Bookout

On April 16, 1953 the New Era reported that 29 men had gone to Louisville for Armed Forces physical examinations. Among them was Robinson Elvin Angel. He was one month shy of celebrating his 20th birthday when Uncle Sam called. He and seven others left for Louisville and induction into the U.S. Army on July 7th. The others were James Cook, Haden Dicken, Arthur Stockton, Freddie Boils, Buford Bowlin, John Nuszbaum and Lowell Davis. It was during the Korean War and Elvin was in the army for two years. For 18 months he was stationed in Alaska.

Hershell Key tells a story about Elvin's sergeant ordering him to clean a rifle. It wasn't his rifle, so Ervin said no. The sergeant repeated his command, "I said to clean that rifle!" Elvin replied, "I ain't gonna do it!" So, Hershell said, Elvin was sent to Alaska.That may or not be the exact reason, but it's funny to hear Hershell tell it that way.

When he returned home, Elvin joined the class of 1957 during their sophomore year. In the local newspaper column, Senior Class News, someone wrote "Elvin has been an asset to the class and we are proud to have this veteran among the members of our class." Elvin was 24 years old when he graduated from CCHS.

Elvin's nickname was Bookout. A couple of his friends I spoke with did not know how he got that name. One of his close friends, Harvey Aaron, said he once asked Elvin how he got it, but he couldn't remember.

By all accounts, Bookout was a great baseball and softball player. I read where, in 1957, he was a member of a softball team sponsored by Conner Motel, along with the likes of John B. Smith, Page Cook and James Brown. Another teammate and classmate, Gene Latham, said Bookout was a great pitcher. He played softball for several years.

Gene tells this story: "Bookout stood 5 feet and 5 inches tall and for the U.S. Army, the minimum weight requirement for his heighth was 116 pounds. Bookout weighed 117 pounds when he went for his physical examination. He said if he had known the minimum weight requirement was 116 pounds, he would have weighed 116 pounds!"

Robinson Elvin Angel was born on May 28, 1933, the son of the William Albert & Lula Mae Daniels Angel. His wife, Brenda Gibbons Angel, preceded him in death. Bookout was known by many. We will miss seeing him walking around town. He always walked.

Thanks to Harvey Aaron for the photo.

Nobly The Fell While Fighting for Liberty

Before the Korean Conflict there had been 39 military funerals in Clinton County, Ky for WWII veterans. The first one held here for a Korean Conflict casualty was held on Dec. 2, 1951 when Luther Craig was laid to rest at Peolia Cemetery. Five Clinton County soldiers were killed in action during the Korean Conflict. Pvt. Craig, at 20-years-old, was the second youngest casualty. He had served in the Army with Co. G, 7th Calvary, 1st Division and was killed in action on June 8, 1951. Luther was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Craig.

Pvt. Earl Bradley Stewart, who had served in the Army was killed in action on March 15, 1951. He was the son of Prentice and Nellie Sidwell Stewart and was 22 years of age. Earl is buried at Cartwright Cemetery.

Cpl. Herbert E. Guffey was another 22-year-old was killed in action during the Korean Conflict, or war, which J.E. Morrison said it was. Cpl. Guffey, who was the son of Porter and Ethel Vickery, served in the Army with the 72nd Medium Tank BN, 2nd Infantry. He was killed on Dec. 28, 1951 and is buried at Piercey Cemetery.

Pvt. Willie Kenneth Wright was also 22-years-old when he was killed in action on June 7, 1952. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Columbus Wright, he was with the Army's 180th Regiment, 45th Infantry. He is buried at Five Springs Cemetery.

