother at the tender age of 10, when his mother Annie died on Jun 30, 1906 after

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Holmes N. Thompson (1894-1991)

Holmes Napoleon Thompson was born Feb. 2, 1894 in Mason, Tipton County, Tenn., the son of William Thompson and Martha Adams and the oldest boy of six siblings. Federal census report that he completed four years of high school and could read and write, which at that time was quite

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Men of Valor: A Tipton County Museum exhibit honors the Wakefield and Wherry brothers

By Sherri Onorati, The Covington Leader, November 11, 2020 The Wakefield/Wherry brothers. A family’s legacy – a torch of honor and patriotism – which started with a father and uncles serving in the United States Navy and Army during World War II, was passed down to sons and now grandchildren and

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African-Americans enlisted in World War I to prove patriotism

By Sherri Onorati, The Covington Leader  May 24, 2018 Several African-American units saw action alongside French soldiers fighting against the Germans. During World War I, 171 black soldiers were awarded the French Legion of Honor for their efforts. More than 350,000 Black Americans served in segregated units during World War

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After WWII, Tipton County’s Black veterans founded their own American Legion post

By Sherri Onorati – published in the Covington Leader, November 11, 2020 The soldiers who came home after World War I were tired, and traumatized and many felt out-of-place given what they had been through – even in their hometowns – places which should have been welcoming and familiar. A

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James Kirby Smith

Pvt. James Kirby Smith was born in Brighton, Tipton County, TN to Robert Lee Smith and Frances Ida Huffman Smith on Sept. 11, 1895. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 28, 1918, under service number 3501627. He was 22 years old when he enlisted, 5′ 9 1/2″ tall,

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Homer Augustus Smith

Private Homer Augustus Smith was born Aug. 8, 1892 in Brighton, Tipton County, Tennessee, the oldest son of Robert Lee Smith and Francis Ida Huffman Smith of Brighton. Pvt. H. A. Smith, service number 399860, enlisted in the U.S. Army Expeditionary Forces on July 23, 1918 and served with 27th

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Charles E. Faught

Services are conducted for Navy Warrant Officer Services have been held in Madison, Fla., for Navy Chief Warrant Officer Charles Edward Faught, former Memphis and Covington, Tenn., resident, who died of a heart attack at sea. Burial was in Oak Ridge Cemetery at Madison. Mr. Faught, who was 39, died

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Charles N. Eubanks

Charles Norman Eubanks entered the U.S. Army on July 28, 1965. His basic training was at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He went to Vietnam via fort Ord, California; leaving Fort Gordon October 14, 1965, and Fort Ord on December 14,1965. Charles was wounded twice; the first time on January 29, 1965,

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Joe H. Eubank

Joe H. Eubank, was inducted into the U. S. Army on May 24, 1941 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. His qualifications included: section leader 733, M1 and carbine expert. His battles and campaigns included: Ardennes. His decorations and citations included: European-Asiatic-Middle East Theater Ribbon with one bronze star, the Good Conduct

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