By now, most of you have heard about Pvt. Joe Stanton Elmore, the 20-year-old son of Ambrose and Bertha York Elmore, was the youngest of the Clinton County soldiers to die in battle in Korea. He was killed in action on Dec. 2, 1950, alth6 his remains could not be located. He was officially presumed dead on Dec. 31, 1953, but that wasn't the end of it. In 1995, his sisters, Mary and Lola, submitted their DNA to the Korean War Missing DNA Project and it worked. Their brother was accounted for on July 3, 2018. His remains were brought back home to Clinton County on Aug. 15th, sixty-eight years after he was killed in action. Joe Elmore served in the Army with Co. A of the 32nd Infantry, 7th Division. He is buried at Story Cemetery.

Whenever I think of our war dead, I find myself thinking about this old song written over a hundred years ago and made famous during our time, first by Doc Watson, then by Bob Dylan. The name of it is "Lone Pilgrim."

I came to the place where the lone pilgrim lay
and patiently stood by his tomb
When in a low whisper I heard something say
How sweetly I sleep here alone

The tempest may howl and the loud thunder roar
And gathering storms may arise
But calm is my feeling at rest is my soul
The tears are all wiped from my eyes

The call of my master compelled me from home
No kindred or relative nigh
I met the contagion and sank to the tomb
My soul flew to mansions on high

Go tell my companion and children most dear
To weep not for me now I'm gone
The same hand that led me through seas most severe
Has kindly assisted me home

Minford Stearns was a Prisoner of War

What is the Test of a man?

The Korean Conflict resulted in different emotions being brought back home to some Clinton countians. Six months after the fighting began on June 25, 1950, Private Joe Elmore's family was told he was missing in action. His partial remains arrived back home 68 years later. James Morrison grew up not far from Elmore. At Heartbreak Ridge, the Master Sergeant saved another soldiers' Iife and performed other courageous feats to earn him enough citations to make him the Korean Conflict's most decorated soldier from Clinton County. And then there was the telegram that William and Dorothy Stearns received saying their son, Minford, had been captured during a battle on July 14, 1950, just three weeks after the conflict began. He would remain a prisoner of war for thirty-seven months, or until after the conflict ended on July 27, 1953.

Minford L. Stearns was Clinton County's only POW during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return home a celebration, organized by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars group, was held in his honor. October 3, 1953 was declared Minford L. Stearns Day in Albany. The headline in the Clinton County News said "2,500 WATCH PARADE GIVEN IN HONOR OF CLINTON COUNTY'S ONLY EX-P.O.W." Most all businesses shut down for the celebration that day. All of Clinton County's veterans marched in the parade and the Albany Nazarene Church Band performed. Sgt. Alvin C. York presented Stearns with gifts totaling around a thousand dollars. Superintendent L.H. Robinson delivered the welcome home address. Another speaker was State Senator Ed Warinner.

It wasn't until he became a prisoner of war that the Army learned Stearns had been under age when he enlisted, and being a prisoner of war didn't stop him from staying in the service. He went on to serve two tours of duty in Vietnam, spendings most of his career in military intelligence, serving as captain while stationed at Fort Bragg and Sergeant First Class while serving with the First Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. His final promotion was to the rank of Major. When he retired in 1975, Stearns had served in the Army for 26 years. Sixty-six months of that was spent in combat. He earned numerous awards and citations.

Major Stearns was only 47 years old when he died on Feb. 3, 1980, forty years ago today, in Oakdale, Louisiana, where he had lived for several years. A poem engraved on his tombstone, entitled "The Test of a Man," accurately describes Elmore, Morrison, Stearns and all other men or women who ever served in the armed forces.

The test of a man is the fight that he makes, The grit that he daily shows, The way he stands upon his feet and takes life’s numerous bumps and blows. A coward can smile when there’s naught to fear, and nothing his progress bars, But it takes a man to stand and cheer while the other fellow stars. It isn’t the victory after all, but the fight that a brother makes. A man when driven against the wall, Still stands erect and takes the blows of fate with his head held high, Bleeding and bruised and pale is the man who will win and fate defied, for he isn’t afraid to fail.

Regardless of whether or not the soldier won or lost the battle, he stood with valor and determination. He passed the test